Tag: UK

‘No vacancies’ signs go up in New York as dollar demand goes through the roof

Posted by | Nov 12, 2007 | |

Dollar frenzy has hit the high street with sales of the US currency now up 87 per cent on the same period last year for the Post Office®, the UK’s largest provider of foreign currency.

But UK holidaymakers hoping to cash in on the dollar crisis and book a Christmas shopping trip to the USA will have to look beyond the traditional favourite, New York, where most affordable hotels have already hung out the ‘no vacancies’ signs. New York flights are also heavily sold – with little or no availability for weekend trips.

The solution for shopaholics keen to snap up bargains Stateside, says the Post Office®, is to consider rival cities. Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago and Miami all have shops to rival New York and plenty of pre-Christmas hotel availability.

Post Office® head of travel services Helen Warburton said: “Bargain hunters with more pounds in their pockets after sterling breached the USD 2 watershed can make significant savings on iPods and Playstation 3s, designer jeans and fashion accessories just as easily in cities like Las Vegas and Boston as in New York.”

With the pound riding higher against the US dollar than at any time since 1981, the latest Post Office® data suggests that record numbers are planning to head off across the Atlantic.

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TNT speeds up with mobile technology

Posted by | Nov 11, 2007 | |

The rollout of wearable mobile computers and scanners is paying dividends on the global mail company’s previous investment in tracking technology.
TNT has made significant improvements to its delivery services with the rollout of mobile computers.

TNT Express UK, which is the carrier’s largest division and its main business-to-business arm, has reduced vehicle loading time by 30 per cent and achieved on-time delivery rates of 98 per cent since rolling wearable computers and scanners out to its delivery drivers a year ago.

TNT Express looked to long-standing provider Motorola, to provide its MC9000 series for drivers to be able to operate the devices even when wearing gloves and has now implemented 2,750 devices for its UK van drivers, expanding to over 8,500 across the Europe, Middle East and Africa division. The UK TNT Express Specialist Services delivery team opted for 900 smaller, lighter MC70 devices.

TNT Express also wanted a scanner that left workers’ hands free, to optimise productivity and vehicle loading time. As a result, TNT played an integral part in the beta testing of the WT4000 wearable scanner. It is currently using 155 of these wearable mobile computers in the UK and has plans to implement a further 800.

TNT is now planning to implement further wearable mobile computers and MC9000s worldwide and is currently investigating how the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can help its business.

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Savings on the rise but apathy still reigns

Posted by | Nov 9, 2007 | |

Savers across the UK could be losing out on billions of pounds in interest according to new research by the Post Office, which reveals that three in ten people have no idea what rate their savings account currently pays. Worryingly, almost half (42 per cent) of savers have always held their savings with the same company and never even looked at another provider.

As new statistics show UK household savings are up to 3.1 per cent for the second quarter of 2007, it seems that continuing financial market volatility could be putting people off more risky investments, and turning the focus towards more traditional methods of savings. But many savers aren’t maximising their savings potential and continuing to hold and pay money into accounts which deliver a poor return.

Despite 42 per cent of savers citing the interest rate as the most important factor when choosing a provider, the reality is that 39 per cent have no idea whether their provider upped its rate during the recent base rate rises – of which there were five between January 2006 and October 2007.

And with some of the most popular savings accounts paying as little as 1.05 per cent the Post Office® is urging savers to make sure they take advantage of some of the great interest rates currently available, and know their money is working as hard as it can for them.

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Palletline takes independent route to show quality

Posted by | Nov 8, 2007 | |

Palletline plc has embarked on a highly rigorous programme of independent accreditation for its members – the first ever truly independent member audit undertaken by a UK pallet distribution network.

Palletline has commissioned the Freight Transport Association to audit all of its 67 member companies across the UK on all aspects of their operations – from insurance and health and safety, to disaster recovery planning and correct usage of Palletline livery on vehicles.

The findings will from the basis of a three-level accreditation scheme with member companies set to be offered financial incentives to reach the highest standard.

The first assessments will take place in early 2008 and these will be repeated annually from then on.

This project follows on from Palletline’s recent achievement of the ISO9001:2000 quality standard.

Kevin Buchanan, Managing Director of Palletline, commented: “We already undertake highly rigorous internal quality audits, but having recently gained ISO accreditation we wanted to demonstrate further how seriously we take the issue of quality, by opening up the network to stringent and independent scrutiny by a leading industry body.

“This process will provide further reassurance to both current and prospective customers of Palletline of the quality of our members and the service on offer.

“It’s also an example of how, once again, Palletline is at the forefront of innovation and continuous improvement in the palletised freight distribution sector.”

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CWU and Pensioners demonstrate against UK post office closures

Posted by | Nov 8, 2007 | |

This week, the Communication Workers Union and the National Pensioners Convention held a joint demonstration outside Trafalgar Square Post Office against closures and franchising.

Demonstrators were concerned about the Government’s decision to fund the closure of 2,500 sub-post offices nationwide by the end of 2008, and Post Office Ltd’s decision to enter into franchise partnerships with WHSmith at 70 locations. Postwatch came under criticism too, with Kate Hoey MP accusing us of not doing enough to oppose the changes.

Postwatch wants a post office network which is sustainable and not subject to unplanned closures, and which allows customers reasonable access to services. We recognize that customers’ habits are changing and that the network must change with them. Because of this, we are scrutinizing Post Office Ltd’s proposals before every public consultation of the closure programme. Our aim is to minimise customer inconvenience and encourage local input on proposals.

While we understand customers’ concerns about franchising, it is a means of continuing to provide services, often with increased opening hours. Moreover, by reducing operational costs in this way, Post Office Ltd should be better able to create much-needed stability for its network.

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