M&H Carriers to cut prices to support Highland businesses

A SURGE in online shopping this festive season has sparked plans by a transport company to slash parcel delivery prices – in a bid to help fellow businesses.

Highland-based M&H Carriers said it wanted to do “what it can to support local businesses” by offering more competitive pricing on local parcel deliveries.

M&H Carriers, which has depots in Inverness and Helmsdale, as well as Aberdeen and Dundee, said it had cut its costs to help fellow local businesses operate in tough times.

Many Highland businesses are expected to be sending a higher volume of parcels as online orders increase amid the pandemic.

Its managing director Fraser Maclean said: “With Christmas coming and the likelihood that online orders will be higher than previous years, we want to offer a competitive rate to local businesses looking to deliver within their local area. It’s so important for businesses to support one another during these turbulent times and hopefully the reduction in cost will help local companies with their online sales.”

For local deliveries the price starts at £4.95 for up to 25kg. The lower rates will be available when delivering within the catchment area of the M&H Carriers depot. Further areas will be rolled out in 2021.

Separately, the Highlands and Islands accounted for almost 70 per cent of rip-off delivery charges in Scotland, according to a report released this week.

Scottish Parliament Information Centre found that in 2020 Scots were being left out of pocket to the tune of £43.1 million.

The three worst affected constituencies were all in the Highlands, with Inverness and Nairn being the highest, on £7.8 million.

Regional MSP Maree Todd said: “It is very disappointing that people in the Highlands and Islands are having to fork out more than others in Scotland just because of where they live.”

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