A Swindon logistics firm has been forced to call in administrators after seven years of operation.
OPX Logistics was a rags-to-riches story for the town, with founder Lee Hallett going from sleeping rough to heading up three multi-million pound firms, as well as OPX Recruitment and OPX Distribution.
In 2022 he opened a huge warehouse and office complex in Dorcan's Ignition Park and was turning over £25 million a year.
But on June 5, administrators from Leonard Curtis were appointed to wind down the firm, which provided commercial haulage services to a range of retailers.
It is not known how many jobs are affected but the company employed around 30 staff in 2021.
A spokesperson for the administration firm said: "Andrew Beckingham and Sean Ward of Leonard Curtis were appointed as joint administrators of Swindon-based haulier OPX Logistics Limited on June 5.
"The administrators are assessing the financial position of the company and its associates, OPX Recruitment Limited and OPX Distribution Limited, and will report further to the companies’ creditors in due course.
"It has not been possible for the group’s haulage operations to be maintained although options are being explored to sustain the group’s storage facilities."
(Image: Newsquest)
Accounts for OPX Logistics made up to December 31, 2022, were filed on Companies House earlier this year.
In them, the business wrote that the previous 12 months had been challenging as a result of the Covid pandemic and a period of growth in the business.
But it added: "The directors remain very optimistic about the company’s prospects.
Continued improvements to the business have resulted in record turnover for OPX Logistics Ltd in 2023.
“The company has increased its client portfolio, gaining new business in additional sectors that are more resilient to economic changes.
“This helps mitigate the risks of any downturns in the UK economy. Our strong client base of national and international supermarkets, retailers and third-party order fulfilment gives the business a resilient market position."
Mr Hallett became his own boss in 2014 after a tough two years in which he lost his home and his job.
During that time, he approached the Swindon Jobcentre and staff there put him in touch with the government-backed scheme Outset, which provides funding and start-up loans to people who have a viable plan to set up their own company.
With that, Mr Hallett founded OPX Recruitment and expanded it to OPX Logistics and OPX Distribution before bringing all three branches under one name.
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