Andy Scott, senior product manager for transport and logistics at DFE, Ifate has given the Govt go-ahead for the duty list of the standard revision for the level two express delivery operative.
‘I can confirm that we are happy to proceed with the revised list of duties and can now progress onto the revision of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours.’
The formal news supports last week's Q1 Heads of Industry for Express Logistics vote. The table, representing more than quarter of a million final mile vans, voted full support for the draft of the new Express Delivery duty list. The talk went further to say integrity is essential as an at-door delivery duty. Integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, and responsibility were deemed essential as a duty of our front line teams. It's all in and the Trailblazer group meeting Feb 24th is set to start the next step on a review of the knowledge skills and behaviour units.
The Express Logistics IOC Education group forms the core of the Trailblazer apprenticeship panel for DFE IFA and sits Feb 24th with joint chairs Louise O'Neil, Whistl and Trevor Hoyle former FedEx.
Key discussion for the heads of industry express logistics group was 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 duty list has been robustly and extensively discussed across the sector by national brands, regional operators and SMEs. DFE IFA have made helpful comments on the evolution of the duty standard. The duty list is likely to become the standard for the role of express delivery.
‘The job's a good one’
The Trailblazer has sat many times during 2023-24 and having formed a variety of draft duties, it is presently in its eleventh iteration at V6.0. The duty list at the Q4 IOC heads of industry, (representing quarter of a million vans in express) voted on the relevance and importance of individual duties, the employer voice put duty list V5.6 to an employer vote. The consensus was duty 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 four 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. A clarity on distinction grading has been requested for the discussion test in the end-point assessment. The V6 document went before the 2025 Q1 round table on Jan 28th at the Guildhall Heads of Industry event.
Decarbonisation and Net Zero both 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 at door get a mention and clarity for dog attack at door is expected to get reinforced with simulation exercises already formed by the IOC . These will add to the existing core assessment of route finding for delivery.
You will find 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
Duties of an Express Delivery Operative – Final Version - V6
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.
Surf the web for the working details and the duty list mapping to the knowledge skills and behaviour units at www.ioc.uk.com
