For the National Courier Awards hosted by the Institute of Couriers at Pall Mall, London SW1, 2022 sees the highest number of nominations in the twenty-six year history of the awards. SME owner-operators alongside regionals and national express final mile companies.
The winners remain a secret until the evening, the judges have sat, hosted by chair of panel Alistair Cochrane at Whistl HQ in Bedford. Six operator judges (including three IOC sector chairs) were joined by three externals alongside the chair and CEO of the IOC, making it thirteen in total, for what may be the most difficult decisions in final mile this year. In what has become a tradition of the Institute of Couriers Awards panel of judges, the first vote decides the menu for main course of the gala event hosted at the IoD in Pall Mall, London SW1.
Categories from driver to office set to rattle loud, as winners are saluted with the famous IOC clapper hands before receiving the silver Cs and courier awards. Distinctions merits are new for 2022 recognising support to sector, a step change award is tipped to be handed out and clean air features strong in the corporate recognition with a DEFRA VIP tipped to be handing out the top green prize.
Alistair Cochrane Chair of Judging panel
Kelly Leech Tuffnells
Andy Magromallis Huboo – chair IOC Security group
Justin Moore Onit Logistics – chair IOC education group
Richard England The Courier Company Cambridge – chair IOC owner-operator group
Kevin Valentine Addison Lee
Natalie Wainwright Diamond Logistics
The external-to-sector Judges
Charlotte Bosworth Education Awarding Body Innovate Awarding
Phil Martin DfT
Carl Widdowson DWP
Carl Lomas Chairman IOC
Dr Tracey Worth CEO IOC - Administrator
Alistair Cochrane
I was delighted that Whistl could host the judges for the 2022 National Courier Awards, we are passionate at Whistl about recognising the efforts of our industry and what better way than reviewing all of the outstanding efforts of such a cross section of worthy nominees. The day was a huge success and we have some very worthy winners this year which only goes to show what a breadth of talent we have working across the industry.
Charlotte Bosworth, Innovate Awarding,
Being invited to judge some of the key workers in express is a treat particularly as we know how critical this infrastructure is to our economy. It's aways fantastic to hear about the exceptional extra mile individuals in the sector have taken to complete deliveries when circumstances have made it almost impossible.
Phil Martin head of labour market strategy at DfT,
These inspirational key workers were so vital to keeping the country running during the pandemic. It's great to be part of celebrating their success.
Carl Widdowson, DWP Senior National Account Manager, comes to the award panel for the first time,
I’m thrilled to be joining the judging panel for the IOC National Courier Awards 2022. I look forward to hearing more about the great work that is taking place across the sector during the judging process.
The decisions got more difficult with every nomination in all three categories of Contract, Driver and Office. The nominations for 2022 were exceptional and then more exceptional.
Top line quotes in the Contract category shortlist. Best driver I have ever worked with – A massive team player – Safety above all - A credit to your organisation – Happiest and most confident colleague I have ever worked with – Pulled victory from jaws of defeat - Unloaded without help – Attributed success to what she had taught them – The right service to our customers every time – Great at what they do – Commercially aware – Found their own way to success – Respected by all colleagues and customers – An instant champion – Top scorer on Trustpilot – Success of our day driven by this courier – Moved house to be closer to business.
Top quotes from seventeen four-wheel shortlisters. Treats every parcel like his own – Trusted for the most important jobs – Excellent appearance to showcase our brand – Revived builder at delivery from clinically dead – Care and passion is infectious – a class act swapping between trunking and final mile – Lives and breathes our values – Can do attitude changing vehicles where needed – Reliability can also be called on – Lives for the job – On foot for closed roads during operation London Bridge – 999 for fire at door – Always smiling, never looses his temper – We want a hundred more couriers like this – 40 years a million parcels delivered – Hardest working driver in the depot – Second to none, first class service – Passing on knowledge to fellow drivers.
Top quotes from the two-wheel shortlisters – (Motorbikes, cycles and cargo bikes) A superstar on our hands – Positive outlook – Keeping the deliveries on track – Hardest worker on our fleet – Gives excellence when visiting the customer – Pleasant and responsive – We have never had any problems with the service this courier provides – Go to person for difficult jobs – Executes in a timely and professional manner.
The Office category – 15 shortlisters – Showcasing our brand – best customer service ever – Exemplarily levels of commitment – very approachable – A maturity beyond their years – One of tomorrows leaders – >From retail to all areas in accounts – Engagement champion - Exemplary contribution on a daily basis – A compliance champion – Gives her all everyday – Indispensable – Best advanced feedback – Thinks outside of the box to get delivery done – positive reports from all areas of the business – Engaging in dialogue to sort problems – Nutures and supports progress in everyone – Always has an analytic solution – A rising star with a huge future – Super welcoming to every colleague – A pleasure to work alongside – Never says no when a colleague is in need – Builds the how too guides of colleagues – An administration powerhouse – Genuingly wants to help those around her – A book of knowledge, skilled in all areas of the business – A born problem solver
Pudding and the panel of judges for the National Courier Awards
Spoons and clappers ready...
It's going to be Orange Steam Pudding and Ginger
Countdown is on to Oct 25th, the gala evening celebration of the National Courier Awards to recognise our best of best final mile, last mile sector, it's time to announce the pudding! IOC CEO Dr Tracey Worth announces, ‘It's orange steamed sponge pudding, with ginger crème anglaise.’
Icing on the cake, IOC Vice President and former transport minister Sir John Hayes is ready to rattle the famous courier clappers at what is a highlight celebration of our sector for front line individuals. Four of the IOC Hon fellows are confirmed to attend, including Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell, former head of surface transport at TfL Leon Daniels and former TfL Commissioner Mike Brown with Highways England boss Nick Harris.
In a networking special of all things important to express logistics, DEFRA, DfT, DVSA and National Highways are all present alongside Transport for London, Transport for West Midlands, Transport for Manchester and City of London Corporation. Expert sector advisors attending include employment lawyer Melanie Stancliffe and fuel derivatives guru Callum Macpherson from Investec.
