Logistics Boss Latest Dragons Den Member

UK – Hilary Devey, founder of the Pall-Ex pallet distribution network, has once again had her business acumen recognised by being chosen to be the latest ‘dragon’ on the hit-TV show ‘Dragons Den’ which airs later this year.

Already twice a winner of the Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year award and the first woman to win the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport’s most prestigious accolade, the Sir Robert Lawrence Award, Ms. Devey’s selection to be one of the fearsome judges on the show has struck a chord with the tycoon from her own experiences in struggling to set up a business.

‘In order to set-up Pall-Ex in 1996, I had to sell my house and car to get the start-up capital necessary to fulfil my business ambitions, as none of the banks appreciated my potential,’ she says.

‘I would have loved the opportunity to have stood before the Dragons, and I will remember my own experiences and the realities of running a business today, when choosing to support - or reject - the budding entrepreneurs joining me in the Den.’

Ms. Devey’s business instincts have so far proven to be highly acute, with Pall-Ex growing from using an old disused aircraft hanger to now having over a hundred member companies transporting up to 17,000 pallets of goods across the UK every day.

The network is also in the process of expanding throughout Europe, with new services established in Italy and the Iberian penisula and more slated to come online in Poland, Benelux, Germany and France over the next five years.

And though the Dragon’s have a reputation for being harshly, some might say brutally, realistic when it comes to making choices on where they invest their money, Ms. Devey makes no bones about the fact that she is glad for the opportunity to assist potential moguls, saying that:

‘At a time when the banks are failing to invest in British small businesses, I am proud to be able to do my part to support the next generation of UK entrepreneurs.’

So, if there are any bright sparks out there who have a great idea that they think could revolutionise the freight industry, now could be your perfect opportunity to get a chance to pitch it to one of the foremost practitioners in the UK. You can apply for the show HERE.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/apply/