Port can't contain container staff any longer
March 2010
(L-R) The Wilton Centre Manager Dave Willis with Containerships UK's MD Charles Patton and Company Secretary/Financial Controller Michael Colledge.
A sea and road freight transport company is to move its UK head office away from the dockside in Middlesbrough for the first time in its history. Containerships (UK) has taken advantage of the lease expiring on its existing building at Teesport to find a better working environment for its 38 office staff.
From the end of March, they will be based at the Wilton Centre where employees can enjoy a range of facilities from an on-site restaurant to free car parking and landscaped grounds.
Charles Patton, MD of Containerships UK, said the latter aspect of their new home would be particularly welcome to staff more used to the barren surroundings of the docklands where the company was established over 40 years ago.
"Even though the Wilton Centre is close to the chemical works, it is a great environment - surrounded by greenery and with water features," said Charles.
"Staff have already been there for a visit and are all very positive about the move. It will seem like another world and yet we will still be only a short distance from the docks and adjacent to great road links,” he added.
Containerships (UK) is a short sea carrier providing key industrial and retail customers with regular connections between the UK and the Baltics and the Eastern Mediterranean, plus it operates a nationwide road haulage service transporting cargo to and from the ships on its fleet of 60 trucks.
It will retain warehouse and repair workshops at Teesport. The staff who are relocating are those from the Sales, Finance and Customer Service departments.
The Wilton Centre's Manager, Dave Willis, is looking forward to welcoming its newest tenant.
"I am sure it will be a wrench for Containerships to leave Teesport after being there for so many years but we are only down the road and I am sure its staff will enjoy the facilities and environment, both of which have tempted many other companies before them to make the move to Wilton!" said Dave.