2008 December

Royal Mail Hooper Report - Gordon Brown

    I am writing to you about today's announcement of the Hooper Report on the future of the Royal Mail.

    The universal service helps to bind us together as a country. It guarantees 28 million homes and businesses across the country mail deliveries six days a week, with one price goes anywhere. The Hooper report warns that the universal service is now under threat. The status quo is untenable. The choice we face is either downgrading the service as we manage decline or acting now to turn things round and secure the Royal Mail's future.

    The threat to the Royal Mail and the universal service comes from the impact of changes in technology and consumer choice. In this country 60 billion text messages were sent last year, while we posted five million fewer letters than two years ago. This shift has cost Royal Mail an estimated £500 million in profits. That is five times the impact of business lost to other postal companies in the liberalised market. Making these other companies go away is not the answer to the Royal Mail succeeding.

    We will fufil our manifesto commitment to "a publicly owned Royal Mail fully restored to good health, providing customers with an excellent service and its employees with rewarding employment". Bringing in a partner through a minority stake in the Royal Mail's postal business will help us to deliver that goal. It will bring the Royal Mail fresh investment, new opportunities to grow in Europe and internationally, and to offer new services. It will provide a fresh impetus to modernising the Royal Mail and securing the universal service.

    Alongside a strategic partnership for the Royal Mail we will reform regulation to more effectively support the universal service. And we will help the Royal Mail tackle its ballooning pension fund deficit. This will not impact on Post Office counters in anyway.

    I hope you will agree with me that this is the best way to save the Royal Mail and its universal service guarantee.

    Yours Gordon Brown

Courier credit crunch on tight margin runs.

    Graeme Leach Chief Economist and Director of Policy at the IoD comments on the credit crunch. ‘After 15 years of economic growth the party is over. Across the whole economy companies are undoubtedly leaner and fitter this time around compared with the last recession. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any significant savings to be made. Budget setting for 2009 is going to be a very tough process in order to squeeze out every possible cost saving’

    The Institute of Directors made a fine venue for this year’s National Courier Awards and now its words ring very true of the economy. Cheap borrowing but tight margin deliveries are tough ground and lucrative long distance urgency is thin on the roads.

    Fellows of the IoC agreed. Quentin Abel FIoC, Chairman of APC pointed out that ‘the journalists hype up the issues and make us all feel depressed rather than tackling the economy and getting on with business. Careful spending also allows for opportunities with the cost of borrowing down to 2%, borrowing has never been so good’

Birmingham Bike show.

    An extract from Ian Kerr who reported the Bike show for IOC in Dispatch News. Celebrity round-the-world explorer Charley Boorman kept his profile high by testing out the Batman Batpod which was on display to perhaps give a glimpse of the future! The Hairy Bikers debuted their new custom machines that will feature in their TV series, in fact the place just buzzed with enthusiastic celebrities (if not any politicians) as well as brand new (to the UK) bikes looking to tempt the cash from your pockets.

    It seems amazing that this is the 20 th year that the Motorcycle Show has been located at the Birmingham NEC complex. The days of dingy displays at Earls Court are long gone, as are most of the machines that once headlined show reports from London. On the first day World Superbike star Ruben Xaus dropped in to unveil the awesome new BMW S1000 RR Superbike project, while manufacturers Yamaha and Kawasaki launched new racing teams in British and World Superbikes respectively.  Harley-Davidson and KTM also announced new, one-make race championships.

2008 November

    IoC Chairman Carl Lomas comments. 'Not one to be missed, Central London, top networking and a top topic. Fellows of the IoC should rally in force to take this oportunity to listen to Steve Norris and his views for transport to beat the credit crunch. It should be a great evening and in your diary.'

    Steve Norris - London Logistics Development Event- Bang goes the fireworks, 5th November is your diary date for this key transport networking event in London organised by Skills for Logistics & Prevista.. Fellows and members of the IoC with a guest are invited free. IoC Vice President Steve Norris will lead the evenings discusion, speaking on key issues faced by those involved in the moving, handling and storing of goods within London. Steven Norris an eminent speaker for the transport industry and as a past transport minister he is well equiped to offer advice. His speeches always offer an enjoyable and broading approach to the subject.

    Topics focused on will be # Specialist skills required to effectively operate within London by Transport for London. # Plans to develop the skills of London logistics buisnesses through a skills academy. # Train for Gain to help you acess funding to make your buisness more competitive. # Networking discussions canopes and complimentary drinks to follow.

