Latest news with #EllesmerePort
Auto Car
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
How Ellesmere Port was saved: inside the old Astra factory's revival
Close Diane Miller, Stellantis's top UK car manufacturing executive and winner of Autocar's 2025 Editors' Award, has loved cars all her adult life – preferably in very large numbers – and can vividly remember the day the obsession began. From a post-graduate job at Ford's then mighty Ford Fiesta plant in Dagenham, Essex, Miller has spent the past 30-odd years mastering ever more responsible automotive jobs around the world – for Ford, Aston Martin, GM and most recently Stellantis, in the UK, Europe and the US. Miller is decisive but modest and as a result reluctant to identify any particular secret of success. But if you converse with her long enough, she will eventually admit to one asset: 'Finding a way to get on with people.' It is for this that she is known and loved by the people who have worked for her. Having discovered its effectiveness early on, she has deployed her liking for people in every car job she has had, and she has become famous for it. Miller's most spectacular achievement to date has been the 18-month conversion of the former Vauxhall Astra plant at Ellesmere Port, near Liverpool, to the manufacture of battery-powered delivery vans for five Stellantis marques: Vauxhall, Opel, Citroën, Peugeot and Fiat. It has been a vital move in rescuing volume vehicle manufacturing in this country. Now that this EV factory conversion has been achieved, Miller is turning her hand to running Stellantis's massive new national parts distribution centre, located just down the road from the van plant at Ellesmere, where the company is spending £500 million to expand and improve the way it delivers components to its customers in the UK and Ireland. The parts centre project has required another wholesale reorganisation, entailing both the redeployment of car-making people and the importation of new workers into a business that, despite its size and scale, has to be very labour-intensive. It is a perfect place for a unique character like Miller, a highly experienced engineer who discovered early how to get on with people. 'I went to an all-girls convent grammar school in Northern Ireland,' she explains, 'and three of us opted for A-level physics. Our teacher loved engineering, and the upshot was all three of us chose engineering at university: mechanical and production engineering for me; civil and aeronautical for the others. 'My degree was from Liverpool John Moores University, and as part of a 'jobs milk-round' for graduates I was invited to Ford's Dagenham plant to see how it was run. I was instantly amazed and intrigued that they could build 60 cars an hour, and the experience had a lasting effect on me. Even after more than 30 years in the business, I still find it amazing.' Miller joined Ford, moved to Dagenham and stayed five years. She achieved rapid promotions, first to senior process engineer and then to a manager's job in the paint engineering area, launching new technology in Ford plants across Europe. Paint doesn't suit everyone, but Miller earned an early reputation for being willing to try anything and work anywhere. 'Crossing the Irish Sea to go to university was the big move,' she says. 'After that, anything was okay.' Pretty soon Miller was heading to Chicago on a two-year paint unit training scheme that extended to four. 'It was a situation that occurs in many companies,' she says. 'You go on a training scheme and the money runs out, so they get you to do the job anyway. It was great training because no one else knew about paint, so I had to make the decisions. It worked out okay.' Miller's career progressed more rapidly than most young engineers her age, but she's careful not to give herself much credit. 'I had very good mentors,' she says. 'And there were so few women in the industry in those days that people probably noticed you more. Mind you, even today I'm very sad that there aren't more women in these engineering jobs. There are great careers here for those who want to try it.' Women can succeed in a male-dominated arena like car-making just by being who they are, says Miller. They tend to humanise the place, she says: 'Right from the start, I'd go to a factory, talk to the operators and ask how their job should be done. It was a bit different from some managers who arrive and think, well, 'I've got the degree, so I know how things should be run'. But people on the floor can work smart better than anyone, and if they trust you, they'll tell you how.' When the Chicago gig ended, Ford wanted Miller to go back into central engineering at Dagenham, but she wanted to stay in a plant and felt that would have been a waste of her paint know-how. So she worked happily for several years at the Ford Transit plant in Southampton, leaving before it closed in 2013 because its manager was heading for Aston Martin (then a Ford company) and asked her to join him, bringing her paint expertise. It made sense, because her husband, an American, was already a paint supplier there. Aston Martin paint is quite different from Ford Transit paint, she found: 'I started off thinking five jobs an hour would be easier than 60 jobs an hour, but that was completely wrong. True, Aston paint was very different – many more coats and lots of polishing – but the big difference was the fact that the operators had so much to remember. The Transit takt (process) time was around five minutes, explains Miller, whereas at Aston it was more like 25 minutes. People had to remember 25 minutes' work rather thanfive, which is clearly much more difficult. Still, Miller thrived there for six years – until Ford sold Aston Martin and suggested, once again, that she return to central engineering. Just in time a GM headhunter arrived with an offer to move to Ellesmere Port where Vauxhall was about to launch the Astra D2, but there were big problems with the paint shop. Miller, uniquely qualified to take hold of the process and fix it, was perfect for the job. Aston was small by comparison, and Miller liked the Liverpool area where she had been at university. 