The Members only Courier News section features:

Diary Dates:

Lord Mayor David Brewer meets courier top brass at Mansion House

Couriers - Life Blood to City Business. Lord Mayor of London David Brewer has a keen interest in City of London Transport Issues. Founding Fellows in the frame for a frank and detailed discussion included , Andrew Bernard - CitySprint, Marc Chauveau - MPC, BOb Black - TNT, Tracey Worth and Carl Lomas.

The group chatted avout issues covering fleet management, congestion, parking,self employment and vehicle ownership. A Lunch followed as guests of both the Lord Mayor and the Institute of Directors. Opportunity to get a grip of the wider City of London issues, banking, international trading and legal services, friving finance and commerce were the key topics.

A contingent of guests were French, headed by the French Ambassador who pointed out how close London City firms had come to Paris with the Euro Tunnel. Clarity of communication was paramount and as ever it was the lot of the courier to facilitate the life blood of knowledge moving between different firms.

No Couriers - No Business!

Thursday 2nd February 2006

The lavish House of Lords evening reception to officially open the IOC. This night became an auspicious and momentous occassion for the Sameday Courier Industry. Nearly 200 guests were there to give their support and acknowledge the Founding Fellows who have become the leaders in their profession.

The opening speech given by Viscount Falkland was to announce that the industry had many people who gave their time and energy to the industry that had supported them. The Founding Fellows were these such people. In particular he considered that it was only with the support of Carl Lomas MBE, Camelot Courier Training that 'the idea became a reality'. The industry has moved on since its origins in the 70's and is now a professional and proactive industry in which the IoC will support both its individuals that serve the client and the company's that serve the individuals.

Carl Lomas MBE responded with the inspiration that led him to recognise individuals in this industry. "My first delivery  - Kempson House, Camomile Street to the BBC. It was hard, it takes skill, competency and learning and by bringing recognition to those individuals who do it well took me to work on the first NVQs.

Lord Falkland presented the very first candidates from AtoZ, GLH, MPC & Prestige more than ten years ago with those first NVQs. That very presentation developed into the National Courier awards. It began at the London Bike Show Ally Pally which is on this week.Steve Norris the then transport minister also helped with the early awards.

More recently David Jamieson as then transport minister presented the National Courier Awards and brought a new focus launching a safety award that has so far been recieved by Driver Hire and by CitySprint.David Jamieson who stood with me  a little more than a year ago, held the IoC banner and that photo helped launch this, the IOC.

The IOC will not just recognise the best of the best it will recognise all who are best, individuals in logistics who are professional and today logistics is professional, bike, van, truck same day and overnight.

Late last year we had two small but very informative events. The first saw the launch of motorcycle stamps by the Post Office and the second event was a briefing by Leon Mannings then head of the BMF on road issues, congestion charging, pricing and parking.

The IOC needs partners and to that end we have affiliated membership to both the BMF and MAG whos president Ian Mutch is here tonight. We need a solid structure for the IOC.

Allison Dolbear created us a fine web site last year and Tracey Worth has taken the reins as secretary and tonight a group of individuals who do indeed represent the best of the best will stand forward to be gowned, they will be the founding fellows

They will be the custodians of future recognition for individuals of our industry and the next steps will be those individuals, we will focus on grass roots recruitment, we will need members and we will need help to get them.

I am proud to be a courier. I am proud to chair the IOC for these steps and I am very proud to see recognition for those individuals who will become the IOC."

The gowning of David Jamieson the President of the MCIA, who when in 2004 was the then Minster for Transport and announced the conception of the Institute of Couriers, was made an Associate Fellow for his work and support to assist the IoC in its vision.

The Founding Fellows in alphabetical order, were then individually gowned by Viscount Falkland and the inauguaral and historic photograph of the Founding Fellows was taken.

 

Past Year Diary Dates for 2005

Date: November 29th 2005
Venue: Camelot Training, Goswell Road EC1, London
Time: 2pm for 2:30pm
Cost: Free to Fellows - which includes drinks and seasonal mince pies.

Leon Manning, immediate past chair of the BMF  briefed IOC members on a year of statistics and politics in transport on November 29th in the lecture room of London based Camelot Training. Leon holding a recent doctorate with a thesis on transport policy delivered a very interesting view of congestion, road space and journey times in London that directly effected the same day delivery industry in mileage and time related costs. Journey times, congestion zones, bus use and diesel pollution thoughts lead to the reality of extended timescales for cross city travell. The afternoon rounded up with seasonal mince pies and a hearty session of networking that was well received by all those in attendance.

Date: Tuesday, July 19th 2005
Venue: The Arts Club, 40 Dover Street, WS1, London
Time: 2pm for 2:30pm
Cost: £15 - which includes drinks and nibbles.

Under the watchful eye of some of the industry’s finest, the Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen unveiled Royal Mail’s Motorcycle stamp collection to signify the opening of the Institute of Couriers’ first event. Featuring classic bikes such as a Norton, Triumph and BSA, the fine stamps are gloriously illustrated in detail. The Master then gave a short and generous speech, declaring his support for the Institute in its aim to recognise the skills and standards of the individual’s in the courier industry.

A drinks reception followed, which gave the IOC Fellows and their guests the opportunity to discuss the issues of the day within the courier industry. This and future events offer the opportunity for IOC members to discuss and pursue further the development of the industry and its needs. The IOC members’ individual experience and wealth of industry knowledge gave way for strong debate and positive discussion, enjoyed by all.

Charles Esdale, from Royal Mail, gave a fascinating speech centred on the stamps. He gave insight into the links between art and the motorcycle industry, stating why now was the right time to celebrate the motorcycle, with the growth of spirit surrounding the motorcycle and the industries that associate with it. He also talked about the bikes featured specifically, with Trevor Magner, BMF, offering technical detail. Charles himself was a real motorcycle lover, riding to the event on his BSA, and as Ian Mutch, MAG, said “they don’t make them like they used to”.

The early 1900's saw amazing growth in motorcycle development and manufacture in Britain. Hundreds of companies produced their own versions of these nippy machines, but only a few brands are now nationally recognised. The Motorcycles stamps picture the evolution of the motorbike in British history. From the 1914 Royal Enfield to the 1991 Norton F.1 each of the six bikes has been carefully illustrated by celebrated British artist Michael English.

The IOC and its members are delighted to have our iconic industry vehicles featured in such an honoured way. Use them with pride. The presentation packs of the stamps were given out to all on the day, kindly supported by Triumph motorcycles. The pack included information about all of the bikes written by M ick Duckworth, former editor of Motorcycle News.

Future Diary Dates:

Tuesday 20th June - National Courier Awards. The Eleventh NCAWards are to be held at the Brewery, Chiswell Street, London. Bookings for the event and Nominations are being accepted now. Email mail@ioc.uk.com and quote your membership number.

IOC, Green Man Tower, 332 Goswell Road, Islington, London, EC1V 7LQ
t: 0845 60 10 245 e: mail@ioc.uk.com