IoC news

IoC news

Industry news of relevance to Fellows and Members

Express logistics enters peak with a rich demand for workforce while UK Govt report lowest unemployment in 40 years.

National employer group for Dept for Work and Pensions reported (Nov 16) Unemployment is down 59,000 on the quarter and is the lowest rate since 1975.

Employment rate is at a near record of 75.0% with 32 million people in work. Official figures show that unemployment has remained at 4.3%, the lowest rate since 1975.

The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, also show that employment remains at a near record high, with 32 million people in work. Increases in full-time and permanent work are behind the figures. In the last year the number of people on zero hours contracts has fallen by 20,000.

Breaking news Friday November 10th  - The Employment Appeal Tribunal has upheld a ruling that Uber drivers should be classified as workers. The taxi service appealed against the original tribunal decision, which took place after the GMB union brought claims on behalf of its members in July 2016, identifying their workers as self-employed.

The tribunal found Uber drivers are not self-employed, but workers that are entitled to basic workers’ rights, including holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks.

The ruling will have implications for many delivery companies which rely on self-employed couriers for their final mile deliveries.

Institute of Couriers completed a substantial response to the Taylor Review detailing that the majority of Express companies are bricks and mortar with a solid tradition of self-employment and not in the worker status category.  

Click here for the IOC response to Taylor document

 

IoC on the Carmen float for 690th Lord Mayor in a show 800 years old

City's businesses, Livery Companies, charities, Her Majesty's Forces, the City Police and Londoners from all walks of life come together to enjoy a splendid celebration of the City's ancient power and prosperity, just as they did in the middle ages.

Road closures in the City of London to celebrate the new Lord Mayor. The transport livery of the Carmen has float entry number eighty for their five hundred years of transport celebrations; near the rear of the parade and not to be missed.

Institute of Couriers are amongst the supporters of the Carmen's 500 years, modern express in the shadow of transport history for the new Lord Mayor.

 

IoC at Palestra House TfL HQ location for the 15th London Freight Forum.

A Friday peak hours full house of cross-sector transport on the eve of the Lord Mayor's Show.

Nick Davies head of transport at Sainsbury's talked brand loyalty and took questions on profitability of home delivery.

Prof Alan Braithwaite delivered research findings on a van project focused on East London, "Vans are under-researched, vans are demonised but not the problem, there needs to be more research of van freight."

The third annual Freight in the City Expo started true to transport with a bacon butty breakfast at the Ally Pally, North London former BBC site with views across London and the reality of a City with air quality issues.

The Ally Pally Freight in the City Expo moved into the Great Hall as more vehicles, equipment and technology were on showcase to make urban deliveries cleaner, safer and quieter. Alongside this, a packed seminar programme opening with Venn Chesterton from TRL and Express key notes from operators, Gnewt, Sam Clarke and CitySprint Ali Kagalwalla.

Industry speakers focused on exploring practical examples of sustainable city logistics operations from around the world.

Ten thousand words of nominations for the 21st year of the National Courier Awards.

Recognition from apprentice to lifetime achievement as Express sector rattled their clappers for the final mile.

IoC President Lord Falkland,

Twenty one years of the National Courier Awards, Express is an evolving sector and the awards have driven recognition of excellence. Tonight we see recognition from start to finish with apprentice to lifetime award and a national step change win for same day nationwide.

IoC chair, Carl Lomas The Three Ts, Transport / Taylor / Trailblazer. He spoke

Continued retail shift from High Street to home deliver has brought challenge to a sector evolving to deliver customer chain excellence, those at the forefront are here for awards this evening and have been recognised by our independent panel of judges.

Carole Woodhead, (just Walker) has moved up, she becomes chief executive Hermes Europe. Carole will take responsiblity for Europe.

I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved in the UK and would like to thank my fantastic team,” said Walker. “This new role is an amazing opportunity for me to use my experience, industry expertise and UK success to help support and develop Hermes’ businesses across Europe."

Martijn de Lange steps up to take chief executive of Hermes UK.

On the eve of the Lo-City Alexandra Palace show, the Mayor of London confirmed (Friday Nov 3rd) plans for the next major stage of his hard-hitting measures to help tackle London’s lethal air pollution and dramatically reduce harmful emissions with the early introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London from 8th April 2019.

Powered two wheeler accidents on the rise, IoC talks with the Transport Minister John Hayes and TfL, alongside the October heads of industry meeting resulted in the first foundations of a code of practice for Express delivery,  An express delivery courier will  be expected to have passed both their CBT and theory test before conducting paid, professional delivery work on a powered two wheeler.

Motorcycle riding standards are key to safety in London, the theory test passed should be a minimum standard before using a powered two wheeler for work.

Presently an individual can complete their CBT,  ride a powered two wheeler and not have to have passed their theory  knowledge of the Highway Code. The IoC code will set theory test passed as a minimum standard in its 2018 code of conduct for express delivery.

A IoC heads of Industry – a room rich and full of operators for express - the three T's Transport, Taylor & Trailblazer with national speakers

DWP, BIS IFA, TfL & TfGM at the IoC Heads of industry fellows round table event. Transport, Taylor & Trailblazer covered all key issues leading to the vision of a sector code of conduct for 2018.