The company is currently building the biggest single parcel sorting complex in Europe
and is in need of workers for a wide range of jobs. There are separate hubs for national
and international parcels at the development on the Middlemarch Business Park.
Jim Gunter, project controller for the massive scheme, said the development spelled
only good news for local people.
"This will be the biggest and most modern parcel sorting centre in Europe and all
our parcels will go through the complex.
"We are currently having the sorting systems installed in the international hub
and we will start testing in July before handling live mail from September. The national
hub goes live in February next year.
"We are in a position of having to build up around 550 staff in this area. We have
already appointed one hub manager and are about to appoint another. Some local adverts
will appear in around four weeks time, and that will step up towards the end of May.
"These vacancies will cover the whole spectrum from HGV drivers to clerical
staff."
Mr Gunter added that Parcelforce had recently cut down the number of flights from the
airport but that will rise again to previous levels but with larger planes.
The hubs will be able to cope with 50,000 items an hour and 100 million in a year
thanks to technology that is costing £40 million. International exports are flown from
Coventry to Brussels and then dispatched to 239 countries.
Carl Pearson, Head of Coventry Centre for Investment, said Parcelforce’s new hub
was an unusual boost to the jobs market.
"We do get 200-300 new jobs crop up and there are expansions and takeovers, but
for someone to come in and create this number of jobs with a new complex does not happen
very often.
"These are quality jobs and offer a great opportunity for people. It is a great
boost for the city."
Councillor Nick Nolan, who toured the two hubs today, said the City Council now
wanted to see improvements made to the infamous Tollbar Island on the A45.
"We have been told it is in the government’s medium term plans but we would
want something done to improve it before then if at all possible.
"The great diversity of jobs here is a massive attraction. There will be 80
customs staff alone."
