Express logistics group for the express apprentices meets quarterly, Louise O'Neil at Whistl chairs the group. This month's starts success on the degree apprenticeship were discussed for the University of West London 2024 cohort. 2024 sees a broad variety of national and SME students joining the degree course. Same day, next day and retail express logistics are amongst the students who are from a national geographic spread. It looks a powerhouse of future generation express managers.

Andy Proud attended the Feb virtual Express Trailblazer meeting from DFE IFA. Andy delivered data on starts and outcomes for the three express apprenticeships of driver, sortation and manager. Andy had an update on sixteen-plus future qualifications routes evolving. Operator view was under-eighteens remain a challenge for the sector from a safeguarding point of view and the security aspect of goods. Sector Work Academy Programmes, SWAPS, got covered in their route to recruitment tools for future generation youngsters from the age of seventeen.

IFA asked for express driver apprenticeship review timescales. In real world, the Express driver apprenticeship was deemed new, COVID market and the arrival of the first EPAOs had held back the early starts. The Express driver material was already rich in clean air zone, ULEZ and electric vehicle content; it was current. For Express driver, 2,634 starts listed to last year. From the latest quarter numbers 254 starts with 210 achievements in that period.

Pass and distinction discussion followed. Distinction grades remain low for express driver. Operators have asked, "Is the marking system achieving a balance?" There are three assessments, The first two, question bank and a simulation of route finding is scoring good distinctions. A third assessment, interview, is graded at 100% success, or it triggers a pass-only score. Carl Lomas IOC, said 100%, no error across 18 knowledge units, does not seem fair. The distinction grade should sensibly come down. IFA have been asked to consider an amendment to the standard to reflect a percentage at interview to win a distinction in line with the question scoring, this would be around 75% to achieve distinction. Not 100%. Zero, no error, sets the score too high.

Evolution of learning and assessment work by the IOC has focused on dog attack at the door during delivery. Dog attack accounts for the highest incident of injury in final mile. The IOC has worked with operators to form a signpost package for both training and assessment of dog attack at door. It is formed of three photo card packages focused on space, entry and exit, type of dog & behaviour of dog.

Express logistics trailblazer meetings are virtual, at ten am and the next two dates are set for June 20 and Sept 23rd