Tag: Europe

GLS ups profits, eyes Europe, express growth

Posted by | May 10, 2007 | |

GLS, Royal Mail’s European parcels company, again grew rapidly last year and is planning to expand in Southern Europe and broaden its portfolio with more express services, according to CEO Rico Back.

In 2006, the parcel logistics operator increased revenues by 8.7% to EUR 1,595 million and improved its operating profit (EBITA) by 15.4% to EUR 179.4 million, he told the German transport newspaper DVZ in an interview. Volumes grew by 6.9%, including an increase of 20.1% in cross-border shipments.

In the financial year ending March 31, 2006, GLS increased operating profits by 37% to GBP 100 million (EUR 146.8 million), its revenues rose 13.6% to GBP 1,037 million (EUR 1,522.6 million), and volumes grew 14% to 293 million parcels. GLS said in May 2006 that it aimed for turnover of EUR 1.6 billion in 2006/07.

Back said that he aimed to strengthen GLS’ business in Italy and Spain this year. In Italy, the operator is currently represented through a franchisee. Back recently told German media that GLS is in talks to acquire a Spanish company. A start-up business is planned in Romania.

The GLS chief executive also said that the operator planned to expand its express services this year but did not provide any further details. GLS launched a small air express operation last autumn, linking Germany and the UK, and said that this would be extended to more European countries.

Back told the DVZ that GLS had no plans to enter the German mail market once it was liberalised due to the dominance of Deutsche Post and mail substitution by electronic communications. “There is no growth there. That is why the mail market is unattractive really,” he said.

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German publishers interested in Sunday deliveries of Deutsche Post

Posted by | May 10, 2007 | |

German magazine and newspaper publishers are interested in the plans of Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, to begin delivering on Sundays. The company has announced plans for a pilot project together with the publishers of ‘Spiegel’, the German weekly news magazine; the pilot phase, which will last for three months, is to begin in Dusseldorf on June 3 and in Hamburg on August 19. Around 30,000 copies of the magazine are expected to be delivered. If the pilot phase is successful, the project will then be extended to the whole of Germany.

German publishing group Burda says that it will have its magazine ‘Focus’, the closest rival of ‘Spiegel’, delivered on Sundays if Deutsche Post decides to make these services permanent. The publishers of German daily newspaper ‘Suddeutsche Zeitung’, who are considering the launch of a Sunday edition, are also interested. German publisher Axel Springer Verlag, which currently has a virtual monopoly on the market for Sunday deliveries, says that it intends to defend its position on the market.

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UK savers are base rate losers

Posted by | May 10, 2007 | |

As interest rates hit 5.5 per cent, the Post Office® reveals that savers are missing out on millions of pounds in interest by sticking with accounts that fail to pass on rate increases.

The savers failing to benefit from the full 1.00 per cent increase in rates in the last year are customers of some of the biggest banks and building societies on the high street.

The Post Office® announces that its Instant Saver rate will rise to 5.75 per cent1 from 4 June 2007. Instant Saver customers will also benefit for even longer by a promise to pass on base rate rises in full until January 2010. This makes Post Office® Instant Saver the UK’s best instant access savings account.2

Savings rates paid by banks and building societies can quickly become uncompetitive when base rates increase. For example, a balance of GBP 5,000 held in a typical instant access high street savings account3 would lose out on GBP 145.00 in interest payments in the first year compared to an identical balance in a Post Office® Instant Saver account. For balances of GBP 10,000 or GBP 25,000 losses rise to GBP 276.00 and GBP 660.00 respectively.

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Royal Mail’s apprenticeship scheme shortlisted for prestigious awards

Posted by | May 10, 2007 | |

Royal Mail’s commitment to the workforce of the future has won its apprenticeship scheme a coveted position in the shortlist for the 2007 World Mail Awards prize.

Seen as the “Oscars” for mail companies around the world the Royal Mail scheme is vying for top honours in the People Management section of the awards.

Since its launch in 2005 the Apprenticeship Scheme has established its own qualification framework by working with outside bodies, including the Sector Skills Council, and has already seen a huge jump in the retention rates of young people and a drastic reduction in the levels of sickness.

Royal Mail’s Skills Deployment Manager Cheryl Simons said: “Prior to the introduction of the Apprenticeship Scheme Royal Mail identified specific problems with the young people who joined the organisation. The scheme aimed at attracting, developing and retaining high-calibre postmen and women, developing talent and managers of the future and developing business culture at the front line of the business.”

The scheme is open to new and existing employees aged 16-24. Recruits follow a flexible 18-month programme and as well as undertaking a full range of tasks across the business they complete a Level 2 NVQ in Mail Services. The scheme also allows the identification of some recruits to be a coach to other apprentices or manager in the future.

The World Mail Awards aims at encouraging best practice within the mail industry worldwide. The People Management award recognises that postal authorities are among the world’s largest employers and internal relationships and good people management significantly reflect on the competitive advantage and success of the company.

Final judging will take place hours before the gala dinner on May 21st at the Novotel London West Hotel, London.

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