UK Warehousing Association chief Clare Bottle has just reached stop No. 63 in her Around the Warehouses in 80 Visits journey to showcase the work of this important sector, arriving in Ballymena to learn the story behind TST Group’s success.
What she discovered was an impressive warehousing business built up over the last 6 years in some part to reverse the fortunes of the local area after the closure of the former tyre factory. Combined with its other UK sites, TST Group has 2m sq ft of warehousing space, providing employment opportunities, and serving a range of blue-chip customers including Aldi, Coca-Cola and Diageo.
Supporting the visit were Logistics UK’s Head of Trade and Devolved Policy, Nichola Mallon and Graham Whitehurst MBE – Chair Mid & East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force (MTF) as Managing Director, Maire Claire Reid hosted the tour around the facilities; detailing the top level services it provides through being a Platinum member of the Pallet-Track network and achieving the highest BRCGS AA* certification.
Nichola Mallon said: “Logistics UK is delighted to join our Freight Council Vice Chair, Marie-Clare Reid, and the team at TST Group to celebrate UKWA’s Year of Warehousing Event. From logistics to customs to warehousing, the TST Group is growing from strength to strength which is fantastic to see for them as a family run business, but also for Ballymena given the employment they are creating, and for the NI economy too”.
Graham Whitehurst MBE commented: “TST Group’s innovative approach and rapid growth are clear examples of how being customer-focused drives success. With people and the local community at the heart of the business, they’ve created an environment where both employees and customers thrive, which is vital for the future of warehousing, logistics and manufacturing in our region. TST Group are a valued member of the Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force, an industry group which brings together key companies in the borough to work collaboratively to resolve common issues.”
Clare Bottle concluded: “TST Group is an excellent example of a warehousing operation that adds value to its local area and the family ethos reflects the strong sense of community here.”
Why 2024 is The Year of Warehousing
Warehousing remains one of the fastest growing, yet least understood sectors in the UK. This is partly because people rarely see what happens inside these often vast buildings, where millions of products are processed every day. Accordingly, the essential work warehouses do has always been ‘behind the scenes’ and therefore to a large extent under-appreciated.
However, as the role of warehousing becomes increasingly central to everyday lives, it’s time to turn the spotlight onto the million plus people who work in warehousing, all the great work they do and for the sector to be more widely recognised for its contribution to the economy and our national life
