Mike Brown comments,

Apprenticeships are key to meeting future skill requirements. This success is underpinned by well-informed sector material made collectively across the Express sector.

Chairman of the employer group Justin Moore, CitySprint commented,

This is great news for the sector; great news for the next-generation workforce.

News of the Express qualification funding arrived in the same week IMRG reported over fifteen per cent of year-on-year growth, first half of 2018 e-retail value is up 16.3% on the same period in 2017.

Sir Gerry Berragan, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships,

As sector specialists the express trailblazer group really understood the sector's needs, and they’ve worked hard to include the skills and experience that would best serve both employers and apprentices in this occupation for the future. Ultimately, this apprenticeship will produce well trained, skilled employees who can add significant value and help their organisations thrive.

The Express qualification for delivery operatives is aimed at front line drivers in the final mile, last mile, home delivery sector of express logistics, it was conceived in January 2015 and became a phase two entry to the trailblazer, a rich content of employer material from repeated round-tables over the last years has built a robust standard and end-point assessment for the qualification. Awarding bodies, Pearson and City & Guilds have been at the helm of the assessment material. Transport bodies TfGM and TfL have given input, as has education body AELP.

Mike Dawes, boss at AELP comments,

This is a fantastic step forward for the express group; really well done.

The Institute of Couriers has already mapped the apprenticeship material for training providers; a detailed work-book of express sector material awaits the next generation.

The IOC recognises best practice in training provision with a list of approved providers for the new qualification. IOC will also be acting as the offficial external quailty auditor (EQA).

The standard, end-point assessment and funding band details can be found on the IOC web.