Standards for Apprenticeships
L2 to L6 standards documents
Delivery material
Guidance for delivering the qualifications
EQA
External Quality Assurance
Qualifications in the Express Logistics sector
IOC Chair, Carl Lomas,
Qualifications are key to our sector, both for compliance and future workforce, from driver front line to management. The IOC have been working closely with FE colleges, Universities, LEPs and DfE/IFA, The IOC have a 4 module workbook pack to accompany the express delivery operative level 2 apprenticeship, candidates are funded by levy. Candidates who complete the workbook on their apprenticeship journey are eligible for associate membership of the IOC.
A degree in Express logistics for next generation managers
IOC has two key qualification routes, management & delivery. For management, IOC is working with The University of West London in the Heathrow logistics hot spot and Derby University in the heart of the East Midlands gateway to deliver the first-ever undergraduate degree dedicated to our sector. A level six apprenticeship degree standard passed by the IFA. A level six text book is nearing publication.
An apprenticeship for sortation operatives ST0753
The very latest apprenticeship in Express was published in Nov 2021 for sortation operatives, focused on those working in the sortation hub, depot. IOC worked with operators to build a training plan for this new apprenticeship and a textbook for candidates to use during the 12 months of the course. The textbook begins with ‘what is this thing we call Express?’ the four streams of mail, parcel, food and meal, all delivery to door. Chapters follow a similar path to packages and parcels, early chapters look at goods delivered, then loaded to belt sort, moving to chute, sorting and separated to outbound final mile. There is a chapter on mail licencing and compliance in final mile. A chapter on security looks at threat and theft of parcel. A chapter looks at sort errors, belt failure, chute error, dealing with jams and later looking at maintenance.
An apprenticeship for Express operatives
There is level two apprenticeship for express operatives, it is free to candidates and funded by levy. The ‘Courier Trailblazer’ was a phase three application and evolved into ‘Trailblazer Express Delivery’, the standard submitted to BIS Nov 2015, live apprenticeship qualification in 2019. A full delivery pack for learners, a four workbook reflective journal portfolio to match the standard went live in 2020, rich in employer operator content. Employer support came from APC to Yodel, nationals from Hermes to DPD to SMEs such as Swift in Liverpool and GLH in London.
Justin Moore, chaired the strong employer group meetings talking Express driver operative at Level two.
We have outstanding contributions from so many employers, nationals, networks and local SMEs. The standard that will set the future qualification for the front line of our sector. It’s a big thank-you all round for everyone who has made this possible. This will be a vocational qualification for our front-line teams delivering at the client face.
Workbook modules for the apprenticeship level two, ‘Express delivery operative.'
IOC uniquely built a full learning delivery pack for the express delivery operative apprenticeship. Built with rich levels of operator content, ‘What is this thing we call Express?’ ‘Parcels larger than letters, smaller than pallets’ ‘Same day, next day schedules.’ ‘POB to empty.’ ‘Safe-guarding age related goods from knives to fireworks.’ The learning delivery pack is formed of four module workbooks, they can be completed in the job environment, interactive learning booklets with interpretation boxes for on the job notes, top tip lines from industry. Knowledge to do the job, skills blocks that follow experience in delivery, behaviour focused on brand, integrity and security at the door.
IOC acting EQA for DFT IFA
Ofqual is the official external quality auditor, IOC acting as the sector review body, IOC have built a one hundred question bank for the apprenticeship knowledge test, extensive simulation exercises and a pointer set for the professional discussion module of express delivery operative.
Going beyond the standard for express delivery operative apprenticeship
Candidates who complete the IOC work books with an apprenticeship pass qualify for access to associate membership of the IOC.
Message to schools
IOC deliver key note tuition express sector introductions to schools. Explaining the career stairway in logistics. The schools message for the next generation is key, taking the message of our sector as a career path. IOC have worked very closely with further education, FE, from West Thames College GTA at Heathrow to Buxton & Leek with their Skillbase driver training centre in the homeland of former Sec of State for transport Patrick Mcloughlin.
Jobcentre Plus – SWAP - ‘What is this thing we call express logistics?’
For adults looking at a step into the sector, IOC have worked with DWP Jobcentre Plus to develop a free of charge SWAP, Sector Work Academy Programme targeted at the unemployed entering sortation and express delivery roles.
Latest hot off the press news flash items can be found below.
Prudential RideLondon - Friday 29 to Sunday 31 July
The Prudential RideLondon cycling events return on the weekend of Friday 29 July. Races will be taking place on closed roads and a revised route in London and Surrey. There will be extensive road closures from Friday 29 July until the early hours of Monday 1 August. Information about road closures at the links below:
Friday 29 July - road closures in central London
Saturday 30 July - road closures in London
Sunday 31 July - road closures in London and Surrey
A200 Tower Bridge closure - Saturday 1 October to Friday 30 December 2016
The City of London Corporation is planning essential major works to Tower Bridge. The works will require a full closure of the bridge to all vehicle traffic from Saturday 1 October until Friday 30 December 2016.
The closure of Tower Bridge extends from the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Queen Elizabeth Street on the south side to the traffic lights by the A100 Tower Bridge Road and A1203 East Smithfield junction on the north side. There are two diversion routes in place, depending on the direction of travel:
- Northbound: Crossing over London Bridge from Borough High Street to Monument and east onto East Cheap Street or Fenchurch Street
- Southbound: Crossing over Southwark Bridge from Upper Thames Street to Southwark Bridge Road/Marshalsea Road and onto Great Dover Street
Tower Bridge is currently on the boundary route for the Congestion Charging zone - vehicles crossing Tower Bridge do not incur the Congestion Charge. During the closure, 'charge free' signs will be in place to guide drivers through the diversions. Deviating from the signed route during charging hours (Monday-Friday 07:00-18:00) without paying the daily charge may incur a penalty charge. For more information, please click here
London Bridge
To facilitate Network Rail's work at London Bridge station, A200 Tooley Street is closed to eastbound traffic from Borough High Street to Bermondsey Street until February 2018. A signed diversion route is in place via Borough High Street, Great Dover Street and Tower Bridge Road.
From 01:00 Saturday 27 August until 05:00 Tuesday 30 August, Tooley Street will also be closed to traffic from Borough High Street to Bermondsey Street. Controlled entry will be maintained for deliveries. For more information and travel advice for drivers, please click here
Ardleigh Green Bridge (LB Havering) - Saturday 23 July to December 2017
As part of our Road Modernisation Plan, we are replacing the Ardleigh Green Bridge, which carries the A127 Southend arterial road over the East Anglia Railway. From Sunday 24 July, only two lanes of traffic will be operational (one lane in each direction). The Essex-bound carriageway will close completely and two-way traffic will operate on the other side of the road, with a contraflow in place from Gallows Corner to Squirrels Heath Road, until December 2017.
To put the contraflow in place, there is an overnight closure on the A127 from 20:00 Saturday 23 until 08:00 Sunday 24 July. This full road closure will be from Gallows Corner to the Ardleigh Green Road/Squirrels Heath Road junction.
Access to the A127 from Bryant Avenue will also be closed until May 2017 while demolition and replacement of the eastern half (the Essex-bound carriageway) takes place. Access into Bryant Avenue from the A127 will be available during this time, apart from specific dates that will be publicised nearer to the time. For more information, please click here
Hammersmith flyover
A short programme of repair works for the flyover is being currently being planned, but we anticipate that there will be either westbound closures or a contraflow in place for two weekends:
- Friday 12 until Monday 15 August
- Friday 20 until Monday 23 August
We should be able to confirm timings and details next week.
Air quality in London: Friday 29 July is deadline for your responses
0n 5 July, the Mayor of London launched the first of a series of consultations to ask Londoners about their views on proposals to improve air quality in the Capital. You can share what you think of his plans through an online survey that is open until Friday 29 July. This feedback will help shape the Mayor's policies and inform detailed consultations in the autumn. For more details and to have your say, please click here
Network Rail has pulled some of the work at Tooley St. There will no longer be nine consecutive evening closures Monday 25 July to Tuesday 2 August.
The overnight closure of Tooley Street from Borough High Street to Bermondsey Street on 01:00 Saturday 27 August to 05:00 Tuesday 30 August is still going ahead however.
TfL, Fergus Worthy reports to IOC.
Today, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, launched a series of consultations to ask Londoners about their views on proposals to improve air quality in the Capital, some of which may be of interest to fellows and members of the IOC.
Air quality is the biggest environmental challenge to face London. We are currently breaching our legal limits of nitrogen dioxide, which alongside other pollutant causes the equivalent of 9,400 deaths of Londoners every year. London’s air quality has improved significantly in recent years but much more needs to be done to protect the health of Londoners.
‘An electric centric audience’ - Full house, standing room only, Southwark Bridge Road, tech folk alongside operators and the TfL team to talk clean air solutions for Van in London.
Carl Lomas opened with clarity on the exploding numbers of home deliveries that were driving white vans into London. TfL Glen Davies had detailed 59% of white vans were in private registration. It is a challenge to communicate to these drivers. Sarah Wixey explained the present research for LoCity on various tech issues between fuels from hydrogen to gas, light and heavy, mixed fuel vehicles and electric. Lomas outlined the most eco-friendly cargo machine, cargo bikes, electric, assist and pedal. Venn Chesterton TTR set working tables to talk around the issues of what is a van, size, weight, purpose and job. How should it be defined to the wider commercial user. Operators asked for strong network time, Lomas extended the timescales to see tech folk talk to operators and exchanged best practice.
IOC were on the M25 ring north of London to take a look at Top Flight, they have a consolidation option for clients to Central London postcodes and ring all the bells for TfL with Carbon Neutral and Crossrail compliance.
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