Express trailblazer Royal Mail meeting for a sector recognising walking post to white van in the evolving and exploding platform of express delivery.
IOC chairman Carl Lomas met Liza Strong, director for talent at the Victoria Embankment offices of the Royal Mail to talk about the Trailblazer Express group developing qualifications ready for levy.
Carl Lomas, acting as BIS employer group sec for Express trailblazers explored the alignment of the existing Express level two Trailblazer to engage walking post in the level 2 qualification. This was a key sector the employer had already reviewed to be in the standard. The standard covers skills from customer service to compliance, an end point assessment developed with award body Pearson using a Q&A, simulated job issues (failed delivery, dealing with returns, damaged parcels) and a viva interview recognising an individual’s delivery log, work book or record of deliveries. The standard covers all express courier job roles from walking express delivery through trolley, cycle, bike and van.
IOC were in West London for the AELP National Conference, talking education and funding for trailblazer, levy and employer.
Martin Dunford, chair of AELP had a mouth-watering line-up of ministers and shadow ministers to give the opposite opinion. 800 AELP members, wall-to-wall training providers, 640 attending from every sector stacked to the rafters in the Hammersmith West London Novotel. Talk of rivers of money and a cold vote for the new Chartered Institute of Further Education.
Positive words from Minister Nick Boles,
I understand change is going on and it generates uncertainty. It is absolutely clear there is a fruitful river for you to fish in. There is a great deal more money going into apprenticeships, an expanding river of opportunity. You are in a growth business, every area of the country will need to thrive in their environment.
Warehouse news headline June 2016 – ‘A legacy change for the express courier sector’ – IOC chair Carl Lomas with East Midlands hot spot LLEP Corin Crane and Sec of State for Education Nicky Morgan. Heads of Industry IOC Heathrow conference highlighted the sector win as BIS gave the green light for the road ahead for the next generation of express courier drivers, funding up to 4,900 pounds a candidate. A team effort from APC to UK Mail.
Standing room only at Heathrow as BIS talked trailblazers, there was hydrogen power in the car park for an IOC heads of Industry briefing that followed a proven track record of fifteen minute slots across a varied agenda. Glen Davies TfL, LoCity was first keynote address, ‘ 59% of white vans are in private registration!’ watching the thunderstorm cell, Heathrow Emma Gilthorpe talked air, focused on freight, 1.5 million tonnes a year through Heathrow projected to 3 million tonnes by 2030. FORS BIS & Hydrogen followed, Inpost talked collect, Nicholas Dunhill Parcel Space had collaboration at heart, Alex Farkas DWP was on hand as national logistics, Andrew Hartley, System training de-mystified levy for employers. Sarah Bell University of Derby had level 6 degrees in preparation. It was logistics employers parked wall to wall, City sprint, TNT, UK Mail FedEx and more in a briefing focused express speed.
Viscount, Lord Falkland IOC president, ‘A legacy change for the express courier sector’
With exploding delivery numbers in the express delivery, shift from high street retail to home delivery expected to be half of all retail value by 2020, light van registrations up 18% in a single year and three Q4 million foot sortation sheds in middle England 2015. The next challenge is a workforce with skills to deliver the booming numbers in an evolving platform. Minister Nick Boles has delivered news set to provide a legacy, a step change in the sector, a trailblazer apprenticeship for express delivered before the end of the year, ready for levy.
Proposal to develop apprenticeship standard degree apprenticeship logistics manager went into BIS March 29 by IOC in collaboration with University of Derby and a strong employer group that first met over two years ago.
A strong employer group with a track record at level 2 and submissions of a career path to level four all in development; foundation degrees were first discussed by the group more than 18 months ago.
IOC has acted as secretary to the express delivery group chaired by Justin Moore, CitySprint. IOC have ready completed work to develop the Level 2 standard for express delivery drivers/couriers & provided an expression of interest to develop levels 3 & 4 in express logistics.
Justin Moore,
I have written to BIS seeking approval for the development of a level 6 standard for such a degree apprenticeship. I have asked Carl Lomas CBE, IOC to continue to provide secretariat services to the group and lead this work.
Pearson are developing new BTECs at level 2 to meet DFE 'Technical Certificate' criteria, to respond to the challenges of new funding priorities by the Government (reducing 19+ funding and increasing funding for apprenticeship and technical, work-preparation qualifications). Warehouse Operative, Supply Chain Operative, Delivery Operative. Learners will typically be aged 16-19 without prior level 2 achievement at this level, but they could also be undertaken by 14-16 alongside more academic study.
The first document describes the design of the new qualifications, the proposed structures and information on the content of the units.
Lisa Smailes, Pearson,
I would very much appreciate IOC fellows input on the short survey (2nd document) and returning by email at your convenience.
Please click here to see the documents Open
Trailblazer apprenticeship - Express delivery courier. The Next step is warehouse hub & level three and four
Last day of January 2016, Gerry Swift at BIS confirmed approval of the Express Delivery Driver standard, subject to some final amendments. IOC Heads of industry meet Feb 26th to debate the assessment and look at the next levels.
Express delivery / courier trailblazer apprenticeship standard has been authorised by BIS at level 2, level 3 and 4 is on the starting grid and framework assessment design has begun.
IOC Tracey Worth met up with UPS at the recent RTITB train-the-trainer conference in the West Midlands to understand the system that leads to a high quality delivery in the express sector. Tracey had the discussion with Gary Swift and Andrew Louden who leads the UPS driver training for UPS UK, based in Tamworth, Midlands.
IOC Chair Carl Lomas was at the emfec 2016 Feb 08 conference to hear the headline ‘1/3rd of colleges gone by end of area review rugby scrum.’
College principals, governors, teaching practitioners and students for a full house of 240 folk talking Further Education (FE) shop that focused on 'a third of colleges gone by the end of area reviews' and how important the student voice was. Paul Eeles talked 'rugby match on a muddy field', could college mergers include private training providers ? It was howling wind outside and howling inside for a frank and energetic exchange across area review, LEP and devolution.
Stewart Segal AELP, 'Our sector needs to be driven by learners and employers'. Stuart Cutforth Chesterfield College, ‘Area reviews. This is real, radical restructuring.’ Baroness Sharp, ‘Why have we cut cultural learning for adults?’ Gill Clipson AOC. ‘Our advice on area reviews is engage.’ Buxton & Leek College got a mention under the umbrella of the University of Derby.
An energetic exchange. Corridors of trade show from award body to AELP, lashings of tea and coffee, two workshop sessions, three headline panel events and a finish on the Skills Education Group formation news from Paul Eeles ABC awards and Maggie Walker ASDAN.
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