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Pallet Trucks UK has urged workers in transport and warehousing to remain vigilant after the two industries were named as being common for exploitation.

Modern slavery is a horrific practice which is currently rife in the UK, with victims of modern slavery being trafficked into Britain and forced to work long hours in return for very little pay, with most of the victim’s wages being passed on to the traffickers.

Independent law enforcement charity Crimestoppers has joined forces with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in an effort to stop the growing issue with its ‘Spot the Signs’ initiative, which is designed to help people spot the symptoms of people who may be victims of exploitation.

Phil Chesworth, Pallet Trucks UK Managing Director, said: “It’s terrible that such a disgusting practice is going on in the UK, often right under our noses. Victims of the practice may repeatedly come into work bearing injuries because of the abuse they endure, and tend to have inappropriate clothing or safety equipment for the job they’re doing as they can’t buy it themselves.

“With warehousing and transport being industries we’re very much involved in, I’d like to urge anyone who thinks that someone they work with might be being exploited in this cruel manner to contact Crimestoppers immediately.”

Victims of modern slavery are often kept in packed accommodation with other victims to create larger profits for traffickers, and many tend to be malnourished or underweight due to them not being allowed to buy their own food.

Further signs of exploitation include workers wearing the same clothes, being unhygienic and being collected and dropped off from work early in the morning or late at night. Victims of modern slavery may also appear to be scared of talking and hesitant to make eye contact, as well as having little or no identification or documentation.

Phil added: “Many victims of modern slavery come from eastern-European countries and have a bias towards industries which require manual labourers, which is why warehousing and transport jobs have been named as being common areas for exploitation.”

The National Crime Agency predicted last month that modern slavery is likely ‘in the tens of thousands’ in the UK, a shocking figure considering that the number was said to be around 3,600 by the UK Government in 2016.

Modern slavery also commonly forces victims of human trafficking and migrant workers to work in prostitution, drug smuggling, manufacturing, car washing and agriculture as well as transport and warehousing.

Pallet Trucks UK produces a range of long-lasting, high quality products which are widely used in the UK transport and warehousing industries such as pallet trucks, stackers and forklift trucks.

The UK-based company also sells products such as moving skates, platform lifts, lift tables, sack trucks and drum loaders, and as a result often does sells its wares to workers and businesses in the construction industry.

PalletTrucksUK, one of the UK’s most successful suppliers of pallet trucks, stackers, lift tables, and a whole host of other essential equipment, has offered online traders tips for keeping their customers happy, after it’s been reported that 78% of UK adults are likely to switch to an alternative retailer when next shopping for products online if they have a poor ordering and delivery experience.

The experts, who have been trading online for many years, know what it takes to keep customers happy, from the moment they click on a site, to the moment they receive their order. And as such, have received sterling feedback from large, corporate customers with large orders, to small start-ups who just need a few things to get them up and running.

The first port of call for online businesses to ensure their offering is as customer-friendly as possible is to get a good staff base in place. If businesses have a reliable staff force, then work will get done in a timely manner.

“If it’s a team, they need to work together and ensure all bases are covered – not just assume it has been done by another worker,” said Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at PalletTrucksUK. “The staff are the heart of the businesses, so as well as hiring competent people that thrive in a busy team, employees must make sure they are happy and valued. After all, it’s been proven that happy employees are around 20% more productive than those who are unhappy[1]. So creating a happy environment really is key in busy online businesses.”

Putting set processes in place is another important factor for online retailers. Making sure everyone knows the systems and protocols in place for new orders and returns can speed up the process significantly and leave valued customers satisfied and encourage them to come back.

Another factor businesses need to look at is investing in equipment to up productivity and increase safety. Equipment has proven to be incredibly important for busy warehouses where there are thousands of orders and returns to process every week. Companies have a relatively small window in this fast-paced online retail world to get product from warehouse and out for delivery. And getting the right equipment is integral to this, while also keeping employees safe by cutting down on the amount of strain from moving items.

The report, released by JDA/Centiro Customer Pulse and conducted by YouGov, found that 56% of the UK adults surveyed had experienced a problem with an online order in the last 12 months – signalling an increase from 53% in the 2016 report, and 47% on the year before. Of those who had experienced a problem, 42% said they had been on the receiving end of a later than specified delivery, 37% had missed a delivery despite being at home, 25% never received an item, and 24% received a damaged item.

Phil, added, “This really is unacceptable in this day and age. Online orders are not a new concept – we’ve had years to practice getting it right. So there’s nowhere to hide unfortunately. And if businesses are to succeed they must get it right first time.

To find out more about PalletTrucksUK and browse their extensive range of equipment available to purchase online, visit the website: www.pallettrucksuk.co.uk

[1] https://www.5dynamics.com/happy-employees-efficient-productive-stay-longer/

PalletTrucksUK has been one of the leading suppliers of warehouse equipment for over three decades. A key supplier to businesses of all sizes and in all sectors, their robust pallet trucks, stackers, platform lifts and moving skates but to name a few, have played a large role in helping businesses to improve their offering and grow significantly. And a big part of that has been their innovative nature and ability to meet the needs of a wide range of customers’ needs. Continue reading Pallet Trucks UK boasts specialist pallet trucks to suit all needs →

PalletTrucksUK has been at the forefront of warehouse equipment for over 30 years. A key supplier to businesses of all sizes and in all sectors, their robust pallet trucks, stackers, platform lifts and moving skates but to name a few, have played a large role in aiding businesses as they make the switch from simple commerce business to omni-channel and even ecommerce-only businesses. Continue reading Pallet Trucks UK offers customers incredible value for money →

Online shopping, next day delivery and click and collect are all common in today’s society. However with increasing demand, it can be difficult for businesses to keep up. PalletTrucksUK, one of the country’s leading suppliers of pallet trucks, stackers and other warehouse equipment, is highlighting the need for businesses to invest in robust stackers in order to keep up with both demand from consumers, and competitors’ offerings.

