University West London in the logistics hot spot of Heathrow, awarded Carl Lomas MBE their highest recognition with the hon doctorate of letters for 2023 as a recognition of his role model status in transport education. Vice Chancellor Peter John CBE mentioned in particular the work Lomas had done to champion the first ever Higher education Hons degree for Express logistics managers at level six. Delivering a Higher Education career pathway for the express logistics sector. Paid for by levy and built with a rich operator input driving learning in the workplace.

Lomas commented, ‘Receiving the Hon Doctorate of letters from my alumni University UWL in the Logistics hot spot is the proudest moment of my educational life.’

Lomas has spent a Life journey in express logistics from London same day transport operations to a variety of present day chair roles, including chair role of the Institute of Couriers and chair of the Logistics Skills Alliance LSA. He is seen as a sector expert for final mile delivery in a sector that has exploded in number, post Covid and became critical infrastructure for delivery as retail moves from high street to door.

Lomas went on to put something back. Building operator engagement across the sector, he used Govt TEC support to develop and deliver the first NVQ qualifications for same day courier sector more than a decade ago. He received an MBE in recognition of bringing thousands of candidates from unemployment into the sector through a proven education route with the Training Enterprise Councils and Job Centres. A National Training Award followed, as did top Ofsted scores.

With National Vocational Qualifications replaced by apprenticeships, Lomas adapted the training platforms with Knowledge Skills and Behaviour Units mapped into the new apprenticeship schemes. Champion and Secretary to the BIS, later IFA Express delivery Trailbazer group for express drivers and sortation teams the new schemes were funded under levy and began delivery to generate the modern apprenticeship route for Express Logistics. There are more than four thousand level two delivery drivers passed through enrolment this year.

In a first -ver step for the sector, Lomas focused on next generation leaders. A higher education (HE) qualification vision. Lomas championed the Govts Trailblazer group to engage operators and build a robust syllabus at level six for Hons Degree, a recognition for the future express delivery managers. Managers engaged in an evolved and professional sector that is responsible for 60 billion deliveries to door in 2022.

Lomas was key to the new HE degree generating a career pathway for the next generation leaders in the sector of Express logistics. Lomas drove further to engage a detailed training plan for the new degree delivery. The first block of starts engaged in January 2023 have begun their steps on the career stairway to lead the future if Express logistics.

Lomas delivers words of thanks for recognition to fellow UWL students