How Quickly Can You Source 20 Warehouse Staff? A Guide for UK Logistics Businesses

One of the most common workforce challenges facing warehouse and logistics businesses is not recruiting one employee.

It is finding multiple workers when the business suddenly needs them.

A new customer contract may require 20 additional warehouse operatives.

A distribution centre may need to introduce another shift.

Seasonal demand may increase order volumes.

A major inbound shipment may require additional goods-in and warehouse teams.

The question for operations managers is often:

How quickly can we source 20 warehouse staff?

The answer depends on several factors, including the location, roles required, shift patterns, experience needed and the available local workforce.

However, businesses that plan their workforce requirements early are generally in a stronger position than those waiting until a staffing shortage becomes critical.

Need Multiple Warehouse Staff?

If your business needs 10, 20, 50 or more warehouse workers, temporary logistics staff or a combination of warehouse and transport personnel, contact WSUK to discuss your workforce requirements.

WSUK supports businesses throughout the UK's Golden Triangle and wider Midlands logistics network.

What Does "20 Warehouse Staff" Actually Mean?

Before sourcing workers, a business needs to understand exactly what roles are required.

A requirement for 20 people could mean:

• 20 warehouse operatives
• 10 pickers and 10 packers
• 15 warehouse operatives and 5 FLT drivers
• 10 goods-in staff and 10 dispatch workers
• 15 temporary workers and 5 permanent employees

The more clearly a business defines the requirement, the easier it is to build an effective staffing plan.

Businesses requiring wider support can explore Warehouse Staff Supply.

The Main Factors That Affect How Quickly Staff Can Be Sourced

There is no single answer because every warehouse requirement is different.

Location

A warehouse located close to major population centres may have access to a larger potential workforce.

However, areas with significant logistics activity may also have greater competition for workers.

This is particularly relevant throughout the Golden Triangle.

Shift Pattern

Day shifts, night shifts and rotating shifts can attract different levels of candidate availability.

Experience Required

General warehouse operatives may be easier to source than workers requiring specific qualifications or experience.

For example:

• FLT drivers
• Reach truck operators
• Warehouse supervisors
• Team leaders

may require more targeted recruitment.

Number of Workers Required

Sourcing 20 workers requires a different recruitment strategy from sourcing two employees.

The process must be planned around the scale of the workforce requirement.

Why Businesses Suddenly Need Large Numbers of Warehouse Staff

There are several reasons a business may suddenly require a significant number of workers.

A New Customer Contract

A logistics company may win a major customer contract that requires additional warehouse capacity.

Warehouse Expansion

A business may increase the size of its operation or open additional warehouse space.

Seasonal Demand

Retail, e-commerce and manufacturing businesses may experience predictable periods of increased demand.

New Shift Patterns

Introducing a night shift or additional operating hours can create a requirement for an entirely new workforce.

Increased Inbound Freight

A rise in inbound goods can create additional requirements for unloading, goods-in and warehouse teams.

Temporary Staffing Can Provide Flexibility

Businesses do not always need to immediately recruit every worker permanently.

Temporary staffing can provide flexibility during:

• Contract launches
• Seasonal peaks
• Warehouse expansion
• Increased order volumes
• Short-term projects

For example, a business may initially need 20 additional workers for three months.

Once operational volumes become clearer, the business can review its longer-term workforce requirements.

WSUK supports flexible workforce requirements through Logistics Temporary Staffing.

What Happens When You Need 20 Workers Immediately?

Urgent staffing requirements can place significant pressure on warehouse management.

Without enough workers:

• Existing employees may need to work additional hours
• Order processing may slow down
• Dispatch deadlines may be affected
• Staff morale may suffer
• Customer service may be impacted

This is why businesses should avoid waiting until the warehouse is already under pressure.

The strongest approach is to forecast likely staffing requirements before they become urgent.

Workforce Planning for New Logistics Contracts

Winning a new contract is positive for a logistics business.

However, growth can create operational challenges.

Before a contract launches, businesses should consider:

• How many additional warehouse staff are required?
• What shifts need to be covered?
• Are FLT drivers required?
• Will additional HGV drivers be needed?
• Is the requirement temporary or permanent?
• When does the new operation need to begin?

A workforce plan can then be built around the expected operational requirements.

Sourcing Warehouse Staff Across the Golden Triangle

The UK's Golden Triangle contains one of the highest concentrations of warehouse and logistics activity in the country.

WSUK supports businesses throughout:

Northampton, Crick, Daventry, Lutterworth, Rugby, Bedworth, Nuneaton, Corby, Hinckley, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Solihull, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Burton upon Trent, Cannock, Lichfield, Birmingham, Buckingham, Kettering, London, Market Harborough, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, Raunds, Rushden, Towcester, Wellingborough, Wolverhampton and Walsall.

Major logistics locations include:

• DIRFT near Daventry and Crick
• Magna Park in Lutterworth
• Rugby logistics and distribution centres
• Northamptonshire warehouse developments
• Coventry and Warwickshire logistics operations
• Leicester and East Midlands distribution centres

The large number of logistics businesses creates significant employment opportunities but can also increase competition for warehouse workers.

Road Links Affect Workforce and Logistics Planning

Warehouse operations throughout the Golden Triangle benefit from access to major transport routes.

Important road connections include:

• M1
• M6
• M69
• M40
• A5
• A14
• A45
• A46

These routes connect warehouses and distribution centres with customers throughout the UK.

They also support the movement of workers between major employment areas.

However, strong logistics locations often attract multiple competing employers.

Businesses therefore need to consider workforce availability alongside transport infrastructure.

Sourcing FLT Drivers and Specialist Warehouse Workers

A requirement for 20 warehouse workers may include specialist roles.

For example:

• 15 warehouse operatives
• 3 FLT drivers
• 2 reach truck operators

Specialist workers may require more targeted recruitment because specific experience or qualifications may be required.

Businesses should identify these roles early rather than treating the entire workforce requirement as a single recruitment task.

What If You Need Warehouse Staff and HGV Drivers?

Warehouse and transport requirements are often connected.

A new logistics contract may require:

• Warehouse operatives
• Goods-in teams
• Dispatch workers
• FLT drivers
• HGV drivers

The supply chain may involve:

Inbound freight → Warehouse team → Storage → Picking → Loading → HGV driver → Customer delivery.

Planning the complete workforce can help prevent one part of the operation from becoming a bottleneck.

Businesses requiring commercial drivers can explore HGV Driver Supply.

When Temporary Staffing Becomes Permanent Recruitment

A business may initially use temporary workers while assessing a new contract.

After several months, the business may decide the workload is permanent.

At this point, permanent recruitment may become more appropriate.

This could include:

• Warehouse operatives
• Team leaders
• Supervisors
• Logistics coordinators
• Transport planners

WSUK supports longer-term workforce requirements through Logistics Recruitment.

Warehouse Growth and Road Freight

Increasing warehouse volumes often creates additional transport requirements.

More inbound goods may require:

• Additional goods-in staff
• Warehouse operatives
• FLT drivers

More outbound goods may require:

• Loading teams
• Dispatch staff
• HGV drivers

Businesses requiring wider freight support can explore Road Freight.

For wider UK distribution requirements, WSUK also provides Transport & Distribution.

Pallet Distribution and Workforce Requirements

A growing pallet distribution operation can create additional staffing requirements throughout the warehouse and transport operation.

This may include:

• Warehouse operatives
• FLT drivers
• Loading teams
• Dispatch workers
• HGV drivers

Businesses moving palletised freight can explore Pallet Delivery in the Golden Triangle.

For national pallet distribution, businesses can explore Pallet Transport & Distribution.

International Freight Can Create Staffing Requirements

An increase in international freight can create additional warehouse and logistics requirements.

Goods arriving in the UK through sea freight ports may need:

• Unloading
• Processing
• Storage
• Picking and packing
• Distribution

Businesses requiring international shipping support can explore Sea Freight.

An increase in imported goods can quickly increase workforce requirements at Midlands warehouses.

EMA, BHX and Aviation Logistics

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is a major UK air cargo and express freight location.

Birmingham Airport (BHX) also provides an important aviation gateway for businesses throughout the Midlands.

Time-sensitive air freight can create additional requirements for:

• Warehouse handling
• Cargo processing
• Road transport
• Commercial drivers
• Logistics workers

Businesses requiring international air cargo support can explore Air Freight.

Aviation support and air freight can create additional staffing requirements throughout the wider logistics supply chain.

A Better Way to Plan for Large Staffing Requirements

Businesses should avoid waiting until they are already short of staff.

A stronger approach is to ask:

What workforce will we need in the next 30, 60 or 90 days?

Consider:

• New contracts
• Expected growth
• Seasonal demand
• Warehouse expansion
• New shifts
• Freight volumes
• Staff holidays

Planning ahead can give businesses more options and reduce operational pressure.

Can a Business Source 50 Warehouse Staff?

Yes, but the recruitment strategy needs to reflect the size of the requirement.

A requirement for 50 workers may need to be split into phases.

For example:

Phase One: 20 workers for launch.

Phase Two: 15 additional workers after operational volumes increase.

Phase Three: 15 permanent employees once the contract becomes established.

A structured approach can make large-scale recruitment more manageable.

Building a Complete Workforce Strategy

The strongest workforce strategy considers the entire operation.

Warehouse Staff

Warehouse operatives, pickers, packers, goods-in teams and supervisors.

Specialist Workers

FLT and reach truck operators.

HGV Drivers

Class 1/C+E, Class 2/C and C1 drivers.

Temporary Workforce

Additional staff during busy periods and contract launches.

Permanent Recruitment

Long-term workforce development for established operations.

WSUK supports businesses with:

• Warehouse Staff Supply
• HGV Driver Supply
• Logistics Recruitment
• Logistics Temporary Staffing
• Road Freight
• Sea Freight
• Air Freight
• Transport & Distribution
• Pallet Delivery in the Golden Triangle
• Pallet Transport & Distribution

Need to Source Multiple Warehouse Staff?

Whether your business needs 10 warehouse operatives or a workforce of 50 people, planning your staffing requirements early can make a significant difference.

Temporary staffing can provide flexibility during periods of change, while permanent recruitment can support long-term growth.

If your warehouse or logistics operation needs multiple staff across the UK's Golden Triangle or wider Midlands, contact WSUK today.

FAQs

How quickly can a business source 20 warehouse staff?

The timeframe depends on location, roles, shift patterns, experience requirements and the availability of workers. Planning recruitment before a staffing shortage develops gives businesses the strongest opportunity to prepare.

Can a business use temporary workers for a new contract?

Yes. Temporary staffing can provide additional workforce capacity during contract launches and periods of increased demand.

Can businesses source warehouse staff and HGV drivers together?

Yes. A complete logistics workforce may require warehouse operatives, FLT drivers, dispatch staff and commercial drivers.

Can businesses recruit 50 warehouse workers?

Yes. Larger workforce requirements can be structured in phases depending on the operational launch and expected growth.

Does WSUK support businesses throughout the Golden Triangle?

Yes. WSUK supports businesses across the Golden Triangle and wider Midlands, including Coventry, Rugby, Daventry, Crick, Northampton, Lutterworth, Corby, Leicester, Nuneaton, Birmingham and Milton Keynes.