Despite online shopping being predicted to take over domestic sales for around a decade, it has only been over the last three years that online shopping has really come into its own. Online shopping rose by an incredible 11 percent in 2015, meaning around 27 percent of sales now take place online. And that number is only likely to increase thanks to the rise in next day – and even same day – delivery, click and collect and online-only exclusives.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of PalletTrucksUK, said, “The only way that businesses can keep up with the increased demand is by investing in quality equipment. Leading online retailers such as Amazon and eBay have been great for the retail market, helping to lift online sales and making them not only a feasible option, but now the first option, for many. However in order to make sure that businesses stay competitive, they must look at their bottom line to eliminate the strain from day to day operations.”

Manual and hydraulic stackers do not come in a one-size-fits-all form; different businesses have different needs. And stackers are ready to meet all businesses’ needs. Available in a variety of weight capacities that range from 500kg to 1500kg, and able to reach heights of three metres, stackers have proven to be an invaluable addition to workplaces – no matter what their offering – while also eliminating undue stress on operations teams, and cutting down on accidents and workplace injuries.

PalletTrucksUK has been one of the UK’s leading suppliers of high quality warehouse equipment for over 30 years. An imperative addition to workforces, robust equipment such as pallet trucks, stackers, platform lifts and moving skates can help to improve productivity and turnaround time for businesses, while helping to diminish operational stress.

In some sectors, injuries at work are unfortunately relatively common, while other sectors are seemingly free from accidents and injuries. Thankfully in the UK there are certain guidelines and processes that businesses must follow in order to protect their employees. And PalletTrucksUK, one of the country’s optimum providers of pallet trucks, stackers and lift tables to a range of sectors, is reiterating the need for employers to take precautions to ensure the safety of their employees, after the fatal injury statistics 2015/16 were published.

According to the report, the provisional number of workers fatally injured in 2015/16 is 144. This correlates to a rate of fatal injury of 0.46 deaths per 100,000 workers.

While there were reportedly 67 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work. However this does not include any incidents that relate to railways, and those enforced by the Care Quality Commission.

Phil Chesworth from PalletTrucksUK, said, “The number of fatal injuries taking place as a result of work is incredibly worrying. It’s imperative that employers take the necessary steps, and invest in machinery and equipment in order to ensure they protect their employees as well as themselves against serious accidents that could cause significant injury.”

Over the latest 20 years, there has been a downward trend in the rate of fatal injuries, decreasing significantly since the 1990s. However in recent years, that number has shown signs of levelling off. Highlighting a seven percent drop in injuries over the previous five years, this year has bucked the trend and does show a slight increase on last year. For 2014/15, the finalised figure was 142 fatal injuries, which corresponds to a rate of 0.46 deaths per 100,000 workers.

It is worth noting however that the figures for 2015/16 are provisional at present, covering the twelve months 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016. The figures will be finalised in July 2017, following any necessary adjustments.

PalletTrucksUK has been one of the UK’s leading suppliers of warehouse equipment for over 30 years. The perfect addition to manual handing workforces, good quality equipment such as pallet trucks, stackers, platform lifts and moving skates can help to minimise the number of fatalities in the workplace.

PalletTrucksUK, one of the country’s finest providers of pallet trucks and lift tables to a variety of sectors, has welcomed the news that the online arm of BHS, one of the longest-standing retailers on the British high street, is to be sold to Quatari group, Al Mana. After weeks of talks with prospective buyers, the British institution is set to continue its international and online activities thanks to a purchase from the giant. Set to acquire more than 70 of its international stores and continue its online sales both in the UK and abroad, this news has given a welcome boost to the unstable retail industry.

Phil Chesworth from PalletTrucksUK, said, “It’s been a tough couple of months for the British high street. BHS was seen as one of the most stable and constant players in the retail sector, so it came as quite a shock to companies up and down the country. However the news that it is to live on online is wonderful as it gives hope to the country’s retailers. There’s no denying that online shopping is the future of retail, so it makes sense to take the struggling store right into the 21st century.”

The announcement came just weeks after the company failed to find a buyer after it fell into administration after a troublesome couple of years of struggling sales and falling profits. The Qatari company’s deal, which also has licensing agreements with other British high retailers such as HMV, will guarantee a further return to creditors.

Providing the UK high street with fantastic products, such as clothing, homeware and gifts, the store was much-loved by people of all ages. Unfortunately however the deal won’t save hundreds of jobs that are set to go over the coming months as the shops in the UK shut down. Phil adds, “Although it will still be tough for the BHS staff, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the company. And the fact that the BHS name will live on for years to come is certain to bring joy.”

PalletTrucksUK has been one of the country’s leading suppliers of pallet trucks, stackers and other warehouse equipment for over 30 years.