Industry news of relevance to Fellows and Members

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Qualifications in the Express Logistics sector

IOC Chair, Carl Lomas,

Qualifications are key to our sector, both for compliance and future workforce, from driver front line to management. The IOC have been working closely with FE colleges, Universities, LEPs and DfE/IFA, The IOC have a 4 module workbook pack to accompany the express delivery operative level 2 apprenticeship, candidates are funded by levy. Candidates who complete the workbook on their apprenticeship journey are eligible for associate membership of the IOC.

A degree in Express logistics for next generation managers

IOC has two key qualification routes, management & delivery. For management, IOC is working with The University of West London in the Heathrow logistics hot spot and Derby University in the heart of the East Midlands gateway to deliver the first-ever undergraduate degree dedicated to our sector. A level six apprenticeship degree standard passed by the IFA. A level six text book is nearing publication.

An apprenticeship for Express operatives

There is level two apprenticeship for express operatives, it is free to candidates and funded by levy. The ‘Courier Trailblazer’ was a phase three application and evolved into ‘Trailblazer Express Delivery’, the standard submitted to BIS Nov 2015, live apprenticeship qualification in 2019. A full delivery pack for learners, a four workbook reflective journal portfolio to match the standard went live in 2020, rich in employer operator content. Employer support came from APC to Yodel, nationals from Hermes to DPD to SMEs such as Swift in Liverpool and GLH in London.

Justin Moore, chaired the strong employer group meetings talking Express driver operative at Level two.

We have outstanding contributions from so many employers, nationals, networks and local SMEs. The standard that will set the future qualification for the front line of our sector. It’s a big thank-you all round for everyone who has made this possible. This will be a vocational qualification for our front-line teams delivering at the client face.

Workbook modules for the apprenticeship level two, ‘Express delivery operative.'

IOC uniquely built a full learning delivery pack for the express delivery operative apprenticeship. Built with rich levels of operator content, ‘What is this thing we call Express?’ ‘Parcels larger than letters, smaller than pallets’ ‘Same day, next day schedules.’ ‘POB to empty.’ ‘Safe-guarding age related goods from knives to fireworks.’ The learning delivery pack is formed of four module workbooks, they can be completed in the job environment, interactive learning booklets with interpretation boxes for on the job notes, top tip lines from industry. Knowledge to do the job, skills blocks that follow experience in delivery, behaviour focused on brand, integrity and security at the door.

IOC acting EQA for DFT IFA

Ofqual is the official external quality auditor, IOC acting as the sector review body, IOC have built a one hundred question bank for the apprenticeship knowledge test, extensive simulation exercises and a pointer set for the professional discussion module of express delivery operative.

Going beyond the standard for express delivery operative apprenticeship

Candidates who complete the IOC work books with an apprenticeship pass qualify for access to associate membership of the IOC.

Message to schools

IOC deliver key note tuition express sector introductions to schools. Explaining the career stairway in logistics. The schools message for the next generation is key, taking the message of our sector as a career path. IOC have worked very closely with further education, FE, from West Thames College GTA at Heathrow to Buxton & Leek with their Skillbase driver training centre in the homeland of former Sec of State for transport Patrick Mcloughlin.

Jobcentre Plus – SWAP - ‘What is this thing we call express logistics?’

For adults looking at a step into the sector, IOC have worked with DWP Jobcentre Plus to develop a free of charge SWAP, Sector Work Academy Programme targeted at the unemployed entering sortation and express delivery roles.

Copies of sector-relevant standards and qualification documents, including those authored by IoC and other external bodies can be found in the IoC Standards Archive.

IoC is also active in the Education & Training Foundation's Two-Way Street leadership exchange programme - for more details go here

IOC & Government

All three Vice Presidents of the Institute of Couriers are former transport ministers. The Institute works closely with DfT, DfE IFA (formerly BIS), DWP, DEFRA and BEIS; From roads to education, parking, clean air and congestion to trailblazer apprenticeships; freight forums with Transport for London, GLA, Leeds and Transport for Greater Manchester. IOC have loose associations with many colleges; FE at Hull to West Thames at Heathrow. IOC has closely engaged with the LEP platforms, particularly those who have identified transport and logistics as a priority. In the Golden Triangle of logistics hot-spots, IOC have helped build the sector strategy from Nottingham through Derby to Leicester. LEP view - the inspirational postcodes; 80% of the UK within four hours of East Midlands airport by road. Peter Richardson, D2N2 LEP former Chair.

During the Covid-19 crisis, IOC engaged with The College of Policing and National Police Chiefs Council, a copy of the COVID-19-Police-brief-in-response-to-Coronavirus-Government-Legislation can be found below.

DfE have produced a guide to Trailblazer levy. The guidance and a detailed timetable of further information releases are available on the GOV.UK website here.

The DfE/HMRC draft legislation on levy is now available for comment. For the convenience of members we have a downloadable PDF of the request for comments here.

Copies of sector-relevant standards, including those authored by IoC and other external bodies can be found in the IoC Standards Archive. Simply select a tab below and click through to the documents of interest.

FORS – IOC chair Carl Lomas takes governance role.

FORS Fleet operator recognition scheme. More focus for vans as scheme achieves four thousand members. IOC chair Carl Lomas sat at the Governance council Oct bringing more van vision to the London standard turned national. FORS passed four thousand members in the last quarter, half of the vehicles are vans, the FORS emblem born in London has become a national representation of fleets working inside the standard to look at workforce, vehicle, compliance and clean air. The very latest standards V4 are published, take a look below, The bar has been raised a little for gold standard and some silver requirements have been passed down to Bronze.

Chief Inspector, Patrick Holdaway, National Business Crime Centre - COVID-19 briefing

Talking to the IOC during Covid-19 this week (3^rd April 2020),

The College of Policing and National Police Chiefs Council have produced a briefing in relation to Covid-19, whilst aimed at policing I feel it would be of interest and benefit to fellows business and provide some answers to questions around police powers, particularly in relation to restrictions on movement and gatherings.   This updated version is a result of the feedback IOC have been giving me which I have then fed back into policing.

 

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