2004 December

NCN ends . National Courier Network came to end over Christmas effecting over a hundred courier companies. Business Post claims over 50 new clients as the NCN network ended. The NCN turnover was more than 25million pounds and moved parcels driven by many small companies across the UK. NCN was one in a line of collapses that included Blue Band Express and Panic Link.

2004 November

Camelot Courier Training bag big scores. The Adult Learning Inspectorate completed a detailed inspection of London based Camelot Training in November 2004, three auditors spent the week on site documenting, training, interaction with courier companies, qualification success and management. Camelot bagged top scores in all areas with a report of very good training for all activities. This follows on from and three yearly check that was last done by the TSC and also scored top excellence scores. Camelot hold IIP and ISO accreditations.

2004 August

ecourier takes next techno steps . MBA student Tom Allason completed a year of courier industry research at London School of Economics and then set about putting his ideas into reality with a cutting edge computer system to track bikes using GPS and create software to take over much of the controllers work. The intelligent IT system developed at a university in Europe is in its first stages of going live. The courier company 'ecourier' based close to Brick Lane on the edge of the City of London is set to find out if the systems can deliver by the new year.

2004 June

National courier Awards 2004 . A fabulous and successful event recognised the best of the best couriers in the UK. In its ninth year the event took place in the Painters Livery Hall in the City of London, it was sold out and packed full with over two hundred guests at a gala dinner. Courier Companies large and small, national and local, network, association and independent enjoyed the courier event of the year. Government minister David Jamieson presented the top awards, VIP guest speaker was Steve Norris, Carl Lomas opened the event for the courier industry and Tracey Worth, co-ordinator of the judges announced the winners. Winners of the 2004 National Courier Awards. Corporate Safety Award Commendation - Driver Hire Nationwide. Winner - CitySprint. 2 Wheels - Moynul Ahmed MPC, Jenny Long RLC. 4 Wheels - Mark Gernon Lewis day, Pat Oliver DHL, Danny Ernst CitySprint. Contract - Dave Cox ( London marathon) TNT. Office - John Miskell GLH, Bill Butler Reuter Brooks, Charlotte Baverstock Point to Point

March 2004

Lord Jopling & Lord Falkland announce 2004 National Courier Award Judges. Tracey Worth MBA, ex chairman of the National Courier Association, again took responsibility for co-ordinating the nominations and chairing the panel of judges for 2004. Every year new members are brought on to the judging panel to increase the experience and knowledge of the industry’s finest. Typically covering a two year term and representing past winners of the awards. The 2004 Judging Panel - Dee Barratt, Simon Bliss National Courier network, Judy Benn Arrow Express, Tricia Bing Connections, Carl Lomas MBE, Trevor A Magner BSc BMF British Motorcycle Federation, Ian Mutch MAG Motorcycle Action Group, Steve Smith – Ex DA Chairman – Professional IT, John Scott GLH - DA Dispatch Association, Martin Williams Quicksilver

2004 February

Bargain dinner for early bird couriers. The 2004 date has been set for the National Courier Awards, Tuesday 22nd June and the event will be at a new venue in the City of London at one of the Livery halls in Little Trinity street EC4. With generous sponsorship from Camelot Courier Training, Ears Communications and Professional IT ticket prices for a full gala bash dinner with reception and wine will be held at 2003 prices. Early bookings for a full courier group of ten are available for four hundred pounds all in. Act today to get the early bird price mail@ncawards.co.uk Nominations are being taken and the VIP panel of judges representing courier companies across the UK is about to announced. Every member of the courier industry is welcome, large and small companies, members and none members of trading bodies and associations, this is the one bash that represents them all.

