Unipart Group

The third and final apprentice we celebrate this week is Manufacturing Team Leader Daniel Hughes, who recently completed his three-year Level 3 Maintenance & Operations Engineering Technician apprenticeship. “This apprenticeship has really boosted my confidence, both personally and professionally,” said Dan. He explained what made him begin the apprenticeship: “I was initially inspired by the success stories of colleagues who had completed similar apprenticeships. An opportunity to learn new skills that would not only enhance my own abilities but also contribute to the success of the business greatly appealed to me. “I thoroughly enjoy working for Unipart, and the apprenticeship presented itself as an excellent way to further my career within the company. While my initial goal was to become an engineering technician, the course opened my eyes to new and exciting career opportunities within the business, and I am now a Manufacturing Team Leader.” Dan, having both become a father and been promoted during the course, explained just how much he learnt: “Balancing it with my day-to-day work allowed me to immediately apply the skills I was learning, reinforcing my development through practical experience. “The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is the The Unipart Way values of continuous learning and adaptability, and how these help us serve our customers. Balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application taught me how important it is to stay open to new skills and ideas. “Working closely with colleagues and receiving support from my mentors highlighted how vital teamwork and clear communication are for success. An apprenticeship is an incredible opportunity to grow, and with the right mindset you can go far!” Click here to read more about Dan’s apprenticeship: https://lnkd.in/e6qaJPu7 #NAW2025 #Apprenticeship #SkillsForLife

We are pleased to announce the launch of Unipart’s operations in Vietnam. Vietnam's thriving manufacturing sector is reported by The World Bank to have grown by an average of 10% annually over the past decade and, according to Statista, Vietnam's e-commerce market is projected to reach $56bn by 2025.  Unipart Vietnam Territory Director Richard Nguyen will lead Unipart’s operations in Vietnam, bringing more than 20 years of experience in commercial, operational, and management roles within freight and logistics across Asia and Canada. He has a proven track record of successfully leading sales and customer service teams, along with extensive expertise in warehousing and distribution. Darren Leigh, Unipart CEO, said: “Vietnam's economic landscape is undergoing a dynamic transformation, attracting a surge of foreign direct investment. Coincided with its strategic location, this has solidified its position as a key player in the global supply chain, creating a wealth of opportunities for businesses seeking to diversify their own supply chains. As a British company with extensive experience and expertise supporting growing supply chains in a range of sectors around the globe, we look forward to playing a key role in Vietnam’s ongoing transformation.” Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/e5Rm9MDk #Vietnam #SupplyChain #Expansion #APAC

The second apprentice we are celebrating this week is Unipart Transport Supervisor Kevis Tamara, who is completing her Level 3 Transport & Warehouse Operations Supervisor Apprenticeship. “I’m learning many different things, but most importantly I’ve learnt about leading with emotional intelligence and how to operate a safe working environment,” said Tamara. Having joined Unipart’s transport team in Oxford in 2020, Tamara looked for opportunities to improve her skills and knowledge even further. She explained how the course has done exactly this: “My apprenticeship has really helped me understand how I can develop a wide range of new and existing skills. I now understand more about the entire operation and the skills and commitment required by my colleagues in their day-to-day jobs.” As well as learning the complexities of the transport operation, Tamara’s journey has also given her perspective. She said: “It’s always important to look at the bigger picture and realise that to grow as a team we need to work together and help each other grow. “Specifically, we can do this by understanding how to differentiate between what is expected, what can be done, and what can be done better.” “The skills I’ve learnt on my Unipart apprenticeship will help me and my colleagues go the extra mile to learn new things, achieve more, and get to where we want to be.” Click here to read more about Tamara’s apprenticeship: https://lnkd.in/e_-cZWxT #NAW2025 #Apprenticeship #SkillsForLife

On day one of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, we are celebrating Lewis Talbot, Project Manager at Unipart company Park Signalling. Lewis is currently completing his Level 6 Project Management Degree Apprenticeship through Northumbria University. “It’s incredibly rewarding to apply what I’ve learnt in real time, and understand how my studies directly impact my role and contribute to the bigger picture within Unipart,” Lewis said. “The personal gratification that comes from not only improving your academic knowledge but also enhancing your skills and confidence in your role is invaluable.” The apprenticeship’s flexible and practical structure ensures each module directly aligns with Lewis’ day-to-day work at Park Signalling. He explained: “This seamless integration between academic learning and real-world application has ensured that my studies enhance my performance at work and vice versa. “I can confidently say that my experience has been overwhelmingly positive, with the support from my academic cohort and Unipart colleagues being invaluable. I’ve been given a balance between gaining practical experience in the workplace and advancing my education, ultimately providing me with a clear pathway into professional life.” Click here to read more about Lewis’ apprenticeship: https://lnkd.in/eERcnVM3 #NAW2025 #Apprenticeship #SkillsForLife

