IoC news

IoC news

Industry news of relevance to Fellows and Members

Cycle solutions for the final mile, Richard Armitage FCILT

e-Retail explosion seeks solutions to final mile. Population growth, demand for home delivery, inner city air quality, congested roads all seem to fit two wheel cycle, powered by pedal or electric.

There is nothing new about cycle couriers; during the eighties a motorbike courier who lost their licence for too many speeding points often reverted to leg power and added pedestrian zones and cut through paved areas to their street knowledge to complete deliveries in ever more concentrated zones of the inner city by pedal bike.

The cycle courier today is a green icon for client, brand and courier company; the further win is legal access to pedestrian zones, inner city areas of high density retail mix not accessible to fuelled vehicles.

 

DPD has been listed in the prestigious Sunday Times ‘Best Big Companies to Work For’ list for the first time, it has been confirmed. The company will feature in the top 25 when the full list is revealed at the Best Companies awards celebration in London  on Thursday 25th February.

The Sunday Times 'Best Companies’ list celebrates excellence in workplace engagement and is widely acknowledged as the most searching and extensive research into employee engagement carried out in the UK. Lists are compiled based on employee opinions on how the company; supports wellbeing in the workplace, gives something back to society, shows strong leadership and teaming, provides opportunities for personal growth, and offers fair pay and benefits. Only the organisations with the highest level of overall employee engagement qualify for the 'Best Companies to Work For’ list.

Ultra Low Emissions TfL launch event  Jan 27th

A snazzy video with a Gnewt Hermes electric final mile delivery van set the scene for a positive exchange on an agenda for a healthier London at the LoCity launch Jan 27th.

Ultra Low Emission is far more than Euro 6, courier vehicles, small and light vans do not yet exist in the general marketplace and the 2020 timeline is racing towards us. IOC welcomed 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 lead the way in improving air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

IoC Chair Carl Lomas was on hand to listen to Mike Brown, new boss of TFL, responsible for 13 million passenger journeys a day.

 

Yodel has appointed former Arriva MD, Mike Cooper as its new chief executive officer. Mike will officially take up the position at the independent parcel carrier on 1 February 2016.

New CEO for Yodel appointed following a successful Christmas peak for Yodel, which saw the national courier award winning carrier handle 22 million parcels between 22 November and 24 December while achieving record customer satisfaction levels reported through the ‘have your say programme.’

Dick Stead, executive chairman of Yodel, said: “We're delighted to welcome Mike Cooper to the team. He has an impressive track record of galvanising people to deliver exceptional results and using consumer insight to drive a great customer experience. Mike will focus us still further on our ever improving service levels and provide impetus to Yodel’s growth ambitions.”.

Prior to joining Yodel, Mike spent nine years at Arriva plc, one of Europe's leading passenger transport providers, where he was deputy CEO and managing director. He also spent five years at easyJet as chief commercial officer, and four years at Thomson Holidays, where he was managing director of the direct sell business.

Exploding e-retail platform in the post Black Friday peak of 2015. It's not all parcels - pallets are going to home delivery. With a shift of pallets from classic B2B, in a recent IOC interview pallet network Pallex reported 30% of deliveries arrived at home address locations. Palletforce reported today central England investment in Staffordshire; 20 million to bring their facility to 50 million pounds, over 650,000 square feet and capacity for 30,000 pallets a night.

 

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.