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The Midlands is buzzing with economic energy as a logistics giant breathes new life into a Daventry warehouse, while a retail titan in Enderby celebrates a banner year. Bleckmann, a supply chain expert for fashion and lifestyle brands, has taken over a massive 1.1 million square foot facility once occupied by Boohoo, promising up to 1,500 jobs. Meanwhile, Next’s chief executive, Lord Wolfson, has seen his pay soar to £4.72 million, buoyed by the retailer’s record-breaking profits. Together, these stories showcase a region thriving on opportunity and ambition.
A Warehouse Reborn in Daventry
In a significant boost for Northamptonshire, Bleckmann has sublet Boohoo’s former Daventry warehouse, a sprawling 1.1 million square foot site at Crick. Originally built by Arcadia Group in 2019 for £29.4 million, the property changed hands in a whirlwind deal in 2021. Investor developer Prologis scooped it up from Deloitte’s administrators for over £60 million in a competitive bid, then leased it to Boohoo on a 15 year term at roughly £7 per square foot. Boohoo, now rebranded as Debenhams Group after its 2021 acquisition of the Debenhams name, shuttered the site in early 2023. A Debenhams Group spokesperson expressed satisfaction: “We’re pleased to have assigned the remainder of the lease to a new tenant.”
Bleckmann’s arrival marks a turning point. The firm, known for serving brands like Cloudnine, Superdry, and Gymshark, is set to create up to 1,500 jobs as the facility scales to full capacity. This move expands Bleckmann’s UK footprint by over 1 million square feet, bringing its total to 3.2 million square feet across eight logistics hubs. Reinardt van Oel, the company’s chief operations officer for Belgium and the UK, highlighted the strategic importance: “The UK is a vital growth market for us. We’ve gone from five clients in one warehouse to over 60 brands across multiple centers in just a few years.”
The warehouse itself is a marvel of modern logistics, boasting a cross-docked design with a 21-meter clear internal height, 68 dock doors, eight level access doors, and a 55-meter yard depth. It features 40,294 square feet of top-tier office space, 444 car parking spots, and 88 HGV spaces. Equipped with LED lighting, a sprinkler system, and partial racking, Bleckmann has upped the ante with automation tech, including an Automated Storage and Retrieval System shuttle to boost efficiency. Giles Weir, UK head of tenant representation at JLL, praised the move: “Bleckmann’s rapid rise as a top logistics provider shows their market confidence. This space will be key to hitting their bold growth goals.”
Next’s Chief Reaps Rewards of Record Year
Over in Enderby, Leicestershire, Next’s boss Lord Wolfson is riding high. On April 9, 2025, the retail giant revealed its compensation for the year ending January 2025 hit £4.72 million, up nearly £900,000 from the prior year. His package includes a £1.16 million base salary, bolstered by a hefty £3.56 million in bonuses, reflecting Next’s stellar performance. While his basic pay rose 2.8 percent, below the company-wide average of 6.8 percent, the bonus haul underscores his role in steering the firm to new heights.
Next’s annual figures tell the story: pretax profits surged 10.1 percent to £1.011 billion, crossing the billion-pound mark for the first time, while revenues climbed 11.4 percent to £6.12 billion from £5.49 billion. This growth, announced last month, highlights the fashion and homeware retailer’s knack for thriving in a competitive market. The company noted that staff saw bigger base pay bumps, framing Wolfson’s increase as modest by comparison, though his total package speaks to the rewards of leadership in a blockbuster year.
A Region on the Move
These dual developments paint a picture of a Midlands pulsing with potential. Daventry’s warehouse revival taps into the UK’s logistics golden triangle, leveraging its prime location near the M1 to fuel job creation and economic activity. Bleckmann’s investment signals confidence in the fashion and lifestyle sector, even as former tenant Debenhams Group shifts focus elsewhere. The site’s journey, from Arcadia’s £29.4 million build to Prologis’s £60 million purchase and Boohoo’s brief tenure, reflects the fluidity of modern industry, now finding stability with Bleckmann’s ambitious plans.
In Enderby, Next’s success mirrors this regional dynamism. Lord Wolfson’s £4.72 million payday, while eye-catching, ties directly to a year where profits soared past £1 billion, a milestone fueled by savvy strategy and robust sales. The contrast between his 2.8 percent salary bump and the 6.8 percent staff average nods to a broader commitment to workforce gains, even as bonuses reward top-tier results.
Opportunity Knocks
For job seekers, Daventry’s 1,500 new roles offer a lifeline, from warehouse operatives to tech specialists managing cutting-edge systems. In Leicestershire, Next’s prosperity hints at stability and growth in retail, a sector often seen as volatile. Together, these stories underscore the Midlands’ role as a hub of reinvention, where logistics and retail intersect to drive employment and innovation. Whether it’s the hum of automation in a vast warehouse or the tally of a billion-pound profit, the region is proving it’s a place where ambition pays off.
