Tag: Business Post

ByBox appoints new head of innovation

Posted by | Mar 21, 2007 | |

ByBox, the UK’s leading force in parts distribution, has further
strengthened its management team with the appointment of Mike Boxwell as Head of Innovation.

It is a completely new role and one which reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and technology.

With a background in IT, Mike has a long track record in the hand held scanner market with particular expertise in the courier and distribution industry.

Prior to joining ByBox Mike previously ran computer manufacturer Hand Held Products in the UK and also set up and ran Littlefoot which provides tracking and proof of delivery systems for major parcel carriers. Customers include La Poste, Royal Mail, DX, Amtrak, GeoPost and Business Post.

He has a strong knowledge of the parts distribution market having worked alongside ByBox for a number of years to provide hand held scanning solutions and will bring a valuable skill set to the already successful operation.

In his new role Mike will be involved in developing and managing a new scanning platform for ByBox’ unique network of electronic boxes whilst at the same time having specific responsibility for projects involving technology and innovation.

Mike is also no stranger to innovation having formed eBIKEshop in 2004 which
became the UK’s largest retailer of electric bikes. He sold the business at the end of 2005.

Aged 36 Mike is married with two young children.

Read More

Business Post delivers key deal

Posted by | Jan 9, 2007 | |

Business Post shares gained more than 4pc yesterday after the mail and parcel delivery group won the first postal services contract the Government has put out to tender.

The shares closed 18 higher at 439p following the pounds 12m deal with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Guy Buswell, chief executive, said: “We expect other departments to follow suit.”

The DWP’s decision will come as a blow to Royal Mail as private sector competitors make further inroads into its market. Business Post is its largest rival with more than 4pc of the market, delivering over 100m items a month.

Including the 14 other licence holders, Royal Mail has lost 10pc of its business since the process of deregulation began almost three years ago. A recent National Audit Office report estimated that the Government could save pounds 31m annually from more efficient postal services.

UK Mail, Business Post’s mail division, started delivering letters in May 2004. It now has revenues of pounds 40.4m – about 15pc of group turnover – and profits of pounds 3.2m.

DWP will be UK Mail’s largest contract by revenue. By volume, the biggest is NatWest owner Royal Bank of Scotland – the largest mailer in the country.

Business Post competes with Royal Mail on price and service. It does not offer an overnight delivery but guarantees a two-day service cheaper than second class.

It also picks up mail as late as 8pm and tracks all packages. It does not offer end-to-end delivery, but pays Royal Mail about 13p an item as the “access price” for final mile delivery by postmen.

Read More

Business Post's UK Mail wins contract with UK govt worth 12 mln stg revenue

Posted by | Jan 8, 2007 | |

Business Post Group PLC said its mail company UK Mail, the leading competitor to Royal Mail in downstream access postal services, has been awarded a major new contract by HM Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) worth 12 mln stg of revenue per annum.

DWP mails 82 million items a year from two distribution centres in the North East and North West of England. With the Royal Bank of Scotland and DWP, Business Post said UK Mail now has two of the three largest mailers in the UK as customers. DWP will become UK Mail’s largest customer by revenue.

The new contract is due to start on Feb 5.

Read More

Opening up the UK market appears to have been positive for all concerned

Posted by | Dec 29, 2006 | |

One year after the introduction of full competition in the UK’s postal market, everyone appears to be a winner.

Customers are benefiting from record levels of service and big business mailers are enjoying substantial savings in costs.

Eighteen new postal operators have been licensed and have seized a bigger share of the market than the regulator expected, handling more than 10 per cent of the mail.

Royal Mail remains the dominant force in the industry despite losing its monopoly. Its competitors hand over most of the mail to the state-owned operator for final delivery, leaving it with 97 per cent of postal revenues.

Postcomm, the postal regulator, declares itself pleased with the progress made so far. “Royal Mail has really raised its game, especially on quality of service,” says Richard Moriarty, deputy chief executive. “And the competition has brought a range of new business models, with operators offering different ways of doing things, such as later collection times and guaranteed delivery.”

The state-owned operator is on course to meet all 12 of its performance targets for the first time in the 2006-07 year – these require it to deliver 93 per cent of first-class mail on the next working day and 98.5 per cent of second class mail by the third working day. Two years ago, only four of the targets were hit.

The greatest benefits have accrued to the biggest mail users, which include banks, utilities, local councils and charities. Businesses account for 87 per cent of the more than 20bn items sent each year, with 500 companies providing half of all mail volumes.

Read More

FedEx contract loss means Business Post shares struggle

Posted by | Dec 20, 2006 | |

Business Post shares suffered yesterday when US logistics giant FedEx confirmed it was scrapping a major contract with the company, which has a hub in Birmingham.

The move follows FedEx’s pounds 120 million acquisition of ANC Holdings, a major rival to Business Post in the UK.

Business Post’s shares retreated 32 1/4 ViTp to 429 3/4 p in early trading but later recovered some lost ground to close 17 1/4 p down at 444 1/2 p, a loss of 3.7 per cent. FedEx said it intended to terminate Business Post’s contract as “Global Service Participant” in the UK, a contract that accounts for about six per cent of the company’s turnover.

Given the operational gearing of the contract, the impact on earnings is likely to be slightly higher, City analysts believe.

Broker Altium has, however, maintained its earnings estimate for the time being.

But it has cut its long-term target price for the stock from 450p to 425p, while Teather & Greenwood downgraded shares from “buy” to “sell”.

Business Post said in a Stock Exchange statement that it expected the FedEx contract, which only came into effect in September this year, to end in September 2007.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest