Latest news with #Unipart
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Planned new pitch for Oxford United's women's side
Oxford United is seeking permission to build a new 3G pitch and floodlights at its training ground, principally for its women's Oxford Sports Park, near Horspath, currently has six 3G pitches for five-a-side use and two for seven-a-side matches and can be used by the club said the new pitch would provide its women's side with a suitable facility as it pushes for promotion to the Barclays Women's Championship, the second currently play in the FA Women's National League South and finished fifth in the 12-team division at the end of the 2024/25 season. The training ground's sits close to Unipart's site and the Mini plant in U's have been based at the training ground since 2018. The club took full control of it from Oxford City Council in November had previously used a site in Roman Way, a short distance away from the sports application regarding the U's potential new ground near Kidlington could be given permission this summer. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
RUTH SUNDERLAND: Closed minds and group-think are the enemies of growth
Unipart is not the world's most glamorous company, but it is one I have admired for a long time. It was founded in 1987 by one of the UK's leading industrialists, John Neill, from the wreckage of the old British Leyland. In the 1970s, the car company had become a byword for inefficiency and industrial strife. Yet from those unpromising beginnings, it eventually became a beacon of enlightened capitalism. By the time Neill finally retired last year, the business – owned by its 12,000 staff – was making £1billion a year. So I was all ears at a dinner in Oxford last week hosted by the new chief executive, Darren Leigh, where the theme was creating the right conditions and mindset for growth. It barely needs saying, that is just as urgent a topic now as it was in the Seventies – a decade to which this benighted Labour Government seems intent on returning. Unipart has succeeded against the odds through a deceptively simple formula. The company describes itself as a 'supply chain performance improvement partner'. It sounds a little bit like something David Brent, the Ricky Gervais character in the sitcom The Office, would say. But it's a serious business, underpinned by a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration called the Unipart Way. In plain terms, the idea is to encourage all the employees – who are motivated through their ownership of the company – to solve problems and come up with bright ideas. John Neill was no softie in his business life and was not afraid to confront the rabid trades unionists of the 1970s. But the experiences of his early career taught him how damaging and costly those clashes were. It instilled a business philosophy based on the principles of respect, collaboration, diversity of thought and mutual benefit. This is in line with the thinking of American psychologist Carol Dweck, who came up with the idea of 'Know-It-All' versus 'Learn-It-All' individuals. Know-It-Alls have a fixed, rigid mindset, are preoccupied with being right and see ability as innate and unchangeable. Learn-It-Alls are hungry for new information and perspectives. They believe in perseverance, overcoming challenges and see no shame in admitting when they are wrong. One of Dweck's adherents is Satya Nadella, the chief excecutive of Microsoft, who also argues empathy is a business asset. Innovation in a company, he says, comes from grasping the unspoken, unmet needs of customers. The ability to do that, he says, comes from empathy – seeing life through the eyes of another person. In an increasingly polarised political and economic environment, it is easy to forget these are the values most conducive to growth. Conflict, division and adversarial, winner-take-all attitudes achieve the opposite. This is evident on a grand scale as President Trump's aggressive behaviour has resulted in a loss of confidence among business leaders and a reluctance to commit to investing in US assets. Good ideas and good deals are much more likely to emerge when people feel confident and psychologically safe than when they are on the defensive. It has never been easier to become a Learn-It-All. Most of us have instant access to infinite knowledge on our phones and computers; we can make connections with individuals anywhere on the planet. At the same time, the world has never been in greater danger of becoming infested with Know-It-Alls. Social media has produced echo chambers where individuals amplify their own prejudices. Closed minds and group-think are the enemies of growth.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unipart wins three-year contract extension with Sky
OXFORD, United Kingdom, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unipart, the supply chain performance improvement partner, has won a three-year contract extension with Sky, the European media and entertainment company, and provider of TV, broadband, mobile, and world-class content for millions of customers. With this UK-based partnership, extended until 2027, Unipart will continue to deliver a range of services and solutions pivotal to the success of Sky's customer propositions, including planning and supply chain management, logistics and transportation, circular economy services, and improvement technologies. Unipart's partnership with Sky, which began in 2004 as a set top box fulfilment operation, has delivered many significant achievements, including the launch of Sky Mobile in 2017, the expansion of Sky Broadband, and the removal of all single-use plastic from Sky's supply chain in 2020. Mike Bristow, Unipart Managing Director, Logistics and Transport UK, said: 'This extension reflects the strength of our partnership with Sky, and the immense trust placed in Unipart. We are proud to have played such a key role in Sky's success over the last 20 years, and will continue to grow this partnership with a wide range of supply chain performance improvement solutions. 'Our partnership is built on the shared values of innovation, quality, and exceptional service, so I look forward to another three years of success for Sky and its many customers.' Darren Leigh, Unipart Chief Executive, said: 'Building long-term strategic partnerships is a vital aspect of our strategy, and crucial to ensuring the continued growth and success of Unipart and its customers. 'In this ever-changing market, we remain focused on anticipating future needs and developing supply chain performance improvement services for Sky that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and customer experience.' For further information, please contact:Alistair Drummond, Head of External CommunicationsE: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
UK not 'jumping into trade war' with US, says Sir Keir Starmer
The UK will not be "jumping into a trade war" with the US over Donald Trump's plans to place 25% import taxes on cars entering America, the prime minister has government is trying to avoid tariffs, set to come into effect on 2 April, through "intense negotiations" with US counterparts, Sir Keir Starmer PM's comments come amid concerns tariffs could upend global motor trade and supply chains, with one of the biggest UK-based exporters to the US, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), in line to be the one of the manufacturers most affected. Trump has argued the measures will lead to "tremendous growth" for the car industry, promising it would spur jobs and investment in the US. But Sir Keir said the tariffs were "very concerning", adding that the government would be "pragmatic and clear-eyed" in its response."The industry does not want a trade war, but it's important that we keep all options on the table," he car exports are worth about £7.6bn per year, and the US is the second largest market for UK cars after the European Union, according to car industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).There are about 198,000 people directly employed in the UK car industry, and it supports about 813,000 jobs in the wider economy, it of the major car makers in the UK have foreign which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata Motors, said the company was "waiting for further information" on the the founder of car parts firm Unipart said the tariffs would push people around the world towards buying Chinese-made cars. 'Strike a deal' The Trump administration plans to impose 25% taxes on imports of cars from 2 April. Taxes on parts are set to start in May or latest move threatens to widen the global trade war and is part of the president's drive to protect American businesses and boost manufacturing within the are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries and such increase costs would be passed onto consumers through higher prices, which could encourage Americans to switch to US-built vehicles. It may also force firms to manufacture and invest in the US. "If you build your car in the United States there is no tariff," Trump has the approach has been questioned by a number economists, who argue it will push up the UK, the SMMT said the announcement of the tariffs by Trump on Wednesday were "not surprising but, nevertheless, disappointing" but called on both governments to strike a chief executive, Mike Hawes, said the "UK and US auto industries have a long-standing and productive relationship, with US consumers enjoying vehicles built in Britain by some iconic brands, while thousands of UK motorists buy cars made in America".The UK government is in talks with the US administration and remains hopeful of a trade deal before tariffs come into force, the BBC understands. John Neill the founder of Unipart and the firm's former executive chairman, said the Trump tariffs were "a gift to the Chinese car industry", because international consumers would respond to a trade war by buying Chinese added the tariffs could have "unintended consequences"."The Americans may think they're boxing the world car industry out of the US, but the reality is they are going to box the US car industry out of the world," he said. JLR is the the most exposed UK-based car firm to Trump's tariffs, according to Ibisworld analyst Yusuf said the tariffs "represent a grave danger to a UK car manufacturing sector in transition" as firms retool factories for electric Allinson added that it would be "extremely difficult" for UK car firms to find alternative markets because the "sector is saturated"."UK-made vehicles are already exported globally, so creating new demand to replace falling US volumes will be a challenge," he added that the UK could respond with retaliatory tariffs on Tesla, which is currently the most popular electric vehicle sold in the UK, selling more than 50,000 cars per which is owned by Elon Musk, will not be "unscathed" by tariffs, the billionaire and Trump advisor wrote on X."The tariff impact on Tesla is still significant," he said.
