Meachers SDC

Meachers Global Logistics has sealed a new partnership with Southampton City Council and Wessex Procurement to provide local NHS Covid hubs with urgent PPE supplies when needed.The partnership sees Meachers support the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust with the storage and delivery of PPE.

The new PPE supply arrangement is being offered through the Southampton Sustainable Distribution Centre (SDC), a service procured by Southampton City Council and operated by Meachers Global Logistics.

The SDC has over 600 pallets of PPE in secure storage, giving the hospital a central point to review stock levels and enabling direct delivery to local NHS hubs at convenient times and on-demand.

By consolidating stock the total number of deliveries made into the city is reduced, easing congestion and reducing emissions.

The SDC also offers business storage facility on the edge of the city, where goods can be consolidated, delivered on-demand and stock levels monitored and managed.

Gary Whittle, commercial director of Meachers Global Logistics, said: “We are delighted to be able to help during these challenging times. We had already started to store a small amount of PPE for the Trust but when we were asked to provide a more complete logistics solution, which includes inventory management and onward distribution, as well as warehousing, we were happy to be totally flexible and provide the range of services that are required to keep the supply chain for the Trust’s PPE reliable and robust.”

The SDC forms a part of the council’s Green City Plan which aims to reduce emission pollutant levels, decrease HGV movements, and improve air quality and the carbon footprint of delivery services in Southampton.

Councillor Steve Leggett said: “This partnership highlights that positive outcomes happen when businesses across Southampton partner together.

“We are helping to provide essential services by supporting our local NHS during the pandemic while also reducing the impact on the local environment from the additional deliveries expected.”

He added: “Meachers Global Logistics is one of our Green City founding signatories, and the provision of the SDC service by their team is indicative of the shared vision to reduce climate change and create a better place for present and future generations.”

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