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Article

On time, or not, that is the question

In many ways, logistics is like a theatre show, particularly when we think about operational and transport planning. Paddy MacBrant explains why.

Article

Fantastic skills and where to find them

The magical origins of my title might have evaded some readers, but I stand by the mythical analogy.

Report

2024: The opportunities & challenges in UK warehousing

Terry Murphy explores the opportunities & challenges in UK warehousing in our latest report.

News

Hatmill donates £24,000 to charity as part of its commitment to giving back

Hatmill, the employee-owned, Yorkshire-based supply chain and logistics consultancy, has donated £24,000 to six deserving charities.  

News

Hatmill launches new sustainability offering

Hatmill, the employee-owned independent supply chain and logistics consultancy, has launched an end-to-end net zero offering, supporting supply chain, logistics and warehousing organisations in achieving their sustainability goals.

John Adderley

Dave Anakotta

News

Hatmill aims for net zero by partnering with net zero delivery firm Flotilla

Hatmill, the leading independent supply chain and logistics consultancy, has announced its commitment to net zero by partnering with Flotilla, the net zero carbon accounting, consulting and delivery firm.

Hatmill’s net zero strategy starts today

Hatmill is a hands-on supply chain and logistics consultancy delivering improvements to warehouses, transport, forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience.

Towards net zero: How Hatmill can help

Optimising your supply chain with warehouse automation technology can help you create advantage over competitors, improve the customer experience and increase efficiency.  

Will Thomson

Max Jelfs

Noor Malik

Zakar Hussain

Hannah Whitley

News

Hatmill is one of Europe’s best workplaces

Hatmill is very proud to announce that we’ve been named one of the Best Workplaces in Europe.

News

Hatmill expands into North America to support clients’ supply chain challenges

Hatmill, the employee-owned supply chain and logistics consultancy, has announced its expansion into North America on the back of demand for its services.

Joe Brown

Ashley Walker

Supply Chain

NHS England Covid Vaccine Supply Chain

Led by NHSE, and working with the DHSC, NHS logistics, Movianto, the military and a range of other suppliers, Hatmill was central to the success of the vaccination programme.

Supply Chain

NHS England PPE Supply Chain

As coronavirus (COVID-19) rapidly spread across the globe, Hatmill and its strategic partners faced a daunting task – managing the supply chain of critical healthcare equipment during an unprecedented emergency.

Todd Dodson

Jack Graham

Sophie Rushbrooke

Phil Beasley

Report

Warehouse operations development planning: Getting it right

In our latest report Nik Pamplin and Tom McClinton, consultants at Hatmill explore how to optimise your warehouse operations with an Operations Development Plan.

Webinar

Hatmill Huddle replay – Performance: the high cost of low morale

Hatmill’s Founder and CEO Simon Dixon and our organisational readiness expert Linzi Parry discuss the risks of low engagement and the value of a support network to boost your team’s […]

Webinar

Hatmill Huddle replay – Improve your supply chain project results: Why siloed working is hurting your profit and your people

Hatmill’s Founder and CEO Simon Dixon joins our organisational readiness expert Linzi Parry to discuss the pitfalls of siloed working and the impact dislocated teams can have on your bottom […]

Webinar

Hatmill Huddle replay – Improve your supply chain project results: Focusing on capacity & capability

Hatmill’s Founder and CEO Simon Dixon joins our organisational readiness expert Linzi Parry to discuss how to improve your supply chain project results, exploring real world scenarios. Discover the pitfalls […]

Article

Leading change; how low morale impacts performance amongst teams

Effective leadership in sports teams makes them function well and develops confidence to compete as a single unit, united in their goal to do what it takes to beat the […]

News

Finalists for Everywoman 2023 awards

We are pleased to announce that our very own Hazel Beasley and Naomi Harryman-Hassan are both finalists for Everywoman 2023 awards.

Article

Working in silos; why businesses need to burst their bubbles

In busy operational environments, one of the challenges we see that hinders the speed and size of payback from new initiatives is teams working with their heads down. They are […]

Article

Our ethos is based on self-management and mutual trust

Hatmill is ranked the No. 1 Best Workplace™ in the Small size category. Founder Simon Dixon explains why.

