Yodel has announced plans for a long-term strategic investment in a new Northern super-hub to support the company’s growth.

The investment, which aims to protect all existing jobs while also creating new job opportunities for the wider region, will see a five-year transition from the existing Shaw hub.

Yodel says the upgrade is in response to growing parcel volumes, triggered by a series of new client wins and the increase in consumer demand for online retail, since the global coronavirus outbreak.

Mike Hancox, chief executive officer of Yodel, said: “As we look to Yodel’s long-term future, it is necessary to take strategic decisions which benefit the business, our people, clients and customers.

“That is why we are announcing plans for a new super hub in the North of England to take Yodel to the next phase of its growth journey. This represents an important upgrade to our current operations – creating more opportunities across the regions."

Yodel has updated employees, colleagues, union reps and local stakeholders on the plans.

The company said it will enter careful consultation with these groups to identify a new site which is well-connected and provides room for sustained, long-term growth, whilst supporting affected colleagues.

Hancox said: “We take very seriously our responsibilities to our colleagues, many of whom have been with us for a long time and who work tirelessly to deliver for our customers.

“We are working alongside the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), our recognised trade union, and will listen carefully as we look to identify a new site location. We’ll also work closely with local authorities and community leaders to make sure this process is carried out as fairly and sensitively as possible for our colleagues.

“We’re announcing this now to give our colleagues the best possible opportunity to prepare for the change. Over the next five years our priority will be to provide a fair outcome for our team, and we’ll do everything we can to support colleagues through this transition.”