NFIVE UK EXPRESS Hauliers driving growth through digitisation


Salim Lorgat came to haulage from the family furniture trade, starting out with a single 7.5 tonne truck and a plan to build something of his own. Sixteen years on, the Blackburn firm remains a four person, family run business, working the length of the country with two 18 tonne curtainsiders.


NPD STUDIO New business model: Design it, build it, sell it


npd is a product design and development consultancy based in Samlesbury, working across defence, energy storage, sports innovation, health and manufacturing. Founded by Nathan Partington 12 years ago, the business is now a team of seven, taking products from concept through to build and commercial market success.


Unlike many product design agencies, npd looks for gaps in the market and designs, builds and sells products of its own, rather than simply supporting clients.


Marketing director Kat Baty says: “We have watched other product design consultancies go into administration as clients bring more capability in house and AI takes on the parts of the process that used to be billable. Selling expertise by the hour only works while clients need to buy it that way, and that’s changing fast.


“We have adopted a design it, build it, sell it approach – investing in our own products alongside client work rather than relying solely on time sold.”


That has included developing and investing in products like Arc Master, a world first golf training tool, and Site Pod, modular units designed to improve health, safety and welfare on construction sites.


Kat says: “Site Pod has grown more than 100 per cent this year and is now stocked across renowned nationwide rental networks. Arc Master has attracted interest from top names in golf and secured a free invite to exhibit at the PGA Show.”


On the changed business model, Kat adds: “The lesson isn’t just what to change, it’s when. Waiting for pressure to force your hand is how businesses run out of road. Building our own products has taught us commercial skills that design work never demanded, such as pricing, margin, cash flow and manufacturing trade offs. That thinking now shapes every client relationship we have. We’re no longer just a design and development partner. We’re a genuine commercial partner, from day one.”


We chose to get smaller. As Brexit, Covid and


the rising cost of replacing trucks squeezed the haulage trade, rather than borrowing to replace trucks, I cut Nfive back to two HGVs


LANCASHIREBUSINES SV IEW.CO.UK Patrons:


Salim’s approach to growing his business wasn’t to buy more trucks. Rather than expand the fleet, he digitised the operation using an online marketplace where hauliers find loads and post work they can’t cover themselves. Through it, four people do the work of a much larger firm, with jobs sent straight to drivers’ phones, customers able to track their own deliveries, subcontractors paid in a few taps and extra vehicles brought in on demand.


Before switching to the digital platform, a month of subcontractor invoices would mean a full afternoon of paperwork for Salim and the team. Now it is settled in around five minutes. Over the last year the business has invoiced around £220,000 of work through the platform.


Salim says: “We chose to get smaller. As Brexit, Covid and the rising cost of replacing trucks squeezed the haulage trade, rather than borrowing to replace trucks, I cut Nfive back to two HGVs.


“The question was whether a leaner fleet could still work the length of the country without burying the family in paperwork. The fix was to move almost everything on to an online platform and let the tools carry the load.


“Our drivers work from an app on their phones. Each job arrives with collection and delivery details, and they update progress, share live tracking and photograph proof of delivery on the spot, so nobody’s ringing round for updates. Subcontractors track their loads, too.”


Mandy Lockett FCIEx, international business director


mandylockett


HMRC COMPLIANCE IS A BUSINESS


PRIORITY A recent £6.4m settlement over breaches of UK export controls has provided a timely reminder of the risks businesses face when compliance falls short.


For businesses involved in international trade, that means having the right procedures, controls and knowledge in place to meet HMRC requirements and protect against financial and reputational risk.


Is your business fully compliant with HMRC regulations? Are your record keeping processes robust and capable of withstanding scrutiny? Do you have strategic controls in place to manage imports, exports, customs declarations and regulatory obligations effectively?


Compliance is not solely the responsibility of one department. Staff across the organisation play a key role in maintaining standards.


Sales and purchasing teams need to understand and apply the correct Incoterms®


when negotiating international


trade transactions. They should also understand rules of origin and how these impact duty liability and trade agreements, while commodity codes should be reviewed regularly to ensure products are classified correctly and consistently.


Finance teams are equally important. They should ensure appropriate access to HMRC’s digital services, with user permissions that support efficiency while maintaining control and accountability.


Compliance must be embedded within daily operations, not treated as an afterthought. No organisation wants to face penalties, investigations or costly disruptions that could have been avoided.


Improve your compliance knowledge today. Join our International Trade Bootcamp and gain practical, hands-on guidance from industry experts for £300.


Act now and ensure your business trades with confidence, efficiency and compliance.


Call us on 01254 945903 or visit chamberelancs.co.uk


Celebrate Lancashire Day with the county’s business community!


Date: Friday 27 November 2026 Time: 12.00pm – 5.00pm Venue: Burnley Football Club


• Network with like-minded leaders from businesses of all size and sectors


BOOK NOW Become a patron


Put your business at the heart of Lancashire Business Day.


Show your support for the county and raise your profile across Lancashire’s business community.


Contact Joanne Hindley on 07442 949697 or email joanne@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk.


Brought to you by #LBD26


In association with:


Charity Partner:


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IN VIEW


INNOVATION AND CHANGE


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