By Beverly Rademacher
Now, almost 30 years on, he’s an international businessman running one of the UK’s most respected companies in time-critical high-security logistics – and he’s just been crowned Business Person of the Year at the Express & Star Business Awards 2025.
Not one to blow his own trumpet, John credits his strong team – comprising of family and dedicated employees who have become just like family – for the win.
Unable to collect the honour in person at the awards ceremony, as he was out of the country opening a new office, he was later presented with his trophy, sponsored by real estate investors Richardson, by Martyn Richardson on June 23.
John said of the accolade: “I was up against some really, really stiff competition. I’m really proud of it, proud of my team who put me here more than anything. It just means so much to me.”
The award joy comes just after the opening of JJX’s first international office in Dublin, Ireland, and after an appearance at the UK and Ireland’s premier freight, transport, logistics and supply chain management event at the NEC Birmingham.
It wasn’t always awards and international travel though.
John started JJX from his bedroom in Willenhall.
In the early days when he first presented his business plan to the bank he claims he was laughed out of the building – but the knock back made him more determined and for the next 11 years he worked as a full-time driver, operating JJX Logistics from the road.
By 2008 the business had grown to a five-vehicle fleet and John moved out of the cab and into the office.
Over the years his company, first based in Cooper Street, Wolverhampton, and now based on the Pensnett Trading Estate in Kingswinford, has evolved from a general logistics provider to become one of the UK鈥檚 most respected names in time-critical high-security logistics – responsible for shipping goods across the UK and Europe by road, air, sea and rail.
As well as all manner of everyday goods and items, Formula E cars and high value wine for the Royal family are just some of the important shipments JJX has been tasked with transporting.
As of 2025, JJX employs 71 people and it has just achieved a record-breaking 拢8.02 million turnover, marking a 16 per cent year-on-year growth and the company鈥檚 most profitable year to date.
As this article went to press, the business was also on the verge of signing its biggest contract to date with Brierley Hill based furniture company Ashley Manor Upholstery.
The deal is expected to result in the creation of six new jobs at JJX.
John, aged 58, however, will not be resting on his laurels with his achievements to date. He has his sights set on opening a new office in the Netherlands by the end of the year and after that he wouldn’t mind expanding to Spain or Turkey.
It’s not just about business growth either for John, who is a big believer in championing talent.
Keen to help hardworking staff develop to reach their full potential, he is credited with personally supporting the career development of employees and training apprentices who he sees as key to the business’s future success.
In recognition of his industry leadership and focus on the next generation, John was awarded Chartered Fellow status by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in June 2024 – the highest honour they bestow.
John鈥檚 community contributions are equally inspiring. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he led fundraising efforts to support Black Country charities and more recently JJX became a patron of the Wolves Foundation as well as continuing the firm’s long-standing charitable work supporting the likes of Black Country Mental Health, Black Country Foodbank, West Midlands Police’s Life or Knife campaign and the Alzheimer鈥檚 Society.
John’s passion “for developing talent from within” was noted by the Express & Star Business Awards judges Jan Jennings and Narinder Paul who said: “He remains committed to fostering young professionals into management roles through significant investments in training and career development.”
They also praised him as “a business leader with a strategic vision and a hands-on, values-driven approach” who has “successfully overseen a planned shift in the company to emphasize excellence alongside premium logistics solutions”.
John, who has a cabinet full of awards won over the years, said he never expected to win the Business Person of the Year accolade – in the face of competition from top bosses from Steelway in Wolverhampton and Star Scaffolding in West Bromwich but it was welcome news for sure as he arrived from the opening of his first overseas office.
He said: “I’m very overwhelmed. It was a big, big achievement for me. I’m still numb about it.”
The Business Person of the Year award comes a year after John was honoured with a special recognition award at the 2024 Express & Star Business Awards.
The accolades recognise John鈥檚 resilience and continued success as the haulage industry faces continual post-Brexit customs challenges, changes to G7 governments and fast rising operational costs.
His commercial instincts paired with his deep understanding of customers have given JJX a competitive edge, when logistics providers across the UK are under pressure, by focusing on premium solutions where trust, reliability and quality matter more than price.
No matter what happens, customers can rest assured that John remains a man with a van and a plan.