150 jobs on the way with Wiggle cycling warehouse

Recruitment is due to start at the end of this month while work is already under way preparing the landmark building to become the national delivery hub for the fast-growing business.

Wiggle currently stocks around two million items, ranging from bicycles to sportswear and swimming costumes, at its three warehouses near its Portsmouth headquarters.

But this summer it will be moving every scrap of stock the 168 miles from Portsmouth to Bilston.

The Citadel, with its distinctive 20ft wide metal bird of prey over its entrance, was built six years ago at a cost of £20 million but has stood empty ever since, a victim of the recession.

But now it is a hive of activity. Wiggle's operations director. Nicholas Pink, said work started two weeks ago on preparing the interior of the warehouse, including installing rows of metal shelving.

"At the moment we are looking at that being finished by mid July," he said. "We will then be moving all our stock from our three warehouses in Portsmouth.

"By October we should be 100 per cent live and ready for Christmas."

In the meantime, Wiggle will start recruiting the 150 staff for the warehouse. That will begin when Wiggle takes a leading role at Jobs Fair at Molineux on March 27.

Mr Pink said recruitment would be phased over June, July and August to have all staff in place by September. Wiggle is also due to discuss its training needs with local colleges and other providers in the coming weeks.

The Citadel was chosen by Wiggle after a two-year hunt for new warehousing. Mr Pink said it had good transport links and provided enough space to cope with the firm's future growth plans. "Over the last three or four years we have seen 15-20 per cent growth, and we are investing in this site to support that level of growth in the future. We are here for the long term."

Wiggle will be retaining its head office in Portsmouth, while the role of running the new warehouse operation has just been awarded to Walsall man Andy Irwin, who has been appointed general manager.

Wiggle started out as a bike shop called in Butlers in Portsmouth in 1920 but its dramatic growth came after it went online in 1999. In its last financial year it saw sales soar 19 per cent to record £168 million.

Wiggle's arrival in Wolverhampton has been hailed by city council economy leader Peter Bilson. He said: "We have been working closely with Wiggle to make its relocation as smooth as possible, ensuring the conditions are right and offering any support we can in terms of recruitment.

"This is great news for the city – having a leading national brand like Wiggle making Wolverhampton its home, bringing in further investment and creating many jobs.

"We hope having a company with sport as its driver will inspire people here to become more active and lead healthy lifestyles. Wiggle's location to this area will also add to Bilston's multi-million pound regeneration which will see new homes, leisure and business development."