IOC President, Viscount Lord Falkland,
The big focus of the National Courier Awards is individuals in our sector. The individual National Courier Awards winners for 2020 range from office to driver, from Guildford to Gateshead, Southampton to Aberdeen, London to Leeds. Delivering parcels, co-ordinating teams, saving lives.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Peter Chance, CitySprint Guildford Depot
‘Going above and beyond for an elderly customer in need’
Peter Chance - ‘Going above and beyond for an elderly customer in need’
Peter is very highly regarded by both fellow couriers and operators. He has a can-do, positive attitude and nothing is too much trouble for Pete. He is a brilliant courier. Whilst carrying out a delivery for a pharmacy, he knocked on the recipient’s door and heard a thud, followed by a tapping on the door. Pete called out to the patient and then went around the back of the house to see if he could gain access. This he did, which proved to be very lucky for the 94-year-old gentlemen inside, who had fallen and was in some distress and Peter’s actions saved this gentleman’s life.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Natasha Emery DPD
Engaging the thousandth line haul driver - recruiting to provide a fleet for COVID
DPD - Natasha Emery - Partnerships Manager - ‘Engaging the thousandth line haul driver and recruiting to provide a fleet for COVID'
Natasha rose to the challenge and began the mammoth task of recruiting across the UK. She changed her entire way of working to include video interviews, dedicated driving observation days, one-day inductions, all whilst remaining compliant. Since the end of April, Natasha added 3 additional staff and in a mere 13 weeks recruited the 1000th employed permanent linehaul driver, making up 17% of the driver workforce. That is, she prescreened 1500 candidates, video interviewed over 500, driver-assessed 250 and recruited 172 drivers.
We are proud of Natasha’s achievements, as she has generated exceptional results.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Jeff Evans, Diamond Logistics Croydon
Easter Bank Holiday Sunday dedication supporting frontline key workers’
Jeff Evans Diamond Logistics Croydon ready to receive his Oct 20th National Courier Award from Paul Gisbourne in a still photo, Bubble lockdown group.
‘Easter Bank Holiday Sunday dedication supporting frontline key workers’
Fantastic work at Diamond Croydon, Jeff Evans was in on Easter Bank Holiday Sunday to assist the keyworkers in the front line having received a call just after 8pm on Sunday evening to arrange 17 urgent individual drops UK wide by 9am the next morning! No easy task for most, especially at that time of night on a Bank Holiday weekend, but Diamond Logistics in Croydon were able to complete all the bookings without a hitch within the timeframe required! Jeff made it into his bed at 2am but satisfied that a good job had been done! Front line workers had been supported through the Bank Holiday weekend of early Covid.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Jo Ferrari CitySprint admin
‘Oversaw major transformation in both numbers and quality’
Jo Ferrari - ‘Oversaw major transformation in both numbers and quality’
We nominate Jo Ferrari because no-one deserves it more. Jo took over the management of the London Central Fleet department in Spring 2019, and immediately oversaw a major transformation in both the number and quality of new couriers that we were able to attract into the London Central Fleet team. She used her many years of experience to understand exactly what we required. Within just a few short months she had overseen a doubling of working local couriers and cargo bike riders and an improvement in our courier retention rates.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Lee Galvin Crown Couriers – van driver
‘Lee raised concerns which resulted in preventing the patient from potentially becoming very ill.’
Crown Couriers - Lee Galvin
Lee raised concerns which resulted in preventing the patient from potentially becoming very ill. “Lee is committed to Crown and always willing to help wherever he can” - The consideration shown by Lee on every single job he carries out gives both Crown and its customers, without any doubt, the confidence the job will be done with the utmost care and attention. On a recent delivery, whilst rotating a patient’s medical refrigerator Lee raised concerns which resulted in preventing the patient from potentially becoming very ill. Both the team at Crown and its customers are extremely proud and appreciative of Lee for his dedication, willingness and for going above and beyond on every single task he carries out, however big or small. Regardless of what time of day, day of the week it is Lee will always deliver, above and beyond.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Ann Lockyer with Mark Simmons Smith News
True calm under distressing circumstances
Smiths News Ann Lockyer - Leadership – True calm under distressing circumstances
“Ann showed true calm, positive leadership under distressing circumstances”
Ann Lockyer seamlessly implemented Smiths News business continuity plan protecting our customers and colleagues by delivering unquestionably exceptional leadership to ensure our operation never missed a beat after a fire closed the depot. Following evacuation and transfer of the operation from Lancing to Crawley, her team were given the all-clear to gain full access back to the building. Ann then managed the return transition of operations, returning to normality back at the local Lancing site. Ann and colleague Mark were the focus of communication and operational activities dealing with 24 contractors, equipment hardware and warehouse contents transfer to Crawley and then back to Lancing.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Dave McGregor, Tuffnells
‘His actions may have saved lives’
Dave McGregor, Tuffnells - opened up Easter Friday to get PPE to the NHS – his actions may have saved someone’s life
On Easter Friday, a company who supplies PPE to the NHS had some stock held in Felling and needed access to it to supply a hospital in the region. The PPE was for the COVID ward. They tried through social media to get someone from Felling and eventually Dave was contacted and asked if he would open up the depot to allow the customer access. Without any hesitation, on his day off, Dave went in to open up, communicating with the customer regularly to ensure they were kept informed as well as keeping other key members of the business up to date.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Nigel McKenna CitySprint warehouse
‘Willing to help CitySprint, our customers and his colleagues’
Nigel McKenna - ‘Willing to help CitySprint, our customers and his colleagues’
