Latest news with #EllesmerePort
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Cheshire gets huge car parts centre the size of NINE FOOTBALL PITCHES creating 200 new jobs in the region
Car giant Stellantis has opened a new vehicle parts distribution centre in Ellesmere Port just months after it closed Vauxhall's van factory in Luton, putting more than 1,100 jobs at risk. The parts centre will become the vehicle component hub for 10 Stellantis-owned brands across the UK and Ireland. It will streamline the company's supply chain, delivering approximately four million parts per year. Of the 240 staff on site, 200 are new jobs for the region. This is on top of the 1,100 people Stellantis already employs in the Cheshire town. The enormous 60,000 square metre warehouse - which is equivalent to the size of nine football pitches - sits adjacent to the company's electric van factory, the first dedicated mass-production site for EVs in Britain since its conversion in 2023. The auto firm invested £100million into the 60-year-old car factory - which previously assembled Astra family hatchbacks - to 'strengthen' its commercial vehicle manufacturing operations in Britain. It comes after Stellantis shuttered the doors of its Luton van factory on 28 March. Some of its 1,100 Bedfordshire workforce were offered roles at Ellesmere instead, which is some 150 miles away. Stellantis UK has opened a new Parts Distribution Centre at Ellesmere Port, after the closure of its Luton van factory in March. It will supply up to four million parts a year Stellantis, which owns Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall and Fiat, employs over 5,000 people in the UK and is Britain's biggest van manufacturer. Andy Kite, parts and service director at Stellantis UK, said: 'The opening of our new UK Parts Distribution Centre enables us to enhance our aftersales service. 'Its central location offers improved UK coverage and delivery times, with the ability to deliver parts to repairers for the next working day – ensuring the shortest possible wait time for customers. 'With all our brands under one roof, from long-established names like Vauxhall to newer brands like [Chinese EV newcomer] Leapmotor, Stellantis customers benefit from the reassurance of knowing they can quickly access the parts they need.' The centre employs 243 members of staff - 200 being new jobs - operating over two shifts five days per week, distributing up to 140,000 parts housed in the building and supplying 19 regional hubs. It's size is equivalent to nine football pitches The last Stellantis van rolled off the Luton production line in March marking the end of 120 years of manufacturing Stellantis' decision to shutter Luton's 100-year-old factory put 1,100 jobs at risk. Staff at the Bedfordshire site were offered roles at the Ellesmere Port plant, though this is 150 miles away The opening of the Ellesmere Port parts centre follows the transformation of the nearby vehicle manufacturing plant. The former car factory originally opened in 1964, producing Vauxhall Vivas. But in more recent years became the home of the Astra, with production of Vauxhall-badged models for the UK market and left-hand-drive Opels in mainland Europe. When production of the latest Astra was moved to Germany, the UK car factory was converted into the nation's first EV-only volume manufacturing site in 2023. A year later in November 2024, the company announced it would be closing its 100-year-old Luton van factory to shift all manufacturing to the refurbished Cheshire site. Despite opposing calls with unions dubbing it a 'slap in the face' for the people of Luton, Stellantis pushed ahead with its closure, transferring all van manufacturing - and some staff - to the North West town. The parts distribution centre is the first UK warehouse to achieve outstanding BREEAM accreditation, the world-leading sustainability assessment method for the built environment and infrastructure The enormous 60,000 square metre parts warehouse sits adjacent to the company's electric van factory (pictured), the first dedicated mass-production site for EVs in Britain since its conversion in 2023 The new parts distribution centre is the latest consolidation of Stellantis' EV ambitions in the UK - part of its strategy to globally sell 75 EV models by 2030. In 2024, Stellantis saw a significant increase in battery vehicle sales, particularly in the UK, where it was the leading electric van manufacturer and took 10 per cent of the electric car market. Keeping with this zero emission mindset, Stellantis says the parts centre was designed with sustainability at the forefront. It can harvest up to 7,000 litres of water through a storage tank, there are 32 EV charging points, and LED lighting to lower energy usage. It is the first UK warehouse to achieve outstanding BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) accreditation, the world-leading sustainability assessment method for the built environment and infrastructure.