Unipart has recognised 20 colleagues who recently completed apprenticeships on a healthcare supply chain customer contract. A special event in London recognised the dedication, hard work, and achievement of the apprentices, who now begin the next chapter of the Unipart careers. Lara Watson, Network Operations Resource Manager, said: “Apprenticeships provide a great way for us to develop our people and give them the opportunity for career advancement. With succession planning in mind, we are also future-proofing our business for many years to come.” Darren Leigh, Unipart Chief Executive, said: “Our apprenticeship program is a vital aspect of how we can continue to meet the challenges of the future. Apprenticeship opportunities nurture and develop talent within Unipart, building a skilled workforce that understands how working The Unipart Way delivers operational excellence and drives growth for our customer. “I would like to congratulate each of the apprentices on their fantastic achievement – having been an apprentice myself, I understand just how powerful they can be.” Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/eDSHh88E #NAW2025 #SkillsForLife #Apprenticeship #Healthcare

Unipart is pleased to announce role changes in its Executive Leadership Team. Jim Hartshorne has been appointed to the newly-created role of Managing Director, Commercial, and will lead the business development and customer engagement strategy. Carol Rose Burke has been appointed Managing Director, Manufacturing, and will continue to extend Unipart’s advanced manufacturing capabilities to a broader range of sectors. Neil McNicholas has decided to retire as Unipart Rail Managing Director, having played a key role in developing Unipart’s offer for customers in the Rail and Public Transport sector since 2021. Dr David McGorman has been appointed Managing Director, Technology, and will continue to lead Unipart’s technology and performance improvement capability offering, while leading Unipart’s Rail and Public Transport sector. Richard Gifford joins the Executive Leadership Team as IT Director, bringing more than 25 years’ experience in IT and digitising operations. Darren Leigh, Chief Executive of Unipart, said: “I’m delighted to announce the roles of Jim, Carol, David and Richard. “They offer the expertise and breadth of experience we need to achieve our ambition to be the driving force behind efficient, resilient, sustainable supply chains for customers across our seven sectors. Unipart has a broad range of capabilities that can benefit new and existing customers throughout their supply chains, and I’m confident we have the senior leadership team in place to lead our people to deliver this and grow our offer to the market. “I’d like to thank Neil McNicholas for his leadership and commitment in his time with Unipart. He has played a key role in growing our breadth of supply chain solutions for the rail sector, and I wish him all the best for his retirement.” Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/eSzMSE5w #ExecutiveLeadershipTeam #Appointment #SupplyChainSolutions

Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, starting on Monday 10 February, Unipart Chief Executive Darren Leigh shared his thoughts on how apprenticeships need to evolve to meet emerging industry needs. Having begun his own professional journey at the age of 16 on a youth training scheme, Darren understands just how vital apprenticeships are in shaping the future. Darren said: “For apprenticeships to remain relevant, we must modernise the system. Flexible, shorter programmes that respond to the rapid evolution of industries like AI, renewable energy, and supply chain automation are essential. “These initiatives should not only target school leavers but also offer reskilling opportunities for career changers, ensuring everyone can thrive in the workforce of tomorrow.” Click here to read Darren’s full thoughts: https://lnkd.in/e_3d6CcS #NAW2025 #SkillsForLife #Apprenticeship #UnlockingPotential

We are pleased to announce Catherine McDermott and Dominic Edmonds have been appointed to the Unipart Board as Non-Executive Directors, effective 1 January. Catherine McDermott joins the Board as an experienced engineer and supply chain expert with more than 20 years of board-level experience, as both an Executive and Non-Executive Director. Dominic Edmonds joins the Board with a distinguished general management career of more than 25 years in supply chain and logistics. Bryan Jackson CBE, Unipart Chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Catherine and Dominic to the Board. Both of them will bring a unique perspective, gained through their extensive industry experience and I look forward to their contribution. “We have strengthened the diversity of experience and expertise in the Board to ensure we have the right oversight and leadership to deliver our long-term sustainable growth strategy.” We also announce Non-Executive Director Hamid Mughal and Executive Director Ian Truesdale have resigned from the Board. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ednBSxpg #NonExecutiveDirector #SupplyChainSolutions

A UK powertrain manufacturer, investing £5 million into a new facility to transition to volume production of electric motors, faced limited space and a complex inbound supply chain with high volume variations. Unipart Consultancy designed a new production logistics concept, including vertical storage, custom trolleys, and a hybrid Kanban system. This flexible and scalable solution had a total implementation cost of less than 10% of the overall investment, enabling the manufacturer to invest their cost-savings in further value-adding improvement activities. Click here to read the full case study: https://lnkd.in/eYj2qzJy #UKPowertrainManufacturer #Manufacturing #Logistics #SupplyChainSolutions #Consultancy #CostSaving

Unipart has been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Logistics, Warehousing and Supply Chain Solutions (RM6329) framework agreement, on the following three lots: ◼️Lot 2: Warehousing and Storage Solutions ◼️Lot 3: Logistics Consultancy, Supply Chain and Design Solutions ◼️Lot 4: 3rd Party, 4th Party and 5th Party Logistics Solutions James Stanley, Head of Strategy at Unipart Consultancy, said: “Public sector customers through these lots can access our wide range of solutions including supply chain consultancy, advanced warehouse, transportation and lead logistics partner solutions. “Our consultants have experience in designing and operating supply chains and specialise in transformation through end-to-end supply chain support and improvements. “The CCS framework Logistics, Warehousing and Supply Chain Solutions provides public sector organisations with the opportunity to access our multi-industry experience to help deliver agile supply chains, end-to-end visibility and innovative solutions." Click here to read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/enx8-BKf #CrownCommercialServices #PublicSector #Supplier #SupplyChain #SupplyChainSolutions