Read more

A learning and education solution for clean air in London

e-learning modules to answer the transport challenge for London

London’s population and economy are growing and road freight is expected to increase by 20% by 2031 to serve this growth. Transport is a major contributor to pollution in London, with vans and HGVs responsible for nearly 30% of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) road transport emissions. Commercial vehicles are also responsible for around 16% of transport greenhouse gas emissions across the capital. In London, over 430 schools are in areas that exceed safe air quality levels.
The Mayor has an ambition for London to become a zero carbon city by 2050, but CO2 emissions from transport are unlikely to decrease quickly enough to support this and compliance with the legal limit of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is not expected before 2025. It is clear that significant action is required.

Bring on TfL’s Freight and Fleet programme, incorporating LoCITY. Launched in January 2016, LoCITY is a five-year, industry-led collaborative programme that brings together fleet operators, local and central government, vehicle manufacturers, refuelling and recharging suppliers and other public sector organisations. Their collective aim is to minimise the impact of vans and HGVs on congestion and the environment and to increase levels of compliance and safety.

The objectives

The main aim of the LoCITY initiative is to help transport fleets transition from diesel to more sustainable alternative fuels, to aid the reduction of air pollution and deliver health benefits for residents and workers in London.

As part of this programme, TfL identified the need for a major training initiative which would meet two key objectives; the first is to ensure diesel vehicles are being managed and driven within the capital as efficiently as possible, to minimise fuel consumption and emissions. The second is to raise awareness of the alternative fuels that are available and their benefits.
In both cases, the target audiences are van and heavy goods vehicle drivers and fleet and transport managers.

The learning solution - eLearning modules

A significant component of the blended programme was the development of two 20-minute eLearning modules. The first, titled Time to Clean Up, is aimed at drivers and can be used as a standalone piece of learning or as a reinforcement of the topics learned on the Driver CPC accredited training course.

The game-based design of the module is set in a fictional city with poor air quality. Drivers take on a number of tasks, simulations and scenarios and apply the lessons they have learned around idling, eco-driving and vehicle management. The ultimate aim is to demonstrate that they know how to reduce fuel and emissions to bring the air quality within the city up to a safe level. Time to Clean Up was developed as an interactive game with a competitive edge, so that drivers are more likely to complete the training and retain the key learning points.

Read more

A perfect visit between the September rain showers for the Royal Mail Museum at Mount Pleasant London WC1 which opened in July this year.

If you can't get there, take a look at the history book, ‘Masters of the Post'

500 years of the Carmen livery of transport and 500 years of the Royal Mail, in the 501st year of Royal mail, this July the message of mail has been taken to a new level with the opening of the National Postal Museum in London WC1, a showcase by the Royal Mail of all things message, a history of social networking and final mile delivery.

The wide sector general public are given the opportunity to discover the surprise stories of the world's first social network, ride the hidden tunnels and discover the unique industrial heritage of the mail.

Not able to get there ? take a look at the book holding centre stage in the museum shop. ‘Masters of the Post’. The Authorised History of the Royal Mail, a paperback – 1 Nov 2012. From the very first 'master of the post' in 1512 to the vast network of today, the Royal Mail is an intrinsic part of everyday life in Britain.

The Postal Museum is set to become the showcase of final mile mail in the UK.

The Postal Museum is at 15 Phoenix Place WC1 around the corner from the Mount Pleasant sorting office and is open from ten until five most days.

Read more

We are extremely proud to have achieved a Bronze RoSPA award recognising the safety of our workplace and our people. Without the hard work and determination of our people in making The APC a safer environment, this achievement would not have been possible.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events, said:

The RoSPA Awards are the most prestigious in the world of occupational health and safety, and held in high regard around the world, as winning one demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record. Achieving the standard required is no mean feat. This is a special year in the history of RoSPA, and we congratulate APC in this, our centenary year.