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Ellesmere Port car parts mecca to make life easier for Vauxhall, Citroen, Fiat and Peugeot owners
The owner of Vauxhall, Peugeot and several other car brands is set to open up a multi-million pound parts distribution centre in the UK, which will stock roughly four million parts per year for dozens of models aged up to 10 years old. Stellantis' new parts mecca in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, will sit next to its pre-existing electric van manufacturing plant which currently builds the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, Peugeot E-Rifter and Citroën ë-Berlingo people carriers. Advertisement - Article continues below Equivalent in size to roughly nine football pitches, the new warehouse occupies a colossal 60,000 square metres and, thanks to 14-metre-high shelving units, can cater for as many as 140,000 different parts. As well as catering for Stellantis stalwarts like Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, the new distribution centre will also stock parts for the likes of Leapmotor – a new Chinese brand which has recently fallen under the conglomerate's umbrella – in an effort to give customers peace of mind when it comes to parts availability. Yet despite its gigantic size, Stellantis' new site is the first UK warehouse to receive BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) accreditation. This evaluates the way a building is constructed, what materials are used and how it will be operated in order to determine how environmentally sustainable it is. Manager of the new parts distribution centre, Diane Miller, said the new location 'ensures a more efficient process by bringing all Stellantis brands under one roof. Thanks to the more central location afforded by Ellesmere Port, we also benefit from better transport links for distribution to our 19 regional hubs across the UK and Ireland.' All of this comes shortly after Stellantis pulled the shutters on Vauxhall's iconic Luton manufacturing plant, which resulted in 1,100 job losses. Stellantis had previously threatened to pull out of the UK manufacturing sector altogether due to the tough conditions placed upon brands under the ZEV Mandate, however, investment in the Ellesmere Port plant suggest that Stellantis is here to stay – for now, at least. Our dealer network has 1,000s of great value new cars in stock and available now right across the UK. Find your new car… Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
Auto Car
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Stellantis opens new parts distribution centre at Ellesmere Port
Close Stellantis UK has opened a new parts distribution centre at its factory in Ellesmere Port that is set to stock some four million components every year. Measuring 60,000 square metres, it employs 234 staff working two shifts, five days a week, and will deliver parts to 19 regional hubs. It will stock components for cars aged up to 10 years old from all Stellantis brands present in the UK: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Leapmotor, Peugeot and Vauxhall. The new warehouse has also gained BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certification in light of its sustainability measures.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Katie Price forced to 'pull out of highly-anticipated tell-all tour' with Kerry Katona
Katie Price has reportedly been 'forced to pull out of her highly-anticipated tell-all tour' with Kerry Katona. The pair's show An Evening with Katie and Kerry - On Tour is set to kick off in Ellesmere Port on Thursday, September 11 and conclude in Hull on October 22. But after 'trying everything to make it work,' Katie, 46, will have to sit out the mammoth 33-date run due to childcare issues. The model is mum to Harvey, 22, with ex Dwight Yorke, Junior, 19, and Princess 17, with ex-husband Peter Andre, and Jett, 11, and Bunny, 10, with ex-husband Kieran Hayler. A source told The Sun: 'Katie is gutted and tried everything she could to make it work but she has had to step away from the tour because she has childcare commitments and also a very busy schedule.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. They added: 'She hates letting her fans down and hopes to be able to do something similar in the future. 'At the moment, it's unclear whether Kerry will continue without her or if the whole tour will be scrapped.' MailOnline has contacted Katie's representative for comment. The duo are set to share 'stories of their friendship, marriage and divorce, bankruptcy, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, the importance of family, their constant press attention and turning their lives around.' Each night will also feature singing, dancing and questions from the audience. Kerry rose to fame in 1998 as a member of the girl group Atomic Kitten, while Katie gained recognition for her glamour modelling work. When Katie went on to tie the knot with Peter Andre in 2005, Kerry supported her pal on her big day as one of her bridesmaids. However, the pair then famously fell out in 2007 when Katie called Kerry a 'druggie' and accused her husband at the time, Mark Croft, of being 'a bully'. They did not speak for months, until Kerry revealed that Katie had apologised for her comments and they have called a truce. However, by February 2008 the two had reignited their feud once more, after Kerry commented on allegations made by Katie's former nanny about her employer's abilities as a mum. Following Katie and Peter's split in 2009, Kerry took her revenge by getting very cosy with the Mysterious Girl singer and going on playdates with their kids. While both insisted they were just pals, Kerry said he would be her 'ideal' boyfriend, after they joined the same management company. Their closeness reportedly infuriated Katie, but later that year it was alleged that Kerry was hoping to reconcile their friendship. Kerry and Mark eventually divorced in 2011, after a relationship marred by cheating allegations from both parties and claims he had an 'obsession with spending her money,' that contributed to her bankruptcy. Kerry went on to admit to her drug abuse and crippling addiction, saying her marriage to Mark was 'about cocaine'. In the wake of the split, Kerry buried the hatchet with Katie again, later admitting that