Yodel, TNT and Birds see major management changes

INDUSTRY

The FTA has said that the combination of illegal migrants trying to get to Britain; striking French ferry workers; protesting French farmers and Operation Stack in Kent is costing the UK logistics industry some £750,000 a day. The warning came as international risk at risk management specialist Spherical International, told Motortransport.co.uk, after conducting a risk assessment in the area, that the “sheer volume” of illegal migrants “trying every HGV is utterly unbelievable”.

The government has given the greenlight to a supply chain operatives apprenticeship just days after it rejected the HGV driver apprenticeship. Both schemes were put forward by an industry-led working group of employers supported by the FTA, RHA and CILT under the government’s Trailblazer apprenticeship initiative. However the HGV Driver apprenticeship was rejected by a government review panel on the grounds that the training involved did not need to take 12 months, the necessary duration for apprenticeship approval.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) gained over 70 new members in the first half of this year. Among the 73 firms to have joined since January are Arrow Self Drive, Asset Finance Solutions, MV Commercial and North East Truck & Van. The association’s membership has now reached a 10-year high at over 750 firms.

OPERATORS

Clipper Logistics saw group turnover climb 16.7% to £234.8m in the year to 30 April 2015 – its first year listed on the London Stock Exchange. This compared with turnover of £201m a year earlier. Overall, group pre-tax profit leapt 140% to £9.5m (2014: £3.9m). Contract wins and renewals in the year included Harvey Nichols, New Look, Pep & Co, Philip Morris and Zara.

DHL has signed a new three year logistics partnership with motorbike racing championship MotoGP. This latest partnership deal will see DHL transport 80 bikes and 350 tons of equipment approximately 90,000km, every season, for the teams and the championship organisers. DHL will also support the logistics needs of MotoGP’s sister championships Moto2 and Moto3.

DP World London Gateway’s logistics hub has been opened by transport minister Robert Goodwill. The first phase of the port’s Logistics Centre development, which is being operated Import Services, comprises 180,000ft² of distribution and logistics space and 25,000ft² of office space. The DC was officially opened by the transport minister on Monday (20 July), but port operator DP World is planning to increase the centre to 36,000m² (387,500ft²) based on demand.

PEOPLE

Neil Lloyd, chief executive of loss-making delivery firm Yodel, has stepped down. Turnaround specialist Lloyd was brought in two and a half years ago, with the self-stated goal of improving the firm’s customer service and improving its public image. An announcement regarding his successor will follow in due course.

TNT veteran Tony Jakobsen has replaced Stuart Stobie as head of TNT UK and Ireland’s international division, as part of a major management overhaul. Jakobsen has a long track record at TNT. He began his career as a driver, notching up 27 years in the business. His former position at TNT was business development director at TNT UK’s domestic division. He held the post for just five months before taking on his new role as MD of International.

John Hawksworth has left his role as MD of Birds Transport and Logistics and has been replaced by interim MD Patrice Schneider. Hawksworth joined Birmingham-based Birds in April 2014, having formerly held the role of commercial director at AM Widdowson & Son. Birds – formerly Birds Groupage Services – was bought by Northern Irish conglomerate Ballyvesey Holdings in February 2013. Schneider will hold the role from this month until March 2016, having previously worked at Gefco and DHL.