Supply chain business iForce has quadrupled its number of employees from 750 to 2,600 in an effort to cope with peak demand for Black Friday and the rest of the Christmas season. 

The company expects to dispatch a total of 146,000 items this year, which would represent a year-on-year increase of 23.5 per cent. 

Each new recruit will undergo an initial two-day induction programme delivered by the usual training provider - and they will take on roles spread across the firm's entire operations. 

Three fundamental services will continue to be offered by iForce throughout the peak season - fulfilment through iForce Gateway, returns processing with iForce Revive and carrier management via iForce Pathfinder. 

Brian Gaunt, chief executive officer at iForce, said: "We are confident that this preparation together with the significant investment in our workforce will help our clients to enjoy their most profitable and successful peak season to date."