Read more

This team and its transformation process is driving one of the largest UK express companies, they handled over 260m parcels last year. The company operates a network of 15,000 couriers and 4,500 pick up points. They work with a wide-range of leading high street, catalogue and online retailers in the UK, including Next Directory, ASOS, Tesco, John Lewis, Debenhams and Arcadia Group.

As part of the transformation team programme , together with the company’s commitment to innovation, Hermes invested £18m in new hand-held terminals, created a dedicated Innovation Lab, become the first parcel company in the UK to fully integrate its end-to-end tracking solution with Amazon’s line of Echo smart speakers, and launched a trial of self-driving delivery robots in London.

Read more

Tesco launched same-day in London and the South East three years ago, UK wide same-day will cover the Shetland Islands in Scotland to Cornwall.

Tesco say customers of its same day service will be able to order by 1pm to have their shopping from 7pm onwards; a seven day week service. The service is priced between £3 and £9, but is being offered free for a limited period for members of its delivery saver service.

Read more

The company she set up in 1992 at the age of just 20, is forecasting revenues of £40 million by 2019.   In the early days she did the deliveries herself in a bright orange D-reg Astra van called Jaffa and being heavily pregnant at the time, she nearly went into labour while delivering a parcel.

She is not one woman on her own – it is a team approach. Her team is busy creating a new generation to run the business and she is leading them, encouraging new logisticians to step forward and leverage their success.

Awards and Recognition of special note.

2015/16 National Champion European Business Awards

2015 Business Woman of the Year UK

2016 Ruban d’Honneur Award for Entrepreneurship

2016 Best UK Courier Franchise

2016 January Corporate Innovation and Excellence Awards

2016 February European Business Awards 

2017 Services to Industry National Courier Award

Read more

We had a client call with an urgent package, an archive box. Not quite the right package for a two-wheel courier but they were desperate and this courier was the only one immediately available. The client didn’t want to wait one more minute.  He collected, he reassured them how he was going to carry it, how he was going to take great care of the package, how it would not be damaged and how he would get it there asap. Tom delivered the goods and the client called singing the praise of the courier. The job well done, delivering safely, a clean and complete package unharmed and signed for.

The client was delighted and even though they admitted they were putting pressure on us to deliver they said that the courier had done an excellent job.

Other clients comment on his ability to make a delivery happen, quickly and to some very obscure places, yet he has found them all.

One year on, his attitude does stand him out from the rest, willingness and reliability.

He has a wiliness to start early and finish late if needed, working on the open circuit he never knows where he will go next or what for. The staff find him friendly and respectful, he has joined in with his colleagues like a long lost friend.

Read more

Controller.

This is what I would describe as the consummate professional motorcycle courier. Always on circuit, come rain or shine. Possesses the ability to carry out roadside repairs when occasionally necessary and is always willing to assist the Control team. His impressive never-say-never attitude towards tight deadlines and challenging clients is an example to all.

Manager

This is capped by his equable composure when dealing with the nemesis of the London courier, unhelpful security guards! Our most deserving rider for a National Courier Awards

He even has a kind word to share with all the inconsiderate motorists that cross his path, but I’m not sure this word should be distributed amongst the present company !

Read more

3 months ago, Duncan was called out by our Out of Hours team to collect an urgent delivery of medication for an elderly lady at a private address. When Duncan arrived at the delivery address he knocked at the door and there was no answer. Just as he turned around to go to his van to call our Out of Hours team to say no-one was in, he heard a female voice shouting for help. In this instance, he called the next of kin as their contact details were on the package and explained that someone was shouting for help. He waited over 30 mins for the daughter of the lady to arrive. He was then thanked by the daughter and son in law of the lady as he could have returned the medication back to the Hospital that he collected from.

He has always maintained, no matter what if we are stuck on any work to give him a call. He has stepped in to cover Hospital shift work when a current driver had felt unwell; He wasn’t on call and was still happy to step in and help.

He shows his responsibility to make sure collection times and delivery times are met and sees through his work from the start to the end.

