Derbyshire logistics firm to provide 100 new jobs as business expands

Great Bear Markham Vale which has has two sites in Duckmanton and Mastin Moor, employs around 800 workers in the region and is promoting dozens of job vacancies in an attempt to recruit additional workers to meet the growing demand for their services.

The new jobs come after the business’ parent company Culina Group recently acquired haulage business Eddie Stobart – increasing the need for more logistics support and new workers in Derbyshire.

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Culina Group’s major takeover has made them the UK’s largest FMCG logistics business with an overall turnover of more than £2.2 billion alongside a combined workforce of more than 22,000 staff, over 20 million square feet of warehouse space and a joint fleet of more than 5,500 vehicles.

Great Bear Markham Vale’s distribution park located off Junction 29A on the M1 is already a significant local employer in Derbyshire – in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every week of the year, with staff handling over 8,000 pallets of freight daily.

The purpose built, 50+ acre facility first opened just over two years ago and provides around 1,000,000 sq. ft. of warehousing space used for specialist storage and logistics support.

The Derbyshire logistics firm which prides itself on its ‘family approach to business’ has continued to invest in training and development programmes for staff and its drivers, which are in increased demand, with a fleet of tractor units replaced on a regular rolling schedule.

Great Bear is recruiting new workers to join their team and placing an increased focus on their RISE programme (which stands for Recognise, Inspire, Support and Empower) which offers professional on-going development opportunities for colleagues.

The company which is continuing to expand, following an increasingly “online” focused market, says the demand for employment in their logistics business ‘will only grow’ over the coming years.

Debbie Walker has been developing workers at Great Bear Markham Vale for the last 24 months in her role as a lead trainer.

She said: “I love to see people progress, particularly the younger generation coming through and gaining the confidence to achieve things that they never thought possible.”

John Collyer started working for the logistics firm in 2018 as a warehouse operative.

After receiving training support and the opportunity to develop in his role, he has is now working as a team leader, responsible for managing colleagues and has aspirations to continue to progress and develop through Great Bear’s leadership structure.

John added: “If you do your best, Great Bear will do their best to help you grow with guidance and support.

"Great Bear has really given me the confidence to succeed.”

The business said they hope to offer potential employees a “job for life”, a rare claim in the service-driven economy which sees workers particularly in the younger generation have a higher turn around of jobs and employment, more frequently than their parent’s generation.

A range of full-time logistics positions, with a specific call for drivers, are available on Culina Group’s website.

Visit culinacareers.co.uk for more information.

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