A busy lunch from hydrogen to logistics degrees, next-generation warehouse to wheels.

Touring the reality of hydrogen power in the car park with Dr Ben Todd & Richard Kemp Harper from Arcolaenergy. WTC principal Tracy Aust did a test drive in the silent motor, the only emission was water.

Nicholas Dunhill from Parcel Space was on hand to ask the question, ‘Can technology give us significant extra improvements managing the last mile?’

Sarah Bell University of Derby tabled the question set on degree apprenticeship needs and John Bowman researched express delivery workforce needs.

Alex Farkas, sector head for logistics DWP was on hand for employer questions.

Tracy Aust, West Thames College principal, welcomed IOC fellows in a college dedicated to its geographic region of Heathrow logistics excellence..

Introductions – IOC Chair Carl Lomas MBE – Guests from major nationals to local specialist smes freight forwarder to network national.

Glen Davies TfL, head of LoCity. Glenn introduced the role of TfL and LoCity, ‘mitigating the impact of freight in the city’ is a difficult process when 90% of freight is carried by road verses 80% of people’s journey are taken by road. A Population boom means 1.7m of people will descend on London in the next five years. 60% increased congestion in the city. Managing delivery and servicing the transport system. Minimise, match and mitigate approach to achieve the objective of cleaning, safer and improved air quality. LoCity aim to mitigate actions with their influence on vehicles, collaboration and providing alternative means of delivery. The new mayor making his first statement of accelerating the LoCity process and widening the area it controls. Reduce road freight trips, use the correct vehicles and use them efficiently. The LoCity van working group is here to influence van availability and the use of alternative vehicles within growing ULEZ areas.

Glen Davies TfL LoCity - '59% of vans in London are registered to individuals'

Emma Gilthorpe – ‘Expansion plans for Heathrow – largest freight airport in the UK’ ‘The process is  in place for Heathrow to make a difference to our business connectivity.’ Emma  highlighting Heathrow’s strategy for easier, timely and predictable processes to make Heathrow the largest European Airport and an easy airport to do business with. Five key points today were emphasised for making Heathrow a better airport for business. The strategy to make Heathrow Europe’s largest airport based on expecting timely and predictable cargo processes to make Heathrow an easy airport to do business with. Cargo Statistics of Heathrow airport show some 25,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment used on 3,000 acres by 75,000 people. 410 companies that bring in 69% of UK trade value and 1.5 m tonnes of freight every year.

Heathrow will provide new jobs and apprenticeships, 40 more long haul destinations, meet tougher environmental targets, improve connectivity of air, rail and road to every major town and do this to secure the legacy for the future of our children in a global world. Heathrow is working hard for business.

Emma Gilthorpe Heathrow '1.5 million tonnes of freight will be 3 million tonnes by 2030

Hydrogen van power and the grant opportunity. Dr Ben Todd Arcolaenergy.

The office of low emission vehicles (OLEV) is currently offering £2m of funding for zero emission fuel cell electric vehicles, particularly focused on public and private sector fleets. Available eligible vehicles include the Symbio FCell range extended electric Kangoo van (275 miles range) which is ideal for courier fleets. The funding means that these vehicles can be introduced into fleets at more or less equivalent cost to conventional cars and vans and lease options are available as well as purchase.

For more information on the van please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More details on the funding scheme are available at the link below with funding of up to €200,000 available for private companies. Note that the deadline for bids is 4th July 2016.

Tony Kells – Inpost – a collection point solution, collaboration of logistics providers

With relentless growth in e-commerce and an increasingly demanding consumer, the challenge of last mile delivery for couriers and retailers just keeps getting harder. Consumers are demanding greater choice, convenience and control, looking to apply omni-channel shopping principles to the delivery experience.

InPost 24/7 parcel lockers are designed to meet that demand, giving consumers the freedom to collect, send and return parcels at a time to suit them. Couriers also benefit with 100% first time success and delivery consolidation at locker significantly reducing last mile costs.

John Hix FORS / ‘Vision of a model for white van in a sub contract platform’ Voluntary quality standard, best practise of vehicle’s, managers and drivers, initiative by TfL and grew beyond London to national accreditation. A vision to offer on a national basis as the single standard for UK transport sector. 125 parcel and courier companies already credited and 23 in the process.

We collect data from our silver and gold operators and this has shown that through implementing FORS businesses have shown 17% reduction in collision 9.7% reduction of damage only collisions, 34.5% reductions in slight injury collision and an improvement of 4.3mpg in fuel use. More and more customers will be asking for recognition of FORS as a supply chain partner.

John Rock army RLC reserves step to a full licence class one. If a warehouse person signs up for reserve forces the army will progress them towards a full heavy vehicle licence at no cost to the individual. RLC provides the step from warehouse to wheels without cost. John brought the news that the Army Reverse are bringing a solution to the driver shortage. Army Reservist are expanding in numbers, taking an individual, training them to become a driver which includes Hazard protection and plant vehicles as well as HGV1 (C+E). These individuals are then more than ready to work within a civilian role. The RLC are working together with employment partners to carry out these initiatives.  The Army Reserve is a completely different animal to the old fashion TA Army. The opportunities for the employment model to work with both companies and individuals. Co-operation of driver’s hours for both parties to clearly see and work along. So this means a person can join the Reserve Army and be trained right through to an HGV 1 licence for free. An employer giving over 90 days of employee to the Army and in return having a fully compliant and well trained individual.

Esther Horner BIS / trailblazer express - English Apprenticeships: Government’s 2020 Vision. ‘3 million new apprentices by 2020, that’s one apprentice every five minutes. For this sector the govt approved the level two standard in march 2014, driven by you as employers. The assessment plan was approved may 2016, the total possible funding is 4,900 per candidate. The next challenge is finding your apprentice, National apprenticeship service, digital portal for employers & apprenticeship grant up to 1500 pounds for first 5 apprentices in an SME are all there to help. A L6 degree apprentice is in draft submission. The next step is the first starts for the level two express courier driver.

Esther Horner BIS - £4900 for Express Driver at Level Two

Andrew Hartley, ’The challenge is scaling up the workforce, you must use your levy or lose it to your competitors.’ System are the partner of choice to West Thames College delivering bespoke programs for employers in the Heathrow geographic. We have national footprint and are preparing people to enter the logistics sector with apprenticeships. The challenge is scaling up the workforce. Part of the solutions Trailblazers, express delivery & LGV. We work with sector employers to form bespoke funded programmes specific to employer needs, warehouse to wheel’s. Levy is close, employers must use this new funding or lose it to their competitors. We want to be your partner of choice in the road to levy funding, like today, the first step is to get around the table.

Nicholas Dunhill from Parcel Space was on hand to ask the question, ‘Can technology give us significant extra improvements managing the last mile?’ That’s what the team at ParcelSpace have been working on.  ParcelSpace enables you, your consignors and your consignees to connect securely and privately during delivery, working well with one or more connected.  This promotes your premium services and unlocks new delivery options to bring in new revenue, helps you win new tenders, manages delivery expectations, reduces the cost of mis-deliveries and customer service queries, and can provide feedback on driver service levels.

ParcelSpace is different because it provides a new dimension beyond and for your systems, and it is independent from the primary delivery transaction, protecting your brand whilst serving your consignees.  There are a number of options for participation, all under your control.  This is good software built on a stable framework which can be easily tailored to your business requirements.  It’s ready to trial now without any integration on your part, to test our business model and to see which benefits you can realise quickly.

IOC Prof Tracey Worth summed up with vision, focused the next dates, Cartmarking July 13 and national courier awards Oct 18.