'We decided to make the move, and I joined the company at a high enough level to make the changes needed,' she says. 'Our Astra launch was the best in the company's history, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. From that I was asked to take over general assembly, another progression. I had enjoyed paint, but there are many more people in general assembly, and I guess that's where my skills are. We made some good progress; people felt able to tell me about their difficulties. ' They knew if there was a problem and I could fix it, I'd do it right away.' Astra production ended in April 2022 – with quality levels higher than they had ever been. Then came the bombshell decision to start making Stellantis electric vans. 'It was a funny time,' says Miller. 'The whole of Europe thought this plant would never reopen, but we already knew [then Stellantis boss] Mr Tavares had decided to keep it going because he'd discovered – from the first time he visited us – that there was an ethos among Ellesmere people that we'd find a way to do whatever was needed to keep the place open. ' In order to make the changes, the factory was shut for 18 months. Staff who couldn't make cars helped move robots and build new rest areas. Managers went to Madrid, where changes planned for Ellesmere had already been made, to see exactly what was needed. Everyone adapted, in no small part because Miller's can-do culture had spread throughout the place. By September 2023 electric vans were flowing down the lines. The success isn't complete. For Miller and Stellantis, the current 20,000-unit annual output isn't nearly enough, mostly because they believe the government's re-adoption of 2035 as an ICE cut-off date has hurt demand for Ellesmere's all-EV output. As a stopgap, they have begun building bodies for an ICE van plant in Algeria (boosting output to 50,000 units), and production will soon be further augmented by the arrival of a range of larger, Vivaro-sized electric vans for the five Stellantis marques. Ultimately, demand will be much higher – perhaps as high as the plant's 100,000-a-year, seven-day, three-shift capacity. Ellesmere Port is ready. Miller, meanwhile, is several months into her demanding new project – and she will be happy with more after that. She has spent most of her three-plus decades in automotive providing a great role model for other people, not just women, but she says the lessons she has learned have been important in her own personal development, too. 'I'll never forget how those early days at Dagenham flipped my mind,' she says. 'They taught me that if you think clearly, you can do anything. I started applying those principles to my own life and found that there's nearly always a way you can make things happen. This industry has been a great teacher.' Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Ellesmere Port: 'Dirty and unsafe' care home must rapidly improve
A "dirty" care home where inspectors found residents were being placed at risk with some not even fed a proper meal has been ordered to make "rapid" Court Care Home in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March and April following reports of poor care by residents and their said there was "widespread uncleanliness" with found bodily fluids, general waste and ingrained dirt found in several places among other concerns which resulted in the watchdog placing it in special Ltd, which runs the home, said it had appointed a new manager and took "immediate action" to address the issues. The Princes Road home provides nursing and personal care for up to 60 older highlighted how people were placed at risk of harm with unsafe areas of the building, including hazardous substances, as well as trip hazards in bedrooms. 'Totally unacceptable' They found staff did not ensure people's medications were stored or administered also said some parts of the home were "uncomfortably cold" including in the Knapton, of the CQC, said the home's deterioration since the last inspection in 2022 when it was rated "good" was "disappointing". She said: "Poor leadership and ineffective risk management had led to people receiving unsafe and inappropriate care in a place they call home."She said several areas need urgent improvements "to keep people safe".Ms Knapton said one of the biggest issues they saw was people being placed at risk of infection due to the uncleanliness, which was "totally unacceptable".She also said staff had "little time to engage or support people" and meal times were "rushed and impersonal". "On the day we visited, everyone was served egg and chips, and residents