her friend had been 'right' when she called her out. The pair became so close that Kerry invited Katie to be her bridesmaid at her wedding to her next husband George Kay, in September 2014. However, Katie pulled out of her official duties last minute because she couldn't get into the size eight bridesmaid dress, after giving birth to daughter Bunny six weeks earlier. Despite this the BFFs seemed to still be on track, appearing together in Instagram posts and at football matches, before making joint appearances on Loose Women, where Katie gushed that the pair had a 'true friendship'. It was reported that the duo had become inseparable once again now they both lived in Sussex and had both suffered heartbreaks, with Katie's husband Kieran Hayler cheating on her and Kerry divorcing George. Despite the former foes becoming best pals once again, rumours of their war of words rising again still swirled. In September 2019, Katie was reportedly 'furious' with her friend, after the Atomic Kitten star said Katie had ' crossed the line' with her latest cosmetic surgeries. At the time Katie had displayed the results of one of her many plastic surgery sprees, after undergoing yet another face and eye lift, a breast reduction and a bum lift reversal in Turkey. In an attempt to give her a more youthful-looking visage, surgeons made incisions by her ears, and photos after the procedure showed the star sporting painful looking wounds and stitching at the base of her ears. Kerry admitted she was worried when she saw gruesome images of her pal after going under the knife once again. But The Sun reported that Katie felt as though she has been 'stabbed in the back' by her friend and sees her word as hypocritical as Kerry has also been open about having had multiple cosmetic surgeries in the past. However, Kerry denied that the pair had fallen out and said they were still 'great friends' while insisting that 'nothing could destroy their friendship'. The duo made sure to squash the feud rumours once and for all by filming a video together, poking fun at the speculation. The two TV personalities have stayed close, with their daughters even forming a strong friendship of their own, which had been credited with keeping their mothers' bond going. Katie's daughter Princess, 17, and Kerry's daughter Heidi, 18, have been best friends since birth and have brought Kerry and Katie back together many times. While both enjoy having a laugh together, Katie and Kerry have also supported each other through tough times. In July 2020, Kerry looked after Princess while Katie's son Harvey was in intensive care with a fever and breathing issues. And she was there for the star in August 2021, when Katie was hospitalised herself after being assaulted by her then fiancé Carl Woods. However, the pair still took subtle swipes at each other over the next few years, suggesting their bond wasn't always so steadfast. Kerry complained that Katie wouldn't answer her calls and that she speaks to Princess more than her mum. In February 2022, she even quipped that Katie only got in touch with her to get her advice about OnlyFans. The mother-of-five has raked in thousands on the adult subscription site, with Katie then following in her footsteps. The singer also mocked her pal for all her public scandals and her infamous relationship with ex-husband Peter. Speculation that the friendship had soured grew over recent years, until Katie shut down the rumours in February 2023. That same month, Kerry was said to have vowed to help Katie 'turn her life around' following her split from fiancé Carl. So when Katie moved on with Married At First Sight star JJ Slater, Kerry didn't hesitate to give her seal of approval and voiced her joy that her friend had found love again. After finally declaring Katie was his 'girlfriend' following a whole host of of loved-up snaps on Instagram, JJ, 31, said it would have been 'ideal' if she had been the one he was matched with on the E4 reality show, as it would have 'saved a lot of time'.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Katie Price forced to QUIT huge 33 date UK tour with Kerry Katona in massive blow to fans
KATIE Price has pulled out of her planned theatre tour with pal Kerry Katona, leaving the future of the show up in the air. The two popular reality television starlets - who met on I'm A Celeb - were set to join forces for a "tell-all tour". 3 3 But former glamour model Katie, 44, has been forced to pull out of all 33 dates, which would have seen the two ladies visiting towns up and down the country for "An Evening with Katie and Kerry - On Tour". A source told The Sun: 'Katie is gutted and tried everything she could to make it work but she has had to step away from the tour because she has childcare commitments and also a very busy schedule. "She hates letting her fans down and hopes to be able to do something similar in the future. "At the moment, it's unclear whether Kerry will continue without her or if the whole tour will be scrapped. "There is no bad blood between Kerry and Katie, they're still best of mates, but it's a huge blow to their fans.' A rep for Katie confirmed she has pulled out, saying: 'Yes, that's correct. Kate has childcare commitments that come first.' The duo were set to start their tour in Ellesmere Port on September 11 and conclude on October 22 in Hull. Katie and Kerry had planned to"share stories of their friendship, marriage and divorce, bankruptcy, 'I'm A Celebrity', the importance of family, their constant press attention and turning their lives around". A post promoting their tour at the time said: "Join them for an evening that promises to be warm, inspirational, motivational and lots of fun!" Katie Price boasts she earns 'really good money' but claims she can't rent anywhere to live after bankruptcy hell One of the ticket sites continued: "There will also be some song and dance and an opportunity for audience questions." And meet and greet tickets had also been announced, with one theatre stating: "40 Meet & Greet tickets are available for an exclusive after-show Meet & Greet with the ladies." Fans were divided by the news, with some overjoyed about the exciting tour, and others up in arms branding it "embarrassing". "A brilliant idea. That will be fun," said one fan. "Yay, can't wait," added another, complete with a red heart emoji. 3