He has a great understanding of how to deal with people, he passes on feedback to the Service Centre. He also passes on new leads for potential new accounts and potential competitors while making deliveries.

Read more

This courier has worked with us for nine years and is one of the most professional 4-wheeled couriers I have ever had the pleasure of working with.’

He is nearly always the first courier to call on and last to sign off; he never says no to a job. His overall attitude is great and highly infectious. He is a positive influence on everyone around him.

He collects from my Service Centre every day and is the first to approach me if he sees or hears anything he feels I should know about; he is a credit to our company, a true gentleman and a pleasure to work with.

Read more

Asking Matt why he loves his job so much he recalls a delivery to Glasgow that unexpectedly required a return journey the following day. However due to an influx of travelling football fans he was unable to find overnight accommodation in the centre of the city, so had to venture further afield.

He contentedly recollects waking the next morning and opening the curtains to be greeted by the picturesque view of rolling hills and a Loch. Not too many jobs offer these opportunities he smiled!

The courier tells us that he loves being on the road, as opposed to cooped up in an office, as well as wet Fridays and the fact that he never knows which part of the country he’ll end up in?

Read more

Service Centre Manager

 Her communication is impressive. She comes across as very friendly and professional – thank you Amy, keep up the good work!

Client

I want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you for the work you have done with our company, especially on the personalised orders. The handovers I receive from you are a big help. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed and we are very grateful!

Client manager

 She is always extremely helpful and professional. She deals with requests promptly and always communicates with us. In my opinion, she is a very valuable member of your team. Please don’t move her from our contract!

Courier company Regional Manager

Since Amy has taken over the warehouse function, the reports are done early, the Portal is in excellent shape and she has managed to improve the debrief function so that London East is performing above 98.5% for first time delivery. Her ability to get into the detail and then make necessary changes has made the process much improved. Cheers!

Compliance Incident Manager

Amy is an asset to our business for many reasons. In all my dealings with her she shows a can-do attitude and a genuine desire to help. She takes on board queries willingly and provides feedback promptly. If she does not have a definitive response she will always come back and say so. She is positive and conscientious and this shows in her approach to work.

Read more

I understand our supplier (courier company) has nominated this individual for an award in the category of Contract Driver. I would like to add my view on this driver as we have found him to be invaluable in the role he has worked for us. The night run that we asked our supplier to organise is not an easy run to carry out, it requires various training certificates included full ADR and RADAC. There is also a need for constant re-packaging and re-icing of samples which entails handling dry ice. Dee has proven to be very adept at getting around his run in good time and ensuring that all the paperwork, which is vital, is all in order. We put a lot of trust in him and he delivered night after night, in fact, we would often ask his advice on the order of the run and how best to go about it.

The Contract:

Our biggest customer approached us to take over a regular run which they were running in house but were struggling with logistically. They import and export pharmaceutical items on a daily basis and they wanted us to coordinate a run to Heathrow every night to deal with the goods being exported as well as collect any goods that were being imported.

The contract was of a complicated nature and only our best driver would be able to carry this out to the customers satisfaction. This courier put himself forward immediately, despite the fact that it was anti-social hours.

He volunteered to undertake all the training required and passed all of the necessary exams first time. The qualifications required for this contract were, Full ADR ticket, a Radioactive permit, full security course to allow the driver to go airside at any UK airport, security training for carrying "Known" freight and dozens of modules on particular packaging required for different types of cargo.

He completed all of this within a 2-month period and commenced with the contract a month earlier than the projected commencement date.

Read more

He used his solution design and project management skills to take a concept and turn it in to a real-life delivery service that was ready to take to market. He then worked alongside Sales and Client Services to identify opportunities, sell the proposition and set up trials of ‘client to home’ P2H service for our company.

He was fundamental to generation, creation, development and implementation of the Pharmacy to home (P2H) delivery proposition.

He has worked diligently with the High Street client to get the P2H service into their account. Despite three different contact changes within the client, meaning having to go back to square one each time, he persevered and this paid off with the trial currently ongoing with them.

