“Our thriving global business has been built on the great connectivity that the Humber region has with Europe and beyond. With so many fresh investments, Hull and the wider Humber region has undoubted potential as an internationally-significant business centre” Peter Brown, Managing Director

Neill & Brown is a world-leading logistics company with a multi-million pound turnover operating globally from the Humber region.

The company’s geographical base has been an important factor in supporting its growth due to the region’s strong links to mainland Europe. The UK and Europe remains Neill & Brown’s main market with its fleet of vehicles operating in Italy, Belgium, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Demark and Switzerland on a daily basis.

Whilst prospering in Europe, Neill & Brown continues to look at new and emerging markets and has a growing worldwide business in the US, India and the Far East.

The company was established in Hull in 1917 when Mr Peter Brown’s great uncle met a Mr Neill and they decided to go into business together, transporting timber from Hull’s docks.

Neill & Brown is incredibly proud of its illustrious history which includes supporting the war effort by handling logistics and supplying provisions for the US Army from 1939-45.

Peter Brown, managing director of Neill & Brown Global Logistics, adds:

“Our thriving global business has been built on the great connectivity that the Humber region has with Europe and beyond. With so many fresh investments, Hull and the wider Humber region has undoubted potential as an internationally-significant business centre”.

Building partnerships to meet customers’ need more effectively

Neill & Brown began working with Nippon Gohsei UK, manufacturers of the innovative food-packaging technology Soarnol, in 2004. In 2011, the two businesses started a joint venture to create a 60,000 sq. ft. shared facility at Marfleet Environmental Industries Park close to Saltend, dedicated to the distribution of Soarnol throughout Europe, with additional production and laboratory facilities.

Being in the Humber region has served Nippon Gohsei UK well, according to Jason Hull, Commercial Manager:

“The Humber has proved a very successful location for us and is ideal as a base for our European operations due to its excellent ports facilities and concentration of world-leading chemical companies.

“Combined with our partnership with Neill & Brown Global Logistics, this investment is enabling us to meet customer’s requirements more efficiently.”

Neill & Brown has continued its story of investment, growth and job creation and now operates out of more than 200,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, cargo handling and distribution facilities over two sites, employing over 130 staff.

Celebrating success and heritage on the road

2017 was an exciting year for the business as it celebrated its 100^th anniversary, investment of nearly £1m in a new fleet and the success of its home city of Hull – UK City of Culture 2017.

New trailers, part of the fleet investment, is sporting spectacular livery celebrating the firm’s 100 years in business. Pulled by silver-coloured cabs, they will spread the Neill & Brown message far and wide, especially to its vibrant European marketplace.

The business is bringing a total of eight new vehicles this year. Six of them are part of a rolling five-year replacement programme and two are additions to the fleet to meet increased demand for caravan movements and for UK groupage services, which carry part-loads for different customers. The investment will create three new jobs, taking the total workforce to 132.

Mr Brown added: "We have continued to enjoy business growth and need to refresh our fleet to keep up with the volume of work and maintain the level of service our customers demand." 

Remaining true to family values

With a growing workforce, Neill & Brown is dedicated to supporting its staff and the local community and was proud to be the first company to pledge £17,000 as part of the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture back in 2013. Neill & Brown now has Bid Angel status along with a number of other local bid supporters.

Mr Brown, who is the third member of his family to head the company, added: "We are a Hull business through and through and City of Culture status has the capacity to do a tremendous amount of good for our region.

“It's a happy coincidence that our centenary year coincides with Hull 2017. It's an opportunity to further increase the profile of our business, celebrate the contribution of staff and thank our customers.”

Lastly, Mr Brown added that family values had underpinned Neill & Brown's longevity.

"We are a family business to the core – and not just my family. A couple of years ago, we had eight fathers, with their sons and daughters’ working in the business and this sort of thing has been happening for a long time. Remaining true to those values is what continues to propel us forward”.

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