Company News
John Shirley Ltd celebrates its anniversary in style - 15 years, 20,000 shipments, and two locations
11/02/2011
A fortnight ago, John Shirley Ltd celebrated an important milestone in its history. Marking its 15th anniversary, the company’s staff travelled to London for a commemoration in the West End.Given the Operation Manager’s longstanding reputation for being rather partial towards the band Queen, the company graced the musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre. The performance was then washed-down by a meal at The Italian Kitchen, culminating with a glass of champagne at St Pancras International.
A glass of champagne at St Pancras International
Since the company was established in 1996, John Shirley Ltd has grown from strength to strength, and has continued to adapt to evolving economic circumstances. In view of the recent financial crisis and recessionary effects through the trade sector, commemorating 15 years and 20,000 consignments was deemed all the more important.
John Shirley, Managing Director described the initial steps after he founded the company:
“The first year of the company was a dynamic and stimulating period with turnover five times that expected. Bookings flew in from all quarters. We were the second agent to locate to near the new customs facilities at the Channel Tunnel. Within three months we took larger premises within the same building. The goodwill accorded the fledgling company by suppliers and customers was most heartening. With a location on the outskirts of Ashford we all greatly enjoyed cycling to the office as well.”
He added: “Sadly after four years there a fire occurred in the Tunnel and hauliers refused to use it so we moved to even larger premises at the other end of Snargate Street in Dover. It was at this point that the NATO bombing of Serbia took place. So much relief work followed to Kosovo subsequently that our turnover doubled! All day the phones rang incessantly to the point where personally I was suffering from RSI and ordered a headset to answer calls. In 2003 we bought Maritime House and have been comfortable here ever since”
The company has continued the Maritime House’s link with transport, given its former use as an important branch for the National Union of Seamen. The NUS has since become part of the RMT and continues to occupy one of the offices below John Shirley Ltd.
Read more about John Shirley Ltd's origins here.
John Shirley Ltd–sponsored Townsend Prize celebrates environmental success
31/01/2011
Last Thursday, two students from the Universtity of Kent celebrated winning this year's Townsend prize of £500.Winners Jay and Abbey founded CARE – Consume and Recycle Effectively were rewarded for going around three afternoons per week during the first term knocking on doors to encourage fellow students to use the campus' recycling facilities.
This has been so widely taken up that the Housekeeper for the University reported that for the first time the amount of green sacks they buy has exceeded the number of black sacks.
Presided over by the master of Keynes College, Anthony Ward, a reception was held in the Master’s office at the University. Mr Shirley represented the company, which has now sponsored the prize for several years in honour of a local environmental campaigner - Robin Townsend.
It looks as though CARE will now be a permanent body with the purpose of tackling the first year students each autumn.
To find out more about the Townsend Prize, click here.
Period carriages shipped for film production
17/12/2010
Unprecedented for John Shirley Ltd, the company has arranged the
shipment of carriages from the United Kingdom to Budapest, Hungary,
then from there to Belgrade, Serbia. These carriages were destined for
the filming of an upcoming release.
John Shirley expressed delight at the nature of the consignment:
"Whilst we normally arrange export of usual commercial goods to Hungary
and Serbia, it was amusing to be delivering 19th century style
carriages on the back of modern trucks. This shipment was a welcome
challenge to arrange, given its unusual nature."
Having been used in filming in Belgrade, the carriages are now destined
to return to Britain to their owners - The Devil's Horsemen, who have
"over 150 carriages covering all periods from Roman chariots to present
day carriages."
The photo is courtesy of the
Devil's Horsemen
John Shirley Wins Kent Business Award
The Company won the 'Commitment to the Environment Award' at the Environment Awards for Kent Business 2009. This represents a further step in the evolution of the company and is another recognition of the company's work to reduce it's environmental impact. In 2005, the Company was highly commended by the same organisation when it was a finalist. more...
Steam Locomotive shipped successfully from Bosnia to Kent
As the project to acquire 62-521 from Mittal Steel Zenica proceded to the stage where transport was arranged, John Shirley Transport of Dover was selected on the basis of price quotation, experience with moving unusual loads in and around the Balkans, and also because of expertise with the local language. Some while after John Shirley Transport Ltd was appointed to transport locomotive 62-521 from Zenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Alresford in Hampshire, Project 62 discovered that John Shirley himself had a family association with Mid-Hants Railway Trustee, Robin Higgs. A few weeks after 62-521 arrived in Hampshire, John, a fluent speaker of Serbo-Croat, visited Ropley to read a welcome address to 62-521 in her own language more...
Businessman John Shirley turns building into an Environmental Showcase
Maritime House featured in the KM Mercury, receiving a full-paged spread after John Shirley spearheaded the building's renewal. The newspaper reported upon the completion of major works for the Maritime House building.