We fully recommend him for a National Courier Awards in the contract category, recognising his tenacity to take a vision and bring a new step to a new market for our company.

Read more

Even in the unlikely circumstance when there is an issue, he goes the extra mile to ensure it is resolved so it does not affect our operations. Like any business, there are opportunities to switch couriers, but we regard this courier as an indispensable part of our team.

He has built a customer relationship that goes beyond our expectation. He is without question the most reliable, personable and professional courier we have encountered since we began trading in 1992.

I have enclosed our nomination paper for the National Courier Awards 2017. Yours sincerely, Chief Executive. Nomination direct from Client.

Swift endorsed the client citation: Courier Manager:

He has worked with us for over 10 years and is a great courier, over this period we have received numerous comments from customers complementing him on his fantastic attitude and work ethic. We are delighted the client wanted to make a direct nomination.

Read more

 I have been with the company for seven years and worked with him over the last five. He has pushed and guided me over the years, and his guidance and experience have helped me progress my career, going from Fleet Liaison to Regional Support Manager.

Operations Manager (London – East)

He has been crucial to my development within the courier company, and he gave me the confidence to apply for my current position.  He has always made the time to help, no matter how busy he is. He is always happy and manages to lift the mood of everyone around him. He’s happy to get his hands dirty and muck-in, and is a great asset for us all.

Service Centre Manager (East)

Although he is not my regional manager – or even in my region! – he is always available to help and give advice. He has helped me feel comfortable within my role. Having him on the end of a phone, if and when needed, is always reassuring.

Read more

I am honoured to recommend him for the prestigious National Courier Awards. I cannot think of a more qualified candidate to be nominated in this way. As a Customer Services Co-ordinator, I believe that he definitely has the skills, education of the industry and charisma that qualifies him for this accolade. I know that the award is only given to candidates who shine within the Courier Industry. he has proven himself a worthy contender by going beyond expectations and excelling himself to do the best he possibly can, with any situation thrown at him. I have yet to meet someone as selfless and hardworking as him and I know that his dedication to the Courier Industry in general is absolute and unceasing.

Progressing in our sector, he has added to his skills by achieving NVQ’s in both Business Studies and Customer Services and more recently has been turning his hand to Van Controlling.

His Managers should be looking over their shoulders, as it seems that he harbours even greater ambitions for the future.

Read more

His front line knowledge gelled beautifully with the management team and should, it has made a change in our company; be recognised to others, it’s a difficult progression step in our sector, from road to office, with success.

He was a courier driver up to a year ago when he decided to join the ops team at head office. This is never an easy decision to make.

Since joining the team he has become invaluable member of staff.  

He has worked closely with our training and development department in making sure that our new recruits are fully trained so there are no surprises when they are on the road.

He is the go to person in the team when couriers have technical problems. 

Read more

Shaun and Justin organized an event held at a primary school in Tottenham where children were given the opportunity to look around a vehicle and were highlighted to the blindspot’s of a vehicle so that they could understand the need to keep well clear of turning vehicles. Over 100 children were involved in the event throughout the day.

Another school visited by the team was the Charlotte Sharman school were again over 100 school children were invited to look around the vehicles and learn about the risks around these large vehicles. Explaining the view in the mirrors to the children.

The two managers conceived the idea to give the children free bags and other goodies to help reinforce the message, help them remember their day and encourage them to speak to their parents and friends about what they’d learnt.

They also showed over 300 workers at Tottenham FC around the vehicles and made them aware of the limitations of the trucks when on site andalso the dangers around the working parts of the vehicles. This was in addition to covering the blind spots and the associated risks.

Not content, they widened the audience further, spent two days at the Hertfordshire Show highlighting the risks around the vehicles. This was a great opportunity to talk to members of the general  public and spread the safety message.

We estimate that over 500 people visited the stand over the two days.

