News

DPD UK has appointed Mark Donnellan to the position of 2012 Olympics Project Manager. Mark's role is to develop a plan that minimises disruption from the Games to the company's collection and delivery services.

With up to 800,000 extra people expected in London every day during the Olympics, traffic congestion and parking restrictions are likely to cause a major challenge for all delivery companies. Mark will be working closely with the managers of DPD's eight depots in and around London as well as representing the company in its dealings with Transport for London and the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Mark has previously worked in senior logistics positions at Monsoon, Next and Exel and in this role will report to DPD's London Regional Manager Steve Woodman who said: "Continuity of service will be crucial to both shippers and receivers during the Olympics and I am confident that Mark's project management skills and logistics experience will stand us in good stead for the challenges ahead."

GeoPost UK is in the top 3% of the Environment Agency's inaugural Energy Efficiency Performance League Table which ranks more than 2,000 organisations according to how they manage their energy use under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).

And the parcel delivery giant - which operates under DPD and Interlink Express in the UK - is the highest ranked parcel carrier in the 2011 Performance League Table.

GeoPost UK was assessed with other national carriers, retailers, major supermarkets and hospitals according to what they have done to measure energy use and reduce carbon emissions.

The CRC scheme requires large organisations that use more than 6,000MWh electricity per year to measure and report carbon emissions. They gain credits for installing smart meters and complying with Carbon Trust standards - or an equivalent accreditation scheme.

Mark Wilkes, Director of Technical Services for GeoPost UK, said: "We have a strong, proactive environmental ethos. We are committed to recycling and reducing waste and carbon emissions."

"We were the first in the industry to introduce a biodegradable bag; have invested in the industry's largest fleet of double-decker vehicles (which has saved 4.2million miles a year); have replaced 300 vehicles with energy-efficient versions; introduced waste compactors at our Hubs and operate a fuel management system guaranteed to optimise fuel performance and thus cut carbon emissions."

"We scored 92.5% in the Performance League Table and were ranked ahead of our competitors. However, we see the score as one on which to build and improve for the Environment Agency's next report."

Of the 2,106 organisations listed in the Environment Agency's report, 22 were in joint first place with 100% while 803 organisations scored zero. GeoPost UK scored 92.5%.

The Environment Agency's Director of Environment and Business Ed Mitchell said he was encouraged to see that six out of 10 organisations taking part in the scheme have taken steps to improve their energy management. He added: "The UK needs its high-street shops, major businesses, councils, government departments and other big energy users to use less electricity to help meet tough carbon reduction targets. This scheme encourages all big organisations to measure and reduce energy use which in turn should also save them money and help cut the UK's carbon footprint."

For full details regarding the Environment Agency's CRC's Energy Efficiency Performance League Table see www.environment-agency.gov.uk 

Notes to Editors:

• In the highly competitive UK express parcels market, GeoPost UK operates two brands, DPD which targets larger B2B customers and is a leading provider to the telecommunications, entertainment, and retail sectors and Interlink Express a franchised distribution operation primarily targeting the SME sector.
• GeoPost UK is wholly owned by Groupe La Poste, the second largest postal group in Europe.
• DPD is part of GeoPost UK which is a major player in the UK distribution market. It offers a comprehensive range of express parcel delivery services, logistic services and international mail delivery.
• It employs 4,200 people in the UK and operates more than 1,700 vehicles.
• Predict is DPD's unique parcel service, launched in March 2010 which provides customers with a free SMS or email giving them a precise one hour window in which the driver will arrive.
• From Lands End to John O'Groats, more than 36 million packages have been delivered to customers in the past 18 months via DPD's Predict service. DPD sends out more than 100,000 notifications each day.
• Big-name retailers among the 3000 companies who have signed up include Vodafone and Radley
• Predict has been responsible for more than £40million of new business for DPD this year.

As the UK's most customer-focused delivery company, DPD is launching a state-of-the-art mobile website developed to provide its growing army of customers with a more convenient access to tracking and controlling the arrival time of their parcel.

The parcel delivery giant is the first UK national carrier to launch a mobile website service which will enable customers to monitor and rearrange arrival times for their package while on the move.

Dwain McDonald, CEO of DPD, said: "More than 15% of our customers already access our website via their mobile phones, and this number is increasing monthly. And our experience monitors the latest findings from the Office of National Statistics which shows an explosion in mobile phone internet access - from 8.5million UK users in 2009 to 17.6million this year. *

"As a business, it's vital to respond to the changing face of customer contact. In today's busy, mobile society, customers expect fast answers at any time and from any where. Our commitment to customers has been a catalyst in creating a service that's combines convenience and innovation."

Figures show that in the past 12 months, more than six million people in the UK accessed the internet from a mobile device for the first time and the impact of smartphones and media tablet adoption is set to prompt a decline in internet access via PC's.*

Dwain McDonald added: "Having created a reputation for innovation through our unrivalled Predict service which provides customers with a one-hour delivery window for their parcel, we are keen to maintain the momentum and are committed to providing customers with a cutting edge service via our mobile website."