Bike show bonanza for London bike couriers. Organisers of the Alexander Palace London Bike Show, EMAP MCN worked with the London motorbike courier school Camelot Training to allow courier trainees to visit the bike show free. A splendid opportunity for new to be London couriers to check out some great winter gear deals, see a wide variety of bikes and take in information from other user groups such as MAG and the BMF first hand. The Police had a mass of material on show including copies of the Despatch Association, No L Plate  'Courier Code' and MCN took court in the giant hall entrance to live bike shows where their 2004 babes handed out leaflets on everything motorcycle. Long time experienced couriers have been using the show for years to get clothing bargains for the cold early months of the year so its no surprise to see a very busy show for 2004 where bargains were best on last years fashion, helmets in 2003 race colours were available at over a hundred pounds of.

Minister of State Rt Hon Charles Clarke speaks for transport training. 'Skills for Logistics' the new Sector Skills Council (SSC) representing training and education in the courier industry was official launched in a gala evening video champagne presentation in Central London WC1 by Secretary of State for education, the Rt Hon Charles Clarke on 3rd February 2004. Routes for Modern Apprenticeships, NVQ training and recognition of professional career routes were announced to a packed room of top brass transport including Roger King RHA chairman, Kevin Walsh Despatch Association, pending chairman and Richard Turner boss of the Freight Transport Association. The same day courier industry is already well locked into training with one of the strongest ratios  uptakes of NVQ qualifications in the transport sector.

Push Bike Polo player successfully fakes it. 'Woody' - Malcolm Wood of Speed Couriers Manchester shot to fame as their top push bike man after taking time out to join a four week TV game to fake life as a posh polo player. Woody who had never ridden a horse in his life passed a panel of judges to recognise him as a top polo player and successfully 'faked it'. In normal life he rides a push bike for Speed couriers in Manchester, call Speed boss Shaun Merrick for more details.. 0161 848 8699

2004 January

Snow and Ice For top Courier Day (Friday 30th January 2004). Snow for the end of January found a big fall on Thursday 29th January that hit the lorries that move next day courier work across the network trunking systems for the whole of the UK. Not a great problem in its self but it slowed up the next day deliveries landing in the hands of the same day morning couriers. The reasons were well recognised by clients and London in particular had very quiet streets as much of the TV news displayed great problems of travel. A bigger problem was the backlog of deliveries then landed on one of the busiest days of the year. Friday 30th January was the last working day of the month, it was the tax document return day and by the nature of a Friday an end of week day to. The London same day courier companies had some of their busiest days of the year and were aided by those quiet streets allowing the day to finish with the courier companies wining against the weather.

Courier Top Brass at transport Livery London event. A small group of courier industry top brass joined forces to discuss all things two wheel at the London lunch of the Worshipful Livery Company of Carmen in London on Wednesday 28th January 2004. Invites included Martin Williams, Quicksilver, Kevin Grey, NCA Chairman and Point to Point Couriers London, Tracey Worth, National Courier Awards, Carl Lomas, Camelot Courier Training & ex Despatch Association Chairman, John Scott GLH. The ancient Livery representing transport to the City of London covers all matters of vehicles in the City.

Riders Digest ace Cafe Courier Champion. Richard Pledge from Pink Express bagged the first prize of a two hundred and fifty quid insurance special from Ramisis at the Ace Cafe courier evening organised by Riders Digest magazine. He beat opposition from courier companies across London on a Honda CB 500. Editor Roger Tuson, 'I was really pleased people made the effort after a long miserable day of freezing winter rain, the next date will be a summer one'

TOP NVQs for courier audit. Following a three year cycle the Adult Learning Inspectorate of OFSTED visited Camelot. The full report will come out early spring but initial findings are of excellent NVQ qualifications for couriers and strong industry links. Activities for the new year see Camelot candidates on a free trip to the MCN London bike show at Alexander Palace. 2004 job places are high and spread across a wide sector of courier companies.

Quicksilver enter twenty fifth year. 2004 marks the twenty fifth year for London city based Quicksilver despatch who rank as one of the oldest same day bike courier companies in London. Anniversary celebrations are expected in the month of March which represents the very day of starting a quarter of a century ago.

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