    Registration 5th November 2008 from 5:30 at 76 Portland Place London W1. Register your attendance by posting an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Name, IoC Fellow, company, guest name and then turn up.

2008 October

Future Fuel Topic for CILT Speaker. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport have a presentation on future fuel sources for transport use given by Paul Clarke of Pro Environment, creators of the Green-Car-Guide.com and Green Car Live. A challenging and interesting evening is promised for Thursday October 23 rd.   Lancashire County Hall, Fishergate Hill, Preston Lancshire is the venue. Time 18:00 for 18:30

DHL Development of Operational Managers. How DHL develop their operational managers will be a key section of the CILT Warehouse & Materials Handling Forum on 26 th November at the National Achieve Museum Kew, Surrey . The event will include a site tour of the museum and Presentations by David Butterfield on how DHL have developed (and are developing) their operational managers. David Butterfield is Head of Learning & Development DHL (Retail & Consumer)

Other address for the day will include Developing Strategies to Address the People Impact of TUPE Transfers Neil Chambers HR Director Kuhne & Nagel Drinks Logistics. Culture change within an automated environment – how the company “re-motivated and engaged the staff after moving to a new site. Simon Weedon Computer Centre. Managing and developing warehouse personnel Tom Cregan National Archive Museum. Performance Management Mike Dymond MILT

2008 September National Courier Awards

The event of the year was held on Tuesday 16th September. See National Courier Awards for the full report. Top brass photo, IAM CEO Seb Goldin, David Jamieson former Transport Minister, Mick Jackson CEO Skills for Logistics and IoC Chairman Carl Lomas MBE.

Short-listers laden with Champaign Chairmen of the judges Marc Chauveau provided the bubbles. Billed the courier event of the year companies large and small, national, London and network booked up, 200 seats sold out. The National Courier Awards for 2008 gala celebration dinner at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall. Key sponsors, Skills for Logistics, Ears Communications, UK Mail, IAM Fleet and TNT Sameday Express.

Tracey Worth co-ordinated nominations and chairman of the judges Marc Chauveau held the meeting of the panel early September in the presence of Steve Norris former transport minister and Vice President of the Institute. Decisions and discussion covered most of the day for a run of short-listers that drew the highest quality seen in the history of the awards. Lunch was an opportunity for the top brass to take on thoughts from Steve Norris that covered transport, green issues & push bikes, congestion and business needs for same day transport.

2008 September Judges for 2008 select the Best of the Best in the Sameday Industry

    Twenty one short-listers will be laden with Champaign Billed the courier event of the year companies large and small, national, London and network have booked up for an evening to remember. The National Courier Awards for 2008 gala celebration dinner will be at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall.London. Tracey Worth co-ordinated nominations and chairman of the judges Marc Cheauveux held the meeting of the panel on Tuesday September 9 th in the presence of Steve Norris former transport minister and Vice President of the Institute.

    Decisions and discussion covered most of the day for a run of short-listers that drew the highest quality seen in the history of the awards. Lunch was an opportunity for the top brass to take on thoughts from Steve Norris that covered transport, green issues & push bikes, congestion and business needs for same day transport. There was no easy answer to find the winners who remain a secret until the evening, Don’t miss the results, 2008

The 2008 Short-listers

    Two wheel – Gabriel Alves-Dias / TNT, Will Hepworth / Connections, John Powell / Post Haste, Agni Tokaraz / Pink Express, Pablo Valverde/e-couriers. Four Wheel – Colin Foster / Comet Couriers, Boris Atanasov / Pink Express, Philip Connolly / Point to Point, Mel Gabitas / MPC Excell, Harry Holland / TNT, Anthony Rudder / e-courier. Contract – Shane Barclay / Pink Express, Raymond Beer / TNT, David Green / Post Haste, Paul Johnson / DHL. Office – Mark Davies / Swift Liverpool, Ros Grinham / Prestige, Jooshna Khan / e-couriers, Lee Lloyd / MPC Excel, Jean Lowe / Pink Express, Kenny Muir / DHL. Services to the industry and the Safety Award are top secret until the evening. See you there.

