Home shopping giants take on niche little earners
Home shopping giants take on niche little earners
Read MoreTag: UK
DHL Express UK focuses on printers by publishing its own book
DHL has put together a team of print and publishing logistics specialists to boost its credentials across the supply chain.
The firm launched the new offering at this week’s London Book Fair at Earl’s Court with a publication highlighting its “tailored, cost-effective and efficient supply chain and distribution solutions”. It claimed that 17 out of the top 20 UK publishing houses have already used its integrated services.
DHL Express sales and marketing director Tim Brown said: “The publishing industry presents an exciting opportunity for DHL as we are uniquely placed to provide solutions at every step of the chain, from the shipment of pulp, through to delivery of the book to the customer.
“We are the only express and logistics company to offer this type of service and we anticipate using this publishing industry model as a blueprint for developing complete supply chain solutions across a range of sectors.”
Read MoreNew blueprint for UK flagship Post Office branch network
Post Office Ltd set out a new blueprint for a sustainable network of flagship Post Office branches. The company will continue to run 373 Crown Post Offices in UK towns and cities alongside those branches run by private subpostmasters and mistresses and by retail franchise partners. As part of the plan, following a six site trial last year, a further 70 branches are expected to move to nearby WHSmith stores under a new partnership agreement.
The Crown Office network of 373 branches, together with the 76 branches operated by WHSmith, will give Post Office Ltd a high quality flagship network, offering expert knowledge and advice to consumers and small business customers alike. New ways of providing services are already being tested in a number of branches, and will form part of a major, customer driven, refurbishment programme over the next few years.
By the end of Summer 2008 it is expected that 76 Post Office branches will be sited within WHSmith stores. These will be main Post Offices, offering the full range of Post Office services and operated by specially trained professionals – who may include some current Post Office people. All branches will be fully accessible to all customers, with special arrangements in place to assist those customers with special access needs.
The partnership announced builds on the success of six trial locations where Post Office branches have already moved to nearby WHSmith stores. Customers in Ashton under Lyne, Altrincham, Swansea, Shrewsbury, Slough and Hammersmith have given a positive response to both the location and service levels of the new branches – citing shorter queues, speedier service and a more convenient location.
Read MoreRoyal Mail workers say no to pay offer
The CWU (Communication Workers Union) has rejected Royal Mail’s offer on pay rises for this year.
Royal Mail have flatly refused any wage increase and instead have offered one-off cash sums between GBP 250 and GBP 550 – with conditions attached regarding efficiency savings.
The CWU say the offer is totally unacceptable as it amounts to pay cuts and major change. The Union says it is willing to continue negotiations but is moving to ballot members on industrial action.
Royal Mail have already started a process of changing working hours and converting expired full time posts to part time. Workers are said to be furious at the proposals put to the CWU and it seems likely that unless Royal Mail offer something more acceptable, widespread industrial action could follow.
A recent poll showed that postal workers were resolute in their determination to bring their pay up to the national average and improve working conditions.
Read MoreParcelforce make a delivery with a difference
Digging, building and painting rather than collecting, sorting and dispatching provided the schedule for West Midlands Parcelforce Worldwide employees who gave up their time to deliver with a difference to Sandwell and.
Employees from the company’s Birmingham depot and Coventry International and National hubs volunteered as part of Parcelforce Worldwide’s first National Community Team Challenge Day. Local activities included improving the children’s play area at St Francis Xavier School in Sandwell and building a summerhouse and gardening at Valley House in Coventry.
Organised through Business in the Community’s employee volunteering programme, Cares, the Team Challenge Day was set up to make it easier for colleagues to work together by getting involved in their local communities.
As the majority of Parcelforce Worldwide employees spend on average, ten hours every day on the road or are night workers, so opportunities to work as a team and get to know one another are limited.
The response to participate in the team challenge attracted volunteers from every part of the business. As well as drivers and sorters, Parcelforce Worldwide’s Board and colleagues from all business functions rose to the challenge.
Iain Groark, Parcelforce Worldwide’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility was delighted by the take up, exclaiming: “The enthusiasm from our people to support their local community has been inspiring. With one in five of our sites and over 250 of our colleagues giving up their weekend, we hope that long and valuable relationships will develop between our sites and the community groups they are working with.”
Each community team challenge was organised by a front line employee keen to develop their project management skills. They were given up to pounds 500 from the business towards the cost of materials and supported in developing a project plan, recruiting volunteers and undertaking a health and safety risk assessment.
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