12 | Tees Business
Serving the Teesside Business Community | 13
A ‘can do’
approach that’s
food for thought
Y
PD Ports Business
Development Director
Geoff Lippitt explains
why portcentric logistics
solution suits many
modern businesses...
AN INTERCONNECTED NORTH IS
THE KEY TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS
R
ecent months have seen an increase
in focus on the economic prosperity of
the North and the potential to become
a dynamic counterweight, complementing
the thriving London and South-east economy.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg,
announced last year the ‘Northern Futures’
consultation which seeks to build on the
North’s strength with an economic core at
its heart. Prior to this in June, the Chancellor
launched his ‘One North’ report and
committed to investing £15b in the Northern
transport infrastructure.
Critical to the success of the North’s
economic prosperity will be the
interrelationships between the private sector
and the LEPs as well as efficient transport
links. If the private sector doesn’t lead the
way with the requirements for the northern
transport infrastructure, the right decisions
will not be made.
Improved logistics, including better use
of our rail network and waterways was a
key feature in the ‘One North’ report. PD
Ports was acknowledged in the report as the
leading developer of portcentric logistics.
PD Ports’ Teesport facility on the North-East
coast has the potential to further attract
logistics activity to sites with efficient low
cost transport networks.
Portcentric logistics creates an efficient
green link to enhance companies
international supply chains. Bringing
goods direct to port located importation or
distribution centres eliminates unnecessary
road miles routing goods inland only
to reroute them back out to their final
destination.
In recent years there has been a significant
step change in this approach to logistics
supply chains and PD Ports has been at
the forefront of this shift. Switching for
port located sites or those in the peripheral
hinterland, has taken cost out of the supply
chain in terms of saved road miles and has
also met the challenge of CSR obligations
with a significant reduction in carbon
emissions.
One of the key factors in PD Ports’ success
is collaboration, as Geoff Lippitt, PD Ports’
Business Development Director, explains:
“Portcentric logistics is not a new concept
nor is the idea of port based distribution
centres. There are clear reasons and clearer
evidence why a portcentric logistics solution
suits many modern businesses. And having
helped some of the UK’s leading retailers,
importers and exporters to simplify their
freight, warehousing and distribution and
minimise logistics costs, we believe the facts
speak for themselves.
“Being the best connected
feeder port in the UK,
Teesport is well placed to
offer importers and exporters
a direct route to Europe and
worldwide.
“Our approach is simple. We work in
partnership with our customers to identify
their logistics needs and develop the right
solution that will continue to adapt as their
needs change. This doesn’t necessarily mean
being located directly at the port and by
working collaboratively with development
agencies as well as local land owners we
can find the right solution within the local
hinterland.
“Moving the goods from port located
distribution centres to their final destination
on the already heavily congested UK road
network is becoming less viable. Supply
chains are under increasing pressure to move
goods through the network faster and more
efficiently. And for that we have a unique
s