As a small, historic industrial town, Consett has undergone more modern change than some might expect. Here, logistics demands are ever-changing, and this has had a significant knock-on effect on the way small and large Consett companies now operate.
When you consider Consett’s strong resilience even in economic turmoil, it makes sense that there is constant evolution. The place is now decades past the closure of the steelworks and is now more focused on meeting new logistics demands by creating more flexible, sustainable, and tech-driven workplaces.
A Rise in Combined Spaces
Previously, there was a clear divide between offices and warehouses. The warehouse organised the manual side of logistics, such as holding inventory, replenishing stock, and fulfilling orders, while the office handled the creative and administrative side of everything. Consett workspaces are divided as follows:
- Administrative office spaces in the centre of the town
- Operational warehouses in more rural locations on the edge of Consett (and surrounding areas)
This is changing. To meet logistical demands, companies are now combining spaces into a single area for more seamless, streamlined processes. This brings together every part of the company, including the administrative, management, and engineering sides.
More Flexibility
There is a rising need for Consett workplaces to be more flexible. There are a couple of reasons for this.
First, it’s because local businesses in Consett experience both quiet and busy periods. Perhaps during a quieter period (which, for Consett, is typically during January and February), there’s only a need for a small office close to the warehouse where a team can run things efficiently. At peak seasons, there may be a need to scale up and bring in more employees to keep operations running smoothly. Having access to flexible industrial space in Consett, including workshops and units suited to storage, fulfilment, and operational needs, means that businesses can save on operational costs during the cool-off periods.
Second, there are non-local businesses from outside of Consett that are interested in tapping into this Durham market. With a flexible contract, a business can test the waters in this area without being tied down to a lease that they cannot get out of. This gives the town more opportunity to grow.
More Businesses Choosing Consett Workspaces for Lower Costs
Consett is undeniably a cheaper place to rent workspaces compared to other areas in the northeast of England, such as Newcastle.
With logistics demands only growing, it means a number of companies are now choosing to switch their operations to Consett to take advantage of the lower rates. This makes a lot of sense when you consider where Consett is. While it’s not directly on the A1, you can easily use the A167 to then merge onto the A1, giving easy access to the rest of the UK.
A Focus on Workplace Sustainability
In Durham, there has been extensive research into how beneficial it is for companies to invest in ESG practices, including this piece from Durham University. What’s clear here is that it’s even more important for logistical operations to meet sustainable demands. In Consett, businesses have managed this in a few ways:
- Solar panels: Many of the industrial buildings in Consett have flat roofs. As such, they make a great space to place solar panels, which provides a source of renewable energy.
- Goodbye to plastic: Many local distribution centres in Consett are swapping out plastic packaging for biodegradable alternatives.
- Freight consolidation: Multiple Consett-based businesses are consolidating their logistics demands by using single HGVs for multiple business loads, not just their own. This reduces the number of freight journeys.
Better Technology Used Within the Workspaces
Logistic demands in Consett require more reliance on technology, as this means faster and more efficient operations. As such, employers are looking beyond four walls and enough space for machinery. Instead, they are on the search for:
- Outdoor space for large vehicles
- Three-phase electricity for constant power flow
- Increased security
You can see that more and more Consett workspaces are making the most of tech. For example, Linden Park, which typically offers industrial units, is using more advanced infrastructure and flexible layouts.
Robotics and AI
Some Consett businesses are also looking into robotics and AI, which completely reshapes the workspace. This includes adjustments like:
- High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the whole workplace: There cannot be a corner of the workplace that doesn’t have access to Wi-Fi, as the whole place will be run on an automated system. If there’s no internet, there’s no flow or efficiency.
- Charging zones for autonomous robots: As workplaces (particularly warehouses) use more robotics for manual tasks, there naturally needs to be charging zones within the space so that the robots can recharge when they need to.
- Levelled flooring for robotic transportation: Levelled flooring has always been preferable, but manual labourers have typically been able to adapt. That’s not the case anymore, as perfectly flat, level flooring is a necessity for robotics to move efficiently without any disruption.
- An increase in vertical space for automated storage retrieval: In warehouses, it’s now common for automated robots to retrieve storage within the warehouse. As a result of this, warehouses are seeing an increase in the use of vertical space, as robots are better able to retrieve from higher up compared to humans.
- Automated facial recognition: For increased security, offices and warehouses now often use AI-driven cameras to scan employee and visitor faces, which will then be stored in a database. This database creates a list of pre-registered individuals who have automatic access, increasing security all around while minimising disruption.
The Search for Highly Skilled Workers
In the past, the job market in Consett focused predominantly on manual labour. There’s been a bit of a turn, though, as more Consett businesses want highly skilled employees who can handle different areas of business to meet logistical demands. In particular, technical skills.
So, workplaces are increasingly focused on individuals with advanced manufacturing, logistics, and technological skills, with less focus on “low-skilled” labour. To help achieve this, hubs have been placed around Consett to increase people in the area’s skill set. One example is Derwentside College, which offers a range of adult courses, including business, leadership, and management.
Final Thoughts
Logistics demands constantly evolve, including in a small town like Consett. Now, it’s important for employers to be more sustainable, seek out highly skilled workers, and invest in flexible work environments. The chances are, in another ten, twenty, or thirty years, the workplace landscape will have changed significantly once again. What Consett people can rely on, though, is that the durable town will always keep up with the trends.
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