Read more

Almost ten years with our company, since 2008 has experienced some of life’s ups and downs. But he has never given up. There has never been a job which he will refuse to help with. He is totally committed and helps other couriers by offering them support and advice on the best way to maximise their earnings as a self-employed courier. This has helped our courier retention.

He will do whatever he possibly can to make sure that our clients receive the best service. Our clients appreciate his hard work and dedication and have regularly let us know what a fantastic courier he is. No matter what challenges he may be faced with – he keeps smiling and stays positive. 

This gentleman is always smart in appearance and on hand, willing and waiting to help us. He is always available for work – not just for Nottingham but for any geographic.
In January 2017 Darryl was named our ‘Courier of the Year’, a title which he fully deserved and a role which he has taken great pride in developing and helping us with. He has become a true ambassador.

On a number of occasions we have heard from some of our largest clients, asking us to pass on praise and thanks to him for the help that he gives them on a daily basis. On his current route, his happy and upbeat personality is always noted by customers.

Please find below a few examples of customer comments about Darryl:

RC, Business Development Executive,

I would like to praise the driver for the due diligence shown on the Lincoln round. Since he took over the round the number of errors has reduced dramatically.

NP, Business Development Executive,

Could you please pass on how exceptional this guy is as a driver? He is pro-active, conscientious and D2S errors are virtually non-existent on his patch. I have only just taken over LN postcodes and I wish all drivers were as good.

Read more

Mike Daly made it happen with a burger lunch finish as courier and express industry took to two wheels to join the network.  Mike showcased the two wheelers from trade shows Multi Modal to Intralogistex.

Stepping forward to unite others in a common goal that serves both express and the wide sector transport teams across the UK.

Read more

Despite being disabled and needing two sticks to walk, he never complains about his disabilities and is always at his desk on time all the time and cares deeply about his role to keep the fleet on the road.

Described as meticulous this man will know how to coheres, cajole and incentivise anyone to comply. Paul will always work to the letter of the law and is a dog with a bone until it is done.

He has been in this role for 15 years and continues to add to his work load in Health & Safety, compliance and waste removal that were not there 15 years ago.

He accepts evolution, welcomes change and draws others with him to comply to the new laws. Every day he goes the extra mile and in this time sensitive world of Express we all know how important that can be.

Read more

LCpl David Wilkie has recently transferred to 562 Sqn151 Regt RLC having previously serviced with the London Regt as an infanteer. He initially was assigned a Section 2i/c position within the Sqn Task Troop, but frequently acts up as a Sect Comd. During his short time with the Sqn, LCpl Wilkie has excelled himself and been noticed both within the Sqn and Regt for his positive attitude to soldiering, as well as his professional confidence and effective delivery.

Being new to the RLC, LCpl Wilkie attended Ex CANINE TRIDENT where he threw himself into the transport role, providing much needed command and control within a Sqn with few JNCOs. Despite his limited knowledge of the logistic role, LCpl Wilkie was able to effectively command those within his convoy packet to bring about effect by utilising his past experience and clear command ability to motivate his team while learning his new role.

LCpl Wilkie further demonstrated his skills and experience during the 151Regt’s dismounted ADE to Italy, Ex ROMAN STAR in 2016. Throughout, this ADE, but particularly during the field phase, LCpl Wilkie was the ‘go to’ person to rely on if work needed to be completed. Never one to shy away from a task, LCpl Wilkie demonstrated a positive outlook and a can-do attitude, which when combined with a suitably firm delivery proved his obvious competence compared to his peers.

He was able to seamlessly combine the demanding role of Section 2i/c with the ability to mentor some of the more junior soldiers in the section, while still being able to maintain discipline within the sect.

Read more

The SSgt also implemented the use of military flights in addition to the routine civilian flights for the movement of Protectively Marked Material. This was as a result of sizing restrictions on the civilian aircraft. With his pragmatic and resourceful approach, and the excellent and trusted relationships that he formed with DCS.

He much improved the efficiency of the delivery of highly secure, protective marked material to the operational theatre.