MCIA Conference showcase a future vision

IoC guests of Motorcycle Industry Association, MCIA Ceo Steve Kenward for their Nov Conference & AGM. All things powered two wheel, Honda Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha, MCIA organise the NEC Bike show and it was a rousing applause for one of the best two wheel showcases of many a year, talk of Triumph as the largest motor manufacturer in the UK meeting great warmth with government. Steve Kenward showcased a six point future vision for the MCIA, Awareness, Education, Practical Solution, Incentivisation, Society, Partnership. More in members' area.#

CitySprint acquires CYC Logistics

CitySprint today announced the acquisition of London based CYC Logistics, one of London’s leading same day courier firms.
This deal, CItySprint’s second largest to date, extends CitySprint’s network in the capital and enhances their status as the UK’s largest privately owned same day distribution company. CitySprint’s new combined operations will comprise nearly 3,000 couriers and 40 Service Centres.

Fellow Len Rainford FFIoC takes on the future life blood of the industry as the Entrepreneur in residence at Lancaster University. Len is advising new business and is at present supporting two courier companies with their work.

IoC Brollies and bowlers in the Lord Mayors parade.

Institute of Couriers were on the streets of the City of London for Lord Mayors Parade to celebrate Alan Yarrow taking the seat of the golden carriage to be elected Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Guilds, education and transport all in a mix of colour commerce and City. IoC Brollies held the sunshine and bowler hats for the city donned various fellows who walked the roads of the city in the tradition of London pageantry to celebrate the new lord mayor with colleagues from London Met University, there was much talk of the forthcoming undergraduate degree in road freight logistics.

Trucks from DAF to MAN, articulated to green, electric and even a steam engine amongst the delivery vehicles of a message for London of the new Lord Mayor Alan Yarrow.

Courier transport Trailblazer apprenticeship

Skills Minister Nick Boles said:

I congratulate Institute of Couriers for the key role it is playing in developing new top-quality apprenticeships. Through the trailblazers initiative companies like Bibby, CitySprint, City Link, Royal Mail, TNT & UK Mail in collaboration with their industry partners, will give people the skills they need to thrive and our businesses need to compete.

CEVA Logistics has announced a major fleet investment program within the UK.

The investment, worth $20 million, will add 120 tractor units, 40 rigid vehicles and 180 new trailers to CEVA's extensive UK ground transport fleet before the end of 2014

All of the vehicles will be fitted with telematics and the rigid vehicles will have an innovative load restraint system to enable use across multiple CEVA operations. CEVA and its customers will also benefit from some weight saving enhancements to the trailer specification, which increases carrying capacity to 29.2 tons.

Speaking about the investment, Michael O'Donoghue, CEVA's Executive Vice President, UK, Ireland and Nordics commented:

We are delighted to make this investment in our ground transport operation. It increases our size and scale and signals our optimism in the UK marketplace.

Debenhams has launched a range of new delivery options ahead of Christmas, including next day click and collect, evening and weekend deliveries and nominated day deliveries. In addition, order cut-off for next day delivery to home  has been extended from 2pm to up to 10pm.

The retailer said online sales increased by 17.6 per cent to £430.7 million in its last financial year, accounting for 15.3 per cent of total sales, up from 13.2 per cent in the previous year. Click & collect increased to 22.3 per cent of all online orders, up from 7.4 per cent last year. Mobile penetration now stands at 38 per cent of online sales.

Chief executive Michael Sharp said:

After the challenges we faced in the first half, everyone in the business has been focused on addressing the issues we identified and on delivering on the priorities we set out in April to deliver long-term sustainable growth. Our performance in the second half reflects this with operating profit up on the previous year.