During the COVID pandemic, asked to support the NHS with the distribution of PPE to hospitals around the country Nigel jumped at the chance to assist. He rearranged the warehouse to make room for a sortation area and before we knew it, he had arranged for 40ft artics to deliver stock for his team to sort and then complete the final mile delivery. Nigel was liaising with the customer multiple times through the day and he even helped them out arranging the stock at their NDC in Derbyshire, without hesitation during his weekends. Nigel is a professional who also puts others first.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Kelly Millichap Crown Couriers – operations
Proactively manages customer demand and dramatic volume swings’
Crown Couriers - Kelly Millichap
‘Proactively manages customer demand and dramatic volume swings’- During the events of recent months, Kelly has demonstrated that she is the epitome of what a team leader should be: driving her shift from the front, always getting ‘stuck in’ without question and continually motivating her team even through the most challenging of days. Delivering service with a ‘customer-first’ attitude has not come without personal cost for Kelly, with countless additional shifts and cancelled holidays; yet she never arrives at the office, to start her night shift, with a smile on her face. She has handled dramatic volume swings, always proactively manages customer demand and ensures sufficient resource is in place. Kelly delivers nothing less than an outstanding level of communication with her customers.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Fredrick Sammann Absolutely cargo cycle
“Without him we would not have the customer retention and satisfaction”
Fredrick Sammann - Absolutely Courier - eCargobike
“Without him we would not have the customer retention and satisfaction”
Fredrick is an integral part of the team and is constantly asked for by name by various clients, we would love to have multiple Fredricks to keep up with the demand. Not only has he made incredible connections with the clients but with his colleagues too. He is always a pleasure to work with, positive during the most uncertain times and extremely helpful to everyone. He embodies the Absolutely ethos and we are proud to have him work with us.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Tim Stewart Absolutely – Van Driver London
“Tim the driver was so helpful and cheerful, what a wonderful service”
Absolutely - Tim Stewart
“Tim the driver was so helpful and cheerful, what a wonderful service”
On receiving an urgent customer request to deliver medications to the Isle of Wight, for delivery the very next morning, Tim didn’t hesitate. He understood the requirement and the urgency and simply said ‘yes’. Tim arriving early, waiting outside to collect before the pharmacy opened to ensure there were no delays and to make that all-important ferry crossing. Tim was committed and ready to go, getting up at the crack of dawn and driving a 200-mile round trip. Tim understood that the need of the client and more importantly the sick patient needing help, wasn’t going to be let down.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Denis Stoyanov CitySprint
‘His enthusiasm is infectious, and his work ethic is remarkable’.
Denis Stoyanov
‘His enthusiasm is infectious, and his work ethic is remarkable’.
Denis is the epitome of an exceptional courier. He is not afraid to work hard, offer to help out or make himself available 24/7 and he really delivers for our customers. From the beginning he has showed his willingness and adaptability. Trained in a variety of accounts and CitySprint accreditations, he accepted all these enthusiastically. Denis is a dedicated professional who thinks of others first.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Steve Taylor, Tuffnells
‘Recognising the significance of a customer issue during COVID’.
Steve Taylor Tuffnells ‘A great example of going the extra mile for a customer, recognising the significance of a customer issue during COVID’.
Delivering ventilator parts; Steven was collecting from an electricals customer, who were making parts for ventilating equipment. He overheard them saying they had a next-day delivery that needed doing to the local hospital, but were getting quoted ridiculous prices. So he offered to deliver them on his way back to the Felling depot. He completed a consignment note so the order could be processed. Tuffnells are not charging this consignment – it’s a good-will gesture in support of the COVID crisis.
Individual National Courier Award 2020 to Colin Whyte CitySprint
‘He goes above and beyond every single day’
Colin Whyte - ‘He goes above and beyond every single day’
He is reliable, trustworthy and hard-working, he will only ever say no if he physically can’t make a delivery; he goes above and beyond every single day. And if you were to ask him, he whole heartedly says ‘he is just doing his job’. During this pandemic Colin has minimised his risk and that of his colleagues as he continues to do his job daily – from local work in Aberdeen, to delivering parts for the MoD and even supporting our vital work delivering time-critical COVID tests to hospitals and labs. He is a true gentleman and takes pride in himself and his vehicle.
And now, a special mention of eight decades of delivery - a National Courier Award each for a pair of individuals with 80 years' service between them.
Individual National Courier Awards 2020 to David Raine & David Stewart Yodel Gateshead.
David Raine & David Stewart Yodel Gateshead.
Meet David and David. Both based out of the Yodel Gateshead depot, David Raine, Driver and David Stewart, Service Centre Manager. Together they share just under 80 years of service with Yodel between them. David Stewart runs one of the best-performing Yodel depots, and has done so for a long time by being a great leader and having a great team. David Raine is a faultless driver who lives and breathes Yodel, with so much love for his job, customers and the company itself. With a joint eighty years of delivery between them they get a special National Courier Award for eight decades of delivery.
Carl Moore Yodel, ‘'The pair of Davids’ eight-decade dedication is an inspiration to fellow Yodel team members.’
2020 National Courier Awards Apprentice winner Rasin Khayaguli, City of London Corporation
Building relationships to ensure information flow. Working with zero emission.
Rasin Khayaguli at Guildhall Yard - Apprentice
IOC President, Viscount Lord Falkland comments, ‘National Courier Award recognition for Apprentice Rasin Khayaguli who has been building relationships to ensure information flow across transport in the City of London corporation, well deserved.’
Rasin has worked extremely well and managed to engage and communicate with all the departments throughout the City, building relationships to ensure correct information flow. Rasin has been part of the International Future Fleet Forum and has engaged with transport professionals from all around the world and has made a great impression for his eagerness to learn and gain knowledge of the industry.
City of London Keith Bottomley on hand with IOC chief Exec Tracey Worth to present apprentice Rasin Khayaguli in Guildhall Yard with a corporation zero emission electric van.