Article

A marathon, not a race

Aaron Thomas, Consultant at Logistics and Supply Chain Consultancy, discusses the urgency of Net Zero, and how to achieve it.

News

Hatmill ranked first in UK’s Best Workplaces™

Hatmill has today been named as the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2023 (small business category) by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.  

Article

Improve your supply chain project results: Focusing on capacity & capability

A vital, yet often forgotten, element of delivering benefits from a project is making sure the organisation as a whole is ready for it.  Projects can be compared to a journey, […]

Webinar

New Hatmill Huddle Series: Improve your supply chain project results

If you’re looking for efficiencies or payback on supply chain and logistics investment, you can’t afford to miss our new Hatmill Huddle series ‘Improve your supply chain results’.

Tom Richardson

Webinar

Webinar: The optimal organizational structure for consultancies

Watch industry experts discuss the optimal organizational structure for your consulting firm—and important industry benchmarks to evaluate your own consultancy against.

Article

Q&A with founder Simon Dixon: Does an organisation without hierarchy really work?

Hatmill is at the forefront of automation in the supply chain and manages projects with a total CAPEX value of over £1.5bn. Clients include Asda, Greggs and Royal Mail. But […]

Article

Starting your career in a company with no hierarchy

Katie Nickmans, Consultant at Hatmill Logistics and Supply Chain, talks to some of the young professionals of Hatmill about their journey into the world of logistics, working at a consultancy […]

Elizabeth Hedley-Ryan

News

Hat trick of appointments for Hatmill to boost its automation and sustainability capability

Supply chain and logistics consultancy Hatmill has recruited a host of new industry experts to boost its automation and sustainability capabilities.  

Matt Knight

News

Hatmill recognised in Financial Times Leading Management Consultants listing

Supply chain and logistics consultancy, Hatmill, is celebrating after being featured in the Financial Times UK Leading Management Consultants listing.  

Jayne Metcalfe

Jessica Burns

Jonathan Bower

News

Award winning – The affordability of warehouse rents (a Savills report)

We are delighted to announce that ‘The affordability of warehouse rents’, a report written jointly by Hatmill’s CEO, Simon Dixon and Savills, Kevin Mofid has won The Society of Property […]

News

Why now is the time to invest in electrifying your vehicle fleet

Aaron Thomas, Consultant at Hatmill discusses why now is the time for companies to invest in electrifying their vehicle fleets and what’s next for electric fleets? 

Article

Eight steps to beat peak fatigue

Nik Pamplin suggests eight steps to navigate the difficult peak period, and ensure a successful next season.

News

EV does it: is it time to electrify your fleet?

Hatmill’s Aaron Thomas’ joins Here360 and leading experts from the AA and PAUA Tech to discuss the challenges of electrifying vehicle fleets. 

Article

Peak trading: Nothing else can drive such terror into the hearts of logisticians

This month, it felt topical to share a couple of articles on the most dreaded of dark arts – planning for peak (and recovering afterwards!). Nothing else can drive such […]

News

Is it time to electrify your fleet?

The transport industry is overtaking the energy sector in being the largest contributor of greenhouse gasses in Europe. As a result, there’s significant pressure from both the policy makers and […]

News

Hatmill founder announced as a judge for Start Up Awards

Simon Dixon, Founder of Hatmill, has been announced as a judge for The StartUp Awards. The StartUp Awards National Series recognises the achievements of those amazing individuals who have had […]

Article

When forecasts speak a different language

In the battle for top-down versus bottom-up forecasting, the victim is a pragmatic, planning forecast that helps to better plan labour, space and resource. The solution? Purpose-led forecasting.

News

We’re officially a Great Place to Work!

Our staff have spoken and after a rigorous survey process, we’ve been certified as a Great Place to Work.

News

Hatmill does the double at the Supply Chain Excellence Awards

Hatmill is delighted to be part of the NHS England and Partners team that won two awards at the prestigious Supply Chain Excellence Awards. These were for ‘Team of the […]

Report

Preparing for Peak Trading – 8 Steps to Beat Peak Fatigue

The challenging economic environment has created the perfect storm for retail, with a combination of labour and goods shortages and periods of unprecedented demand. While supply chains, historically, are good […]

Andy Wood

News

Hatmill wins at Yorkshire Business Masters 2022

The Hatmill team are celebrating after winning the Small Business of the Year Award (up to 50 employees) at the Yorkshire Business Masters.

