Official 2024 photo of the Express Logistics IOC Education group, the group is focused on the levy-paid Express apprenticeships - from level two delivery at door, to level six manager degree. The group forms the Trailblazer apprenticeship panel for DFE IFA. A rare annual photo of the team was captured at the National Courier Awards, with IFA Dept Director Nick Mawhinney at centre and including brands of Evri, DPD, Royal Mail, Yodel and Whistl among regionals, training providers and external assessor organisations with the IOC co-chairs for education, Louise O'Neil and Trevor Hoyle.
Key discussion for the group focused on an evolution of the standard for express delivery operative level 2. A twelve month delivery, paid by levy, for our front line individuals dealing with delivery at door. The evolution of the standard has seen the addition of a duty list; a list of duties expected of our individuals. The Trailblazer has sat many times during 2023-24 and has formed a variety of draft duties, presently in its eleventh iteration at V6.0. The duty list was on the agenda at the Q4 IOC heads of industry, (representing quarter of a million vans in express) where votes on the relevance and importance of individual duties were held, putting duty list V5.6 to an employer vote. The consensus was duty number one was to represent brand. Core collection and delivery units headed metrics as a target toward 'first time every time'. Maintaining condition of package remained high and sits separate to regulation and operational duties.
A new IFA manager for Express, Andrew Scott has worked with the Trailblazer group and the IOC co-chairs for education, Louise O'Neil Whistl and Trevor Hoyle former SVP FedEx, to get the wording for the ST0103 duty list spot-on. V5.6 has evolved through sub-group discussions to V6.
With over three thousand starts so far, the employer voice was ‘no change’ for the delivery detail. The existing delivery units of knowledge skills and behaviour have been mapped to the new duty list, leaving the evolved standard very similar in composition to the existing. Clarity on distinction grading has been requested for the discussion test in the end-point assessment. The V6 document goes before the 2025 Q1 round table on Jan 28th at the Guildhall Heads of Industry event.
Decarbonisation, net zero all in the original standard, but will get updates to 2050. This leaves a robust fit for future apprenticeship. Measuring metrics of 'first time every time' delivery. Some additions on robots to the door get a mention and clarity for dog attack at door is expected to get reinforced, with simulation exercises already formed by the IOC, all adding to the existing core assessment of route finding for delivery.
You will find a link to the full V6 duty list below. The Level two express delivery operative remains open and available, paid for by levy and delivered by a variety of national and regional training providers at no cost to the candidates.
Our front line future looks in good hands!
ST0103 Express Delivery Operative
Draft Duties Version 6
1. Perform delivery and collection services in accordance with the service schedule of the brand.
2. Perform deliveries and collections according to organisational instructions and standards.
3. Meet service quality metrics and customer expectations
4. Confirm delivery and collection of goods.
5. Load and unload goods, ensuring safety and security.
6. Maintain the condition of the goods and packages.
7. Deliver and collect goods in compliance with relevant regulations and legislation.
8. Engage with the appropriate route, making responsible choices if route changes are needed.
9. Carry out risk assessment following arrival at delivery or collection address.
10. Apply safe systems of work for the use of equipment.
11. Carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role.
12. Act with integrity
13. Perform collections and deliveries in a manner which seeks to minimise environmental impact.
Click here for the duty list V6 draft that is fully mapped to the knowledge skills and behaviour units (KSBs)
