Key Dates in The Unipart Story


When many people think of Unipart, they recall a company that revolutionised the automotive aftermarket in the 1970s.

A lot has changed since then; Unipart is now a highly diversified company bringing a wide range of benefits to clients in the rail, technology, retail, automotive, financial and public sectors.

Each of our client relationships is unique, but what is common to most is how Unipart enables significant cost reductions, improvements in capacity and customer service, and a level of engagement with employees that delivers real commercial benefits.

Our operations today span three major areas: logistics, manufacturing and consultancy. But across all three, there is a single approach that enables us to deliver more than our clients expect. We call that The Unipart Way.

To understand some of the major events that have helped to shape our Group, please click on the relevant tab below. For more details on many of the events, please click here.

To download our corporate brochure click here.

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2018 Unipart honoured at global safety awards
2018 Unipart honoured at global safety awards

The British Safety Council’s International Safety Awards celebrate and reward organisations from around the world. Unipart Logistics and Unipart Rail were two of only 15 organisations to be awarded a distinction. Unipart Logistics also won the prestigious sector award for Transport and Logistics.

2018 Unipart and Williams form Hyperbat joint venture
2018 Unipart and Williams form Hyperbat joint venture

Hyperbat – the UK’s largest independent vehicle battery manufacturer will open in early 2019 in Coventry, creating around ninety new jobs, at a new, multi-million pound, high-tech facility that will produce batteries for future hybrid and electric vehicles.

2018 Unipart wins logistics contract for NHS Supply Chain
2018 Unipart wins logistics contract for NHS Supply Chain

Unipart Logistics has won a 5-year contract as part of the new NHS Supply Chain, which aims to save billions of pounds and simplify the NHS goods-buying process.  

2018 Unipart wins second Princess Royal Training Award
2018 Unipart wins second Princess Royal Training Award

Unipart has won the Princess Royal Training Award 2018 for its  Line Manager Accreditation

2018 – Sky extends contract
2018 – Sky extends contract

Unipart Logistics signed a five-year contract extension with Sky, Europe’s leading Entertainment Company.

2018 – John Neill receives honorary doctorate from Coventry University
2018 – John Neill receives honorary doctorate from Coventry University

John Neill, chairman and group chief executive of Unipart, was presented with an honorary doctorate in business administration in recognition of his significant and longstanding contribution to the automotive and logistics business.

2018 – Unipart Logistics wins innovation award
2018 – Unipart Logistics wins innovation award

Unipart Logistics received a top award, for innovation at the recent Supply Chain Excellence Awards for the application of digital technology and innovative thinking to create a new reverse logistics solution, for energy and services company Centrica.

2017 – 13 Swords of Honour
2017 – 13 Swords of Honour

Unipart achieved a record-breaking 13 Swords of Honour and five Globes of Honour from the British Safety Council.

2017 – Digital Award

Unipart won the ‘Award for Responsible Business in the Digital Age’ at the 2017 Responsible Business Awards.

2017 – Awards

Unipart Group receives a number of accolades at the International Safety Awards including a special award for outstanding achievement in health, safety and environmental management and an award for Unipart Rail in the transportation, distribution and storage category.

2017 – Focus and Collaboration Award

Unipart Rail awarded the Customer Focus and Collaboration Award by Siemens Rail Systems at their Supplier Recognition event.

2017 – Key Fasteners
2017 – Key Fasteners

Unipart Rail acquires Key Fasteners

2017 – Instrumentel Ltd
2017 – Instrumentel Ltd

Unipart Rail acquires leading technology company Instrumentel Ltd

2016 – Outstanding Achievement

Unipart’s Chairman and Group Chief Executive, John Neill CBE, wins “Outstanding Achievement” Award at the annual Automotive Global Awards.

2016 – Sword and Globe of Honour awards

Unipart Logistics wins 10 Swords of Honour and five Globes of Honour at the British Safety Council’s Sword and Globe of Honour awards.

2016 – CBI Director-General visits

CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn visits The Unipart Group headquarters in Oxford to learn about how the firm is unlocking its productivity potential through ‘The Unipart Way’.

2016 – Princess Royal Training Award

Unipart Group wins a Princess Royal Training Award in recognition of its in-house management training and development programme.

2016 – Seven-year contract

Unipart Manufacturing wins a seven-year contract to supply engine components for Ford cars being produced in China.

2016 – Responsible Business Awards

Unipart wins the Bupa Wellbeing at Work award at the Business in Community’s 2016 Responsible Business Awards.

2016 – Best in class

Unipart is named ‘best in class’ by Graduates for their leadership programme.