Birmingham firm helps huge project at Grenfell Tower

Assistance sent in response to DIY SOS call.

A Birmingham logistics firm offered a helping hand to hit BBC TV show DIY SOS as it delivered one of its biggest-ever projects rebuilding vital community facilities at Grenfell Tower.

Mobile People Powered Logistics arranged six shipments of building materials over a two-week period to the site at Grenfell, in West London, to help with the construction of a community centre and boxing club.

The Pallet-Track member, which is based in Park Lane, Castle Vale, delivered everything from electrical cables to a full bathroom suite to the site on its trips to the capital. The results will be revealed when the two-part programme is broadcast later this year.

The build took place in the week when the public enquiry into the fire, which claimed the lives of 72 people, opened in London. It was the single biggest loss of civilian life on UK shores since the end of the Second World War.

Ian Jolly (pictured), commercial director at Mobile People Powered Logistics, said: “It started with our client Purewater Storage, who got involved and asked us to take one of their water storage products to the site.

“After that, they asked us to co-ordinate some more deliveries so we ended up taking six shipments to Grenfell. We took all kinds of things, from electrical cables to water tanks, a full bathroom and various construction materials. We run a truck to London every morning and evening and as we’re a 24-hour business, we were able to do the drops in the middle of the night as well. We were delighted to be able to do our bit.”

Mobile People Powered Logistics has been a Pallet-Track member since 2014 and covers the Birmingham postcodes for the network, focusing on east and south east Birmingham and the city centre.

Nigel Parkes, Pallet-Track founder and managing director, said: “The events at Grenfell last year touched us all and we’re proud to see one of our members doing their bit to help. It’s a very important project and we hope the results will help the community heal after such a traumatic time.”