BIG INTERVIEW
our tech and customer experience and building the middle mile infrastructure needed to bring the cost to serve down.” At the time of the announcement, Zedify also confirmed that the funding would enable it to expand into more cities, as well as launch a new Midlands hub. “It’s known as the golden triangle in the logistics industry on account of how many retail logistics operations are based there and it’s within a four hour trip for 90% of the UK’s population, so forms an efficient part of central distribution,” says King when describing the importance of the Midlands to Zedify’s future plans. “Currently our footprint is well spread across southern cities including London, Brighton and Bristol, but there’s a
“It’s absolutely key to Zedify’s future success that we nail these elements before moving on to our ambitions to be in over 50 UK cities by 2027.”
Leading the charge Away from the figures, King recognises that Zedify could play a significant role in other avenues when it comes to transforming the sectors it operates in. Earlier this year, the business launched a recruitment drive
to increase the number of women in the logistics industry. In collaboration with Loud Mobility, Zedify hosted an
interactive event titled “Women Delivering the Future,” offering women a unique opportunity to explore careers in cargo bike delivery and the wider logistics sector more generally. According to figures
released by Zedify, the logistics industry in the UK is currently experiencing a significant gender imbalance, with only 19% of its workforce being women. Compounding this, 73% of
women in urban areas do not cycle. With Zedify operating at
the intersection of logistics, cycling, and tech – three traditionally male-dominated spheres – it is committed to driving change. “At Zedify, we recognise that the lack of gender diversity in logistics is not just a social issue, but a commercial one,” comments King. “Studies show that gender-
Some Zedify cargo trikes can hold up to 200kg in weight
gap in central areas, especially in cities like Birmingham and Nottingham which have huge populations, so it’s strategically important for us to expand there.” Since March 2023, the company has almost doubled the size of its team from 113 to 209 and signed up national brands including Hello Fresh, Selfridges and Veja. With the latest investment, it expects to create 80 new jobs, including 20 in the new Midlands hub, and to significantly increase its turnover. “Over the next 12 months, we plan to triple our revenue but
it’s likely we’ll only have one more city launch,” adds King “The focus for us is on building density, improving
cost to serve and expanding our client base with UK wide retail giants.
20 | November 2024
diverse teams are 47% more profitable, and we see the
positive effects of balanced teams every day. “Our own data reveals that our mixed-gender delivery
teams are not only more efficient but also report greater job satisfaction. It’s time we address this imbalance head-on.” The aforementioned event, which took place in Hoxton,
offered practical insights into a career in logistics, with participants learning new skills and hearing from inspiring women already thriving in the sector. Four women who attended were interested in trial shifts as a direct result.
“This is not just a one off,” concludes King. “Keep an eye out for upcoming events and partnerships as we spearhead this campaign to get more women into cargo bike delivery and logistics more generally.” ●
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