Hundreds of ex-offenders and former military personnel have been recruited by Clipper Logistics to solve labour shortages and supply chain challenges.
The company, which processes stock for retailers including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Boohoo, has taken on 1,200 people through Fresh Start in the past two years.
Clipper Logistics was started by Steve Parkin, 61, in 1992 with one van and a driver. It now has 52 warehouses employing more than 8,000 people. It stores and packs clothes and accessories for online and high street retailers and processes their returns.
David Hodkin, 60, chief financial officer, said the company had hired 600 ex-offenders this year and that the scheme was proving hugely successful, with a 92 per cent retention rate. It has set up a training centre at Hatfield prison in Doncaster to help to prepare inmates for work once they are outside.
“We think it is contributing to the social good, whilst satisfying a business need,” he said.
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Labour shortages, caused by self-isolation requirements and European workers leaving after Brexit, have blighted the retail sector. However, Clipper has been a bright spot, benefiting from new contracts with retailers as they experienced a sharp rise in online shopping. Its sales rose by a third to £406 million for the six months to the end of October, while pre-tax profit rose by 12.6 per cent to £16.1 million.
Shares in the company fell by 15p, or 2.1 per cent, to 700p.
