IoC news
Industry news of relevance to Fellows and Members
John Lewis has launched a recruitment drive for 60 jobs at the retailer’s third distribution centre to open at Magna Park in Milton Keynes.
e-retail figures for the end of 2015 in the post Black Friday peak were the largest seen. “I’m excited to expand our warehouse team here at Magna Park 3,” said Terry Murphy, director of national distribution centres at John Lewis. “Our third national distribution centre in Milton Keynes is absolutely crucial to ensure a seamless omni-channel experience for our customers, and we’re looking to recruit driven individuals who can manage this process.” This is the third national distribution centre that John Lewis has opened in Milton Keynes – Magna Park 1 opened in 2009 and Magna Park 2 opened in 2016.
Nigel Base of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders writes...
2015 registrations show strength of CV sector
2016 has started at a fast pace that I suspect is likely to continue. Final registration figures for 2015, released today, confirm a record year for vans and robust growth for trucks. This is good news for the industry as the New Year begins in earnest, but it's fair to say the bar is now set high.
It’s interesting to note the shift towards heavier vehicles in all three main categories; vans, rigid trucks and artics. This trend has been apparent for nearly 20 years, but over the past 12 months there has been a step change. Vehicle users seem to be getting the biggest bang for their buck: the need to increase productivity, driver shortages and access to finance are all contributing to the shift.
Ultra Low Emission is far more than Euro 6; courier vehicles, small and light vans do not yet exist in the general market place and the 2020 timeline is racing towards us. IOC welcome Transport for London's announcement of their January 27th launch event of LoCITY – a brand new industry-led programme aimed at helping the freight and fleet sector to lead the way in improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.
An exploding e-retail platform, a brand new IOC web, petrol under a pound a litre at the supermarkets, (Clydesdale report). Trailblazer BIS apprenticeship submitted with wide support and re-named Express delivery. Delivery numbers from Black Friday to Christmas Eve at bumper figures. The IOC are aligning a number of ‘Post Peak’ conferences for fellows to share best practice and review the evolution of bricks and mortar retail shift to home delivery in the revolution of product purchase behaviour.
Sir Peter Hendy has nominated new TfL boss Mike Brown for the 2016 honorary gown at our new fellows gowning ceremony on Feb 26th, I urge your attendance to be part of a ceremony that will be all the more special to mark the eightieth year of our IOC president, Viscount, Lord Falkland,
Some key dates for 2016 year ahead marked below for your New year diaries, may I wish you a very Happy New Year,
Carl Lomas MBE, Chairman Institute of Couriers
2016 key Diary dates
Feb 26th Fellows gowning, Sir Peter Hendy has nominated new TfL boss Mike Brown for the honorary 2016 gown.
March 8th Carmen Mansion House Transport Banquet, City of London.
April 26th Transport Joint Services dinner at Drapers Hall, HRH the Princess Royal
May 10th / 12th Multi Modal trade show at the NEC
July 13th Cartmarking at Guildhall Yard
Oct 18th National Courier Awards, IOD London
A report by Mike Baker, Clydesdale Bank & speaker at IOC Heads of Industry event.
As Peak peaks, Amazon reporting a third up online for Black Friday, cyber Monday deliveries kicked in, it was Tuesday time to check out what’s new on two wheels at the NEC. Will same-day city centre solutions come from two-wheelers? Pedestrian access to the electrics, will the eighties motorbike couriers return for same-day solutions in the city ?
IOC stayed late at the bike show for the MCIA AGM, chief exec Steve Kenward ran a Scrabble game as MCIA team stood proud and tall to talk success in the letters of the alphabet. The bash began with A for Awards and first up was MCIA win at the National Courier Awards...
Carl Lomas IOC Chair speaking on Black Friday, ‘As retailers extend Black Friday the logistics companies await figures to see how big 2015 peak for home delivery will be. A week of poor weather, rain & in the wake of the Paris terrorist issues, first vision is consumers are staying at home and buying on line in the safety, warmth and comfort of their arm chairs. This could create the biggest home delivery numbers so far in the four year history of UK Black Friday.’
In the week preceding Black Friday, Cyber Monday and delivery Tuesday it was a full house for the long-awaited SHU conference on return logistics, chaired by Sheffield Hallam Dr Jonathan Gorst. Dr Mike Bernon Cranfield speaking, Anthony Baldwin head of returns at Shop Direct & Mark Catley, business development director at XPO / Norbert. Introductions by SHU faculty head, Jill Stewart.
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