Since the pandemic struck, logistics and fulfilment companies have been called on to keep goods flowing, from vital food and medical supplies to online purchases, as lockdown put additional pressure on online retailers.
One firm, James & James Fulfilment, in Northampton, not only stepped up to the mark, but did so in a way that ensured customers and staff alike were contented and happy – culminating in a win at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2021, where the firm was named Employer of the Year.
During 2021, James & James hired 92 new people in the UK and expanded its operational capacity at its new fulfilment centre. The investment in personnel and the move to new premises benefited employees and clients alike and will support future UK, European and US growth.
In a video that was played to guests at the awards event at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club in November, Founder James Hyde said:
“The business was founded with the view of bringing technology to the world of fulfilment and being able to offer online retailers a more seamless way to fulfil orders and manage their inventory.
“One of the proudest moments of 2021 was making James & James a fun and exciting place to work, in a very challenging time, whilst also keeping the team safe.”
His enthusiasm was backed up by staff, who went on to say how much they enjoyed working at the company, how the teams were always keen to help one another and come up with solutions, and how the company really does care about people. Those opinions were backed up by the NBEA judges, who said:
“We found this category especially challenging to judge, with many exceptional entries, but this company’s learning development plan for staff and their ability to grow their own talent really stood out.”
The Employer of the Year Award was announced by Sir Trevor McDonald, newsreader and journalist, and the host of the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2021.
After the presentation, the James & James Fulfilment team shared their delight in winning the award:
“This is so important for us because it reflects the effort we have put into recognising our people. We’ve made a lot of changes over the past year and we believe it really is a great place to work.
“We’ve had a great night at the awards and now we’ll go and have a couple more drinks to celebrate our win.”
The Employer of the Year Award tops off a successful year for the firm that in June welcomed the Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson, to its UK base to present James Hyde with the Queen’s Award for International Trade.
The Queen’s Award recognises growth and commercial success in international trade – something that James & James now has its eyes fixed on going into 2022.
Emma Dempsey, a proven leader with more than 25 years of experience in supply chain and logistics, has recently been appointed as CEO, responsible for running operations and growing the UK business, while James Hyde has taken on the role of Founder, and is focused on driving tech innovation, international expansion and the growth of its e-commerce retailers.
Find out more about James & James Fulfilment on their website.