who didn't like eggs were left with just chips resulting in people being hungry and not being fed a nutritious meal," she said there were no activities available and some residents received "minimal staff interaction" with several people routinely kept in bed throughout the day and night with no recorded rationale or any indication this was their said leaders have been told the CQC expects "rapid and continued improvements" and it will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time. Aaroncare Ltd said it was "deeply disappointed" with the said the new manager was "continuing to lead improvements" after the issued that were added: "An action plan was developed and shared with the CQC and we are working hard to ensure we meet the high standards of care that our residents, their loved ones, and we expect."Our highest priority remains providing a safe, comfortable, and caring home for our residents." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Katie Price makes huge u-turn on money-spinning tour with Kerry Katona after weeks of crisis talks
KATIE Price has done a u-turn on her upcoming tour with Kerry Katona and the show WILL be going ahead - just weeks after she quit the gigs. As The Sun previously revealed, Katie, 46, was forced to cancel the 38- date tour after clashes with childcare commitments. 3 3 It had left tour promoters and venue bosses scrambling as tickets had already gone on sale. A source has now told The Sun: 'For the last few weeks, the team putting this together have been in crisis talks with Katie's people and they've managed to find a solution that suits everyone. "Some of the dates will be rescheduled to fit around Katie's childcare clashes, meaning she is back in. "Everyone behind the scenes is thrilled because it would have been a financial nightmare to pay back all the tickets that had been re-sold. "Katie and Kerry are chuffed too as they didn't want to let any fans down.' The Sun has contacted reps for Katie and Kerry for comment. Kicking off in in Ellesmere Port on September 11, Katie and Kerry had plan to"share stories of their friendship, marriage and divorce, bankruptcy, 'I'm A Celebrity', the importance of family, their constant press attention and turning their lives around". The famous friends are also offering fans the opportunity to pick up VIP meet and greet packages. In the meantime, mum-of-five Katie has been enjoying sun and relaxation on holiday in Ibiza followed by Dubai. During her time on the White Isle, she partied with the likes of Wayne Lineker and Conor McGregor. Katie Price reveals exactly how much she weighs after fan concerns over her skinny frame But she also sparked concern among fans after showing off her slimmed down figure in a series of swimwear pics. Katie has since hit back at comments about her body, revealing exactly how much she weighs. Attempting to put fears to rest, Katie shared a clip zoomed in on a set of scales and said: "Everyone is so obsessed with my weight. This is what I weigh. That. That is what I weigh." It showed her weight as 7st 12lb, but without her 2120cc breast implants - which are thought to weigh around 4.87lb each - her weight is closer to 7st 2lb. That puts her BMI at 17.2 which is below the healthy range and in the underweight category (18.5 and under). 3
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Cheshire gets huge car parts centre the size of NINE FOOTBALL PITCHES creating 200 new jobs in the region
Car giant Stellantis has opened a new vehicle parts distribution centre in Ellesmere Port just months after it closed Vauxhall's van factory in Luton, putting more than 1,100 jobs at risk. The parts centre will become the vehicle component hub for 10 Stellantis-owned brands across the UK and Ireland. It will streamline the company's supply chain, delivering approximately four million parts per year. Of the 240 staff on site, 200 are new jobs for the region. This is on top of the 1,100 people Stellantis already employs in the Cheshire town. The enormous 60,000 square metre warehouse - which is equivalent to the size of nine football pitches - sits adjacent to the company's electric van factory, the first dedicated mass-production site for EVs in Britain since its conversion in 2023. The auto firm invested £100million into the 60-year-old car factory - which previously assembled Astra family hatchbacks - to 'strengthen' its commercial vehicle manufacturing operations in Britain. It comes after Stellantis shuttered the doors of its Luton van factory on 28 March. Some of its 1,100 Bedfordshire workforce were offered roles at Ellesmere instead, which is some 150 miles away. Stellantis UK has opened a new Parts Distribution Centre at Ellesmere Port, after the closure of its Luton van factory in March. It will supply up to four million parts a year Stellantis, which owns Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall and Fiat, employs over 5,000 people in the UK and is Britain's biggest van manufacturer. Andy Kite, parts and service director at Stellantis UK, said: 'The opening of our new UK Parts Distribution Centre enables us to enhance our aftersales service. 'Its central location offers improved UK coverage and delivery times, with the ability to deliver parts to repairers for the next working day – ensuring the shortest possible wait time for customers. 'With all our brands under one roof, from long-established names like Vauxhall to newer brands like [Chinese EV newcomer] Leapmotor, Stellantis customers benefit from the reassurance of knowing they can quickly access the parts they need.' The centre employs 243 members of staff - 200 being new jobs - operating over two shifts five days per week, distributing up to 140,000 parts housed in the building and supplying 19 regional hubs. It's size is equivalent to nine football pitches The last Stellantis van rolled off the Luton production line in March marking the end of 120 years of manufacturing Stellantis' decision to shutter Luton's 100-year-old factory put 1,100 jobs at risk. Staff at the Bedfordshire site were offered roles at the Ellesmere Port plant, though this is 150 miles away The opening of the Ellesmere Port parts centre follows the transformation of the nearby vehicle manufacturing plant. The former car factory originally opened in 1964, producing Vauxhall Vivas. But in more recent years became the home of the Astra, with production of Vauxhall-badged models for the UK market and left-hand-drive Opels in mainland Europe. When production of the latest Astra was moved to Germany, the UK car factory was converted into the nation's first EV-only volume manufacturing site in 2023. A year later in November 2024, the company announced it would be closing its 100-year-old Luton van factory to shift all manufacturing to the refurbished Cheshire site. Despite opposing calls with unions dubbing it a 'slap in the face' for the people of Luton, Stellantis pushed ahead with its closure, transferring all van manufacturing - and some staff - to the North West town. The parts distribution centre is the first UK warehouse to achieve outstanding BREEAM accreditation, the world-leading sustainability assessment method for the built environment and infrastructure The enormous 60,000 square metre parts warehouse sits adjacent to the company's electric van factory (pictured), the first dedicated mass-production site for EVs in Britain since its conversion in 2023 The new parts distribution centre is the latest consolidation of Stellantis' EV ambitions in the UK - part of its strategy to globally sell 75 EV models by 2030. In 2024, Stellantis saw a significant increase in battery vehicle sales, particularly in the UK, where it was the leading electric van manufacturer and took 10 per cent of the electric car market. Keeping with this zero emission mindset, Stellantis says the parts centre was designed with sustainability at the forefront. It can harvest up to 7,000 litres of water through a storage tank, there are 32 EV charging points, and LED lighting to lower energy usage. It is the first UK warehouse to achieve outstanding BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) accreditation, the world-leading sustainability assessment method for the built environment and infrastructure.
Auto Express
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Ellesmere Port car parts mecca to make life easier for Vauxhall, Citroen, Fiat and Peugeot owners
The owner of Vauxhall, Peugeot and several other car brands is set to open up a multi-million pound parts distribution centre in the UK, which will stock roughly four million parts per year for dozens of models aged up to 10 years old. Stellantis' new parts mecca in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, will sit next to its pre-existing electric van manufacturing plant which currently builds the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, Peugeot E-Rifter and Citroën ë-Berlingo people carriers. Advertisement - Article continues below Equivalent in size to roughly nine football pitches, the new warehouse occupies a colossal 60,000 square metres and, thanks to 14-metre-high shelving units, can cater for as many as 140,000 different parts. As well as catering for Stellantis stalwarts like Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, the new distribution centre will also stock parts for the likes of Leapmotor – a new Chinese brand which has recently fallen under the conglomerate's umbrella – in an effort to give customers peace of mind when it comes to parts availability. Yet despite its gigantic size, Stellantis' new site is the first UK warehouse to receive BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) accreditation. This evaluates the way a building is constructed, what materials are used and how it will be operated in order to determine how environmentally sustainable it is. Manager of the new parts distribution centre, Diane Miller, said the new location 'ensures a more efficient process by bringing all Stellantis brands under one roof. Thanks to the more central location afforded by Ellesmere Port, we also benefit from better transport links for distribution to our 19 regional hubs across the UK and Ireland.' All of this comes shortly after Stellantis pulled the shutters on Vauxhall's iconic Luton manufacturing plant, which resulted in 1,100 job losses. Stellantis had previously threatened to pull out of the UK manufacturing sector altogether due to the tough conditions placed upon brands under the ZEV Mandate, however, investment in the Ellesmere Port plant suggest that Stellantis is here to stay – for now, at least. Our dealer network has 1,000s of great value new cars in stock and available now right across the UK. Find your new car… Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