News

Hatmill is a Finalist in the Yorkshire Post Excellence Awards

Hatmill is a Finalist in this year’s Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards. The awards, which recgonise the best in business in Yorkshire, is a calendar highlight for the region […]

Chris Wellings

News

Hatmill shortlisted for six Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2022

Hatmill is delighted to be named as finalists in six categories for the prestigious Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2022. Winners will be announced at the award ceremony, taking place on […]

Aaron Thomas

Shaun D’Arcy

Freddie Swift

Graduates

News

Choosing the right warehouse can help occupiers manage rising costs

Helen Price, supply chain & logistics advisor at Hatmill, joins Savills, Guy Ruddle and guests, Charlie Spicer, director in the national industrial & logistics team and Andrew Smith, strategy director […]

Article

We live and breathe delivery – it is the underlying rhythm of our industry

Logistics and supply chain has always been focussed on delivery. As practitioners we are tasked with delivering to our customers on time and in full, within (and preferably under!) budget.

Liam O’Keeffe

Article

What is the smart way to manage increasing supply chain costs?

Covid, Brexit and the war in Ukraine have brought about a perfect storm for supply chains. Covid has led to seismic changes in shopping behaviour, accelerating online sales by the […]

Article

“For people who don’t know which direction to go, there is only one direction: To stay where they are.”

Mehmet Murat ildan is not a supply chain professional, and I doubt he’s been quoted in this publication before, but the contemporary playwright’s commentary on the folly of undirected endeavour […]

Report

Selecting a site: The affordability of warehouse rents (a Savills report)

Hatmill’s CEO, Simon Dixon, writes about selecting a warehouse site in Savills latest report ‘The affordability of warehouse rents’.   

Article

How to have valuable engagement with automation suppliers from the get-go

The white-hot warehouse automation market may have cooled slightly, but forecasters still expect significant growth – you will need to have a clear, well executed brief to get warehouse automation […]

News

Hatmill is helping to #GrowEO for UK Employee Ownership Day

The team at Hatmill is delighted to be part of the UK Employee Ownership Day (EO Day), run by the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), on Friday 24th June 2022.

Hatmill is Employee-Owned

Hatmill is a hands-on supply chain and logistics consultancy delivering improvements to warehouses, transport, forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience.

Careers

Hatmill is a hands-on supply chain and logistics consultancy delivering improvements to warehouses, transport, forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience.

Ian Bartholomew

Article

Change is a Constant – speaking at the UKWA conference

Linzi Parry, Hatmill’s change and transformation expert was asked to moderate the panel session ‘Change is a Constant’ at the recent UKWA Conference. Panellists included: Adam Jones, Carlton Forest Group […]

Automation

Greggs Balliol National Distribution Centre

Greggs’ state-of-the-art automated DC – a 32m high, 40,000 sq. ft. hypoxic automated freezer extension – thaws out frozen storage capacity issues.

Article

5S and the warehouse: a practical 5S approach to deliver a best-in-class operating warehouse and workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has put significant pressure on supply chains – forcing organisations to reassess their warehouse and estate strategy to meet unprecedented demand. Ensuring a world class warehouse […]

Roger Quemby

News

Hatmill supports the Greggs Foundation in providing free breakfasts at Colne Primet Academy

Hatmill is proud to announce a partnership with the Greggs Foundation to provide free breakfasts to a number of pupils at Casterton Primary Academy in Burnley. This healthy, nutritious start […]

David Atkinson

News

Over 50% of Hatmill team trained in First Aid for Mental Health

Hatmill, the employee-owned supply chain and logistics consultancy, is proud to announce that last month, over half of its team have been trained in First Aid for Mental Health. In […]

Fiorella Briones Aquije

Ross Hudson

News

Hatmill supports the Greggs Foundation in providing free breakfasts

Hatmill is proud to announce a partnership with the Greggs Foundation to provide free breakfasts to a number of pupils at Casterton Primary Academy in Burnley. This healthy, nutritious start […]

