Utilising the team’s broad consultancy offering, Bentley Compton Consulting Ltd (BCCL) has most recently supported the acquisition and program management of the Freightliner Rail Terminal in Coatbridge, Glasgow acting on behalf of the Russell Group.
Located directly adjacent to the existing Russell Group Coatbridge operation in Scotland, the acquisition marks a significant milestone in the company's growth and expansion plan. It also gives rise to a new trading entity, Russell RailRoad Limited (RRL), dedicated to driving innovative rail freight solutions and fostering stronger collaboration within the wider Group.
As a result, customers will enjoy an enhanced logistics experience with the integration of multimodal solutions, improved connectivity, and faster delivery times. Additionally, the shift towards rail freight will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with Russell Group's commitment to achieve NetZero by 2040.
BCCL’s longstanding relationship with Russell’s allowed the team to advise and financially evaluate the acquisition which had been under discussion for several years. BCCL provided both a financial evaluation and an operational roadmap for the Group, allowing them to conclude the acquisition successfully.
Using its ‘From Strategy to Coal Face’ approach BCCL assisted both parties through the deal transaction and closure, before moving seamlessly onto operational integration to ensure a smooth transition.
One of the major challenges was migrating from the first day of the acquisition to new operational systems across the entire terminal, including lifting and crane operations, in such a way that customer service was not impacted.
BCCL provided on-the-ground support preparing teams, and taking the lead on terminal operations during the first month of the acquisition. The result was a frictionless transition to new systems and operating practices, with minimal impact on the customer base. In addition, BCCL instituted new and improved operating practices and installed its ‘visual factory’ methodology to provide enhanced visibility across terminal operations.
The net outcome, is that a platform for growth has been established to allow RRL to take on additional train services, and other associated container services for the UK logistics industry.
“We are very proud to be involved in the collaborative effort that was put in by all parties, that will allow RRL to succeed in the future. They now have the opportunity to push on and grow utilising leading technologies as they redevelop the site.”
“Bentley Compton was an invaluable part of the team, facilitating and managing the transaction, and ensuring a smooth transition for both the Freightliner Coatbridge team and the Russell’s employees. They rolled their sleeves up and got on with the job to help us manage the challenges of new people, systems, and processes from day one.”
“Bentley Compton’s experience in managing the complex changeover, ensured that we had a smooth handover. To bring on a new company and change systems from day one as successfully as we did, was a great team effort.”