For further information please contact David Hare on 07841 578747


Notes to Editors:

*Office National Statistics Survey. Internet Access - Households and Individuals 2011

• The mobile website can be accessed by m.dpd.co.uk
• Predict: Predict is DPD's unique parcel service, launched in March 2010 which provides customers with a free SMS or email giving them a precise one hour window in which the driver will arrive
• From Lands End to John O'Groats, more than 36 million packages have been delivered to customers in the past 18 months via DPD's Predict service. DPD sends out more than 100,000 notifications each day
• Big-name retailers among the 3000 companies who have signed up include Vodafone and Radley 
• Predict has been responsible for more than £40million of new business for DPD this year.
• Corporate: DPD is part of GeoPost UK which is a major player in the UK distribution market. It offers a comprehensive range of express parcel delivery services, logistic services and international mail delivery
• It employs 4,200 people in the UK and operates more than 1,700 vehicles
• In the highly competitive UK express parcels market, GeoPost UK operates two brands, DPD which targets larger B2B customers and is a leading provider to the telecommunications, entertainment, and retail sectors and Interlink Express, a franchised distribution operation primarily targeting the SME sector
• GeoPost UK is wholly owned by Groupe La Poste, the second largest postal group in Europe

World Cup footballing legends Sir Geoff Hurst MBE and Gordon Banks OBE joined DPD's team on September 22nd to officially open a £12m extension to DPD's national sorting hub at Oldbury.  

The celebration marked the culmination of a 12-month project which has created 150 new jobs and features state-of-the-art facilities which will increase DPD's parcel sorting capacity to more than half a million packages each night.  

Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO, said: "It's a fantastic feeling to open this International extension to our hub and I am delighted that these two England legends were able to join our customers and staff on this special occasion."

"It?s also wonderful in the current climate to have the opportunity to recruit people to our growing business - a team which is customer-focussed company and aiming for market leadership by 2015." 

Footballing hero, Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, added: "I'm particularly pleased to be involved in this event because in both football and business, the key is to build on your success and perform better every year, both as individuals and as a team."  

The investment into the Oldbury hub - which has direct connections nightly to 23 European countries - has created a self-contained site which the event of severe weather or other local infrastructure problems can draw on its own power supply, fuel, rock salt, snow ploughs as well as a separate IT system.  

The new international sorting area features a CAA approved secure X-ray area for air freight screening and £900k has been invested  in new Vitronic video technology that photographs all five sides of every parcel going through the hub, improving first time read rates and routing accuracy.    

DPD's Dwain McDonald added: "The Oldbury hub will help accommodate the vast volumes of International business that we handle. However, our business is growing in all areas. Our unique Predict service, which offers customers a one hour delivery window, has produced £40 million of new business wins this year as customers switch to DPD from carriers who cannot provide this award-winning service."  

Pictured marking the official opening are (left to right): Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, Gordon Banks OBE and DPD's CEO, Dwain McDonald

With DPD's support, the Midlands 3 West side, based at The Memorial Ground in Sutton Coldfield, aims to launch new junior teams, acquire new equipment and purchase land to provide a third pitch.

And with all eyes on New Zealand as the 2011 Rugby World Cup gets underway, plus a former Samoan International Zak Feaunati as Player/Coach, Veseyans RFC is expecting an influx of eager youngsters taking up the game.

Mark Tonks, Chairman of the Club, said: "We're hugely grateful to DPD for their generous support which will enable us to grow the club during the coming seasons.

"We're keen to expand the number of club teams and DPD's sponsorship will allow us to make that vision a reality. Having support from a local - and enthusiastic - company which has a desire to help the community is a joy.

"Inspired by World Cup stars like Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Carter, and our own inspirational international Zak Feaunati, our players will be making a determined push for promotion this season - a great way to thank all our backers for their continuing support."

DPD's CEO, Dwain McDonald, added: "We're delighted to support a local club with such a great history and strong community links. We are particularly pleased that our backing will help expand the club further, allowing more youngsters to enjoy rugby.

"DPD's dedicated to its people - staff and customers. We believe in working as a team to deliver results and this ethos perfectly matches Veseyans ambitions too."

Pictured (left to right): Zak Feaunati (Head Coach and former Samoan International), Mark Tonks (Veseyans Chairman), Mandy Hamilton (General Manager of Marketing for DPD) and Sam Irvine (Veseyans Club Captain).

Parcel giant DPD's business growth has provided a further 150 full-times roles at their Smethwick and Oldbury hubs in the West Midlands.

A surge in new account wins in the UK, plus increased International trade has boosted DPD's business prompting the recruitment of new loaders and Class 1 drivers.

And the boom in business was the catalyst for the recent development of a £12m extension to DPD's national sorting hub at Oldbury.

The new facility will be officially opened by footballing legends, Sir Geoff Hurst MBE and Sir Gordon Banks MBE, on September 22nd and includes a new sorting line which will increase total sortation capacity to more than half a million parcels each night.

DPD's CEO Dwain McDonald said: "Our business is continuing to grow. In particular, our unique Predict service, which offers customers a one hour delivery window, has produced £40 million of new business wins this year as customers switch to DPD from carriers who cannot provide this award-winning service.

"The new facility at Oldbury provides state-of-the-art equipment and allows us to accommodate the vast volumes our business handles. Everyone's looking forward to the official opening event.

"We're delighted in this tough economic climate to have the opportunity to recruit people to full-time positions and welcome our new recruits to a passionate, customer-focussed company that's aiming for market leadership by 2015."

Parcel delivery company DPD has scooped a pair of prestigious national awards for first-class customer service.

Winning the UK Customer Experience Award plus the motor industry