Lynda Barker

Mia Wild

Our Charitable Work

News

Hatmill supports Burnley and Pendle Young Carers Christmas appeal

Hatmill, the employee-owned supply chain and logistics consultancy, has supported the Burnley Young Carers Christmas appeal. Earlier this year, the Hatmill team completed the 22-mile Chatsworth Challenge walk, raising over £2500 to buy Christmas gifts […]

Article

Warehouse automation – getting it right

Covid & Brexit are exacerbating labour shortages, companies are looking to automation as an answer

Katie Nickmans

News

Hatmill founder shortlisted for the IoD Awards

Simon Dixon, the founder of Hatmill has been shortlisted for The Institute of Directors (IoD) Director of the Year Awards 2021 for Yorkshire and the North East. 

Article

Taking your people with you: Manage change to accelerate ROI on supply chain and logistics automation

Adapting your supply chain to meet current challenges and be fit for the future is a significant investment; don’t let the change overwhelm your teams.  

Oliver Pratt

Article

Flow Rooms: Getting More From Warehouse Automation

A high performing flow room brings rigour and confidence to all aspects of warehouse operations. 

Ade Lingard

Nick Oxley

Richard Williams

Hazel Beasley

Jonathan Lambley

Helen Price

Josh Mannix

Linzi Parry

News

Highly commended in the Medilink Healthcare Business Awards 2021

Simon Dixon, the founder of Hatmill has been shortlisted for The Institute of Directors (IoD) Director of the Year Awards 2021 for Yorkshire and the North East. 

Article

Ask the expert: Building resilience in supply chains

Simon Dixon, CEO of Hatmill, looks at how to adapt supply chains and warehouse operations to build resilience in the wake of Covid and Brexit.  

Article

Don’t plan warehouse automation in a silo – automation touches every part of your organisation

When you’re thinking about automating your warehouse or supply chain, you’re impacting every part of your organisation, says Terry Murphy, consultant at Hatmill.

News

Hatmill becomes employee-owned

Hatmill has become an employee-owned business. The founder of Hatmill, Simon Dixon, has transferred 100% of shares to an Employee-owned Trust (EOT) for the benefit of employees.

Guy Ainley

Article

Greener Transport Logistics: 10 things to think about when making your transport logistics operation carbon neutral

Climate Change has been at the forefront of the conversation about transportation and logistics for some time. Change is coming and we all need to be ready for it. With […]

Article

In 2021 flexibility is the key to solving supply chain challenges

In conversation with procurement consultancy firm Proxima, Hatmill’s founder Simon Dixon discusses how supply chain challenges posed by COVID-19 and Brexit will continue into 2021. Embracing technology and automation, and […]

Toby Farrance

Mehrnoosh Khoujin

Paddy MacBrant

Article

How do organisations approach demand forecasting?

A few weeks ago, we published a series of LinkedIn polls to discover more about how organisations approached their demand forecasting.

Video

Are you ready for a No Deal Brexit? Webinar by ILG

On Thursday 10th September, Hatmill’s Simon Dixon joined the ILG webinar to discuss the main areas of concern as the 31st December approaches.

Article

Pop-up warehousing – creating online shopping fulfilment capacity, and fast

Traditionally supply chains require large budgets and take time to build capacity, but online shopping demands are here with us now. Is this a short-term phenomenon or an emerging trend? […]

Article

M5 – are we forecasting for forecasting sake?

Can we apply outcomes from the M5 forecasting competition to real world supply chains?

Nicola Payne

Warehousing

A fit for the future network, from design to implementation

This client had the additional challenges of a US parent and needing to merge two businesses and eight sites into one DC and head office.

Video

Supply Chain Webinar with Proxima

Watch a replay of the insightful webinar hosted by Hatmill & Proxima on the topic of building a modern playbook for supply chain and logistics stardom.

Join us

Are you’re interested in joining our team? Please get in touch​.

Supply Chain Certainty: Rail & Infrastructure Projects

Our Team

Hatmill is a hands-on supply chain and logistics consultancy delivering improvements to warehouses, transport, forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience.