2008 September Diary Date!

    New End of Year Date for 2008 National Courier Awards.Unlucky for some and lucky for others the thirteenth year of the awards ceremony will stay in London, the 2008 date is set for Tuesday 16th September 2008 for an Autumn bash recognising the very best of the best in the same day courier industry. The event will be held at the Institute of Directors Pal Mall, main sponsor is transport sector skills council Skills for Logistics. See National Courier Awards

2008 July

    New Leadership for Reuter Brookes. The long standing individually owned courier company Reuter Brookes of London W1, previously of Jambusters and Gough Wallace; is now in the hands of Mach 1's Jeremy Thompson. Previous owner of Reuter Brookes and DA Chairman John Lister FIoC has taken the opportunity to go onto pastures new retiring from his post along with some of the staff who have taken the opportunity for early retirement. Amalgamation of Mach 1's other courier companies including last years gain of A to Z couriers; has yet to be confirmed as the company contiues to run under the Reuter Brookes name.

    Dispatch News reports Renault's fight back. Hot off the press is Ian Kerr's assessment of this new 21st Century Van. Boasting modern expressive styling to beat any of it's rivals. Dispatch News flyers sent to all members with the full report.

2008 NEWS FLASH

    Request for HELP! The Institute of Professional Chauffeurs and Drivers (IPCD) are conducting a survey with the Road Haulage Association (RHA) on the consumption of Fuel used by the Industry. If any courier company can supply their fuel consumption figures to the institute they would greatly appreciate the information. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information

2008 April

    The announcement of the National Courier Awards Sponsors. The Director of Skills for Logistics, Mick Jackson was pleased to announce at the House of Lords this years venue for the awards. Skills for Logistics have taken the role of main supporter and are delighted to support the Institute of Couriers at this prestigious and largest gathering of the industry people. Three Year Deal! Director of Ears Plc, Dee Barrett-Davies is delighted to announce a three year support deal contining their long relationship with the National Courier Awards. The awards are in their 13th Year and Ears Plc have been a supporter for the last eight years. Bob Black of TNT Sameday Specialist Services have been a long time supporter of the National Courier Awards and again this year show their dedication to acknowledging professional excellence by supporting the event. New supporters to the event are UK Mail Specialist Services (previously known as UK Today). David Williamson Managing Director heralds a new era of support to the industry's finest recognition of those individuals who work within the sameday industry. David is delighted to support the National Courier Awards as he believes that the event shows the industry at its best.

    Dispatch News showcase the VW Caddy. Ian Kerr rider and writer of all things on wheels gave the IoC a review of the new VW Caddy. If you would like a copy email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The news item brings the new vehicle to the interests of all courier company's as it's shape to weight ratio brings new possibilities to delivering those large or odd shape boxes.

2008 March 7th. House of Lords Reception - Gowning of New Fellows

    2008 House of Lords fellows gowning. The House of Lords was awash with the colour of IOC gowns for a fabulous gala ceremony to recognise individuals respected at the top of their industry. A cd of the event was sent to all Fellows in the days following the gowning.

    Two former transport ministers took new IOC roles. Steve Norris and David Jamieson became vice presidents of the IOC, with President Lord Falkland at the head this brings unparalleled recognition for the same day courier industry. Steve Norris (Conservative) and David Jamieson (Labour) took on their roles at the fellows gowning ceremony with gowns finished in fur but not ermine. David Jamieson had detailed thoughts on transport and couriers to share with fellows of the Institute of Couriers in a heart felt delivery speech.

    New fellows gowned on the evening included operations director of Skills for Logistics Mick Jackson. Steve Purkiss of Reuter Brooks, a National Courier Award winner steped up alongside Mark Davies of Swift Despatch Liverpool with almost a decades service to the National Courier Association. Neil Michaeloudis head of Finance at GLH was gowned, Am Pall of CitySprint Fleet and Specialist Services responsible for Quality Management amongst other roles, Greg Hoy of Excel Couriers, Mike McCartney of Road Runners Swindon also on the excutive committee of the National Courier Association all took the robes. Director of Lewis Day Joe Sheehan responsible for Medical Services both having received recommendation for their work within the company and industry. Steve Deverson Director of Sales, DHL and Steve Hemmingway of Point to Point join them in dedicated quality service to the industry.

    Steve Norris commented, Tracey Worth co-ordinated the event expertly and thanked Lord Falkland on behalf of the guests.

    In tradition of the IOC existing fellows formed a line orchestrated by IOC Chairman Carl Lomas MBE and then they all welcomed the newcomers, before guests, friends and family clapped them out of the Lords Terrace for formal photos.

    Canapes follwed, drinks flowed and all had a tremendous evening to remember, Lights of the London Eye, Florence Nightingales hospital, St Thomas across the Thames, City Hall and moonlight for an industry recognition of individuals recognised at the top of their success.

    For a press cd of photos please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details.