Report

A Guide to Warehouse Automation Technology

Our experience in warehouse automation projects delivery and implementation means we’ve developed an in-depth understanding of the various warehouse automation technologies available. We can help you navigate the options to […]

Richard Duffy

Martin Copeland

Warehousing

Your warehouse is an essential link in your supply chain, working efficiently it can create competitive advantage, keep costs down and enhance the customer experience. We work with companies across […]

Transport and Logistics

We’ll help you to reduce your transport and logistics distribution costs, optimise your transport network and implement improvements to your logistics.

Forecasting and Inventory

We’ll help you generate more accurate demand forecasts and align inventory to realise savings, unlock working capital and improve the customer experience.

Warehouse Automation

Optimising your supply chain with warehouse automation technology can help you create advantage over competitors, improve the customer experience and increase efficiency.

Supply Chain and Network Strategy

We can provide end-to-end logistics and supply chain management support to design, develop and deliver a robust, resilient, long-term supply chain solutions.

Supply Chain

An automated solution to meet demands of business expansion

A home and clothing retailing group delivering to ecommerce, wholesale and store format customers.

Privacy Policies

Hatmill is a hands-on supply chain and logistics consultancy delivering improvements to warehouses, transport, forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience.

Tim Slater

Amol Deshmukh

Andy Smith

Terry Murphy

Liam Lindley

Harry Muller

Gareth Powell

Chris Shaw

Claire Hubbard

Neil Cairns

Phil Southern

Jeff Roberts

Alex Stuart

Fiona Macpherson

Tom McClinton

Rob Cottrell

Alex Hirst

Mark Cheetham

Martin Wright

Nik Pamplin

Virtual Demand Forecasting

Hatmill is a hands-on supply chain and logistics consultancy delivering improvements to warehouses, transport, forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience.

Matt Larkin

Matt Hill

Matt Spittle

Karl-Eric Devaux

Stephen Bradley

Naomi Harryman-Hassan

John Hayward

Simon Dixon

Article

Challenging, rewarding, defying the impossible: Building a supply chain network to deliver PPE to the front line.

I’ve just finished a 14-week spell working to build a network to deliver #PPE to the @NHS. I can honestly say it was the hardest yet most rewarding job I […]

Contact us

A supply chain problem that needs fixing? Or a new project to scope? Maybe you’re interested in joining our team. Please get in touch​.

Ideas & Insights

Our guides, ideas and views. Explore our insights to deliver tangible improvements to your supply chain and logistics operations.

About us

Hatmill is a hands-on supply chain and logistics consultancy delivering improvements to warehouses, transport, forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience.

Our Services

We help organisations to develop strategy, design, plan, project manage and implement large-scale, complex transformation projects such as warehouse automation, 3PL outsourcing, warehouse management systems and forecasting.

Our Work

Homepage

We provide end-to-end supply chain and logistics support to deliver improvements to warehouses, transport forecasting and inventory, so clients become more profitable and transform their customers’ experience. We’re proud of […]

Article

Preparing Your Supply Chains for the Logistics of Brexit

With many businesses still reeling from the impact of COVID 19 on their supply chains and their business, there’s another major wave coming on the horizon – Brexit.

Article

Demand Forecasting after COVID Lockdown

Supply chain forum, the Intent Group, held a Covid huddle on managing demand & supply as we move into the next phase of the pandemic and towards a “new normal”. […]

Article

When Lockdowns End: Preparing to Remobilise Your Supply Chain

There’s no doubt that businesses large and small have been reeling from the impact of COVID-19 and trying to manage the impact on their business. Many are now turning their […]

Article

Forecasting demand post COVID? 3 things management teams should do

Being prepared for life post lockdown is where forecasting becomes paramount. A few connections have been asking me “How can you forecast COVID19?”. And there’s one simple answer: “You can’t!” […]

Article

What is Demand Forecasting? And other common forecasting questions

Why forecast demand? How? And what’s the difference between forecasting and planning? Your questions answered…

Report

Logistics Automation – A Guide for the Savvy Supply Chain Director

The adoption of automation technology in logistics is on the rise. Our guide will help you consider if automation is the right solution for your warehouse.

Whitepaper

How Much Does Demand Planning Cost?

You’re keen to reduce the number of lost sales and excess stock, and unlock precious working capital. But, what does demand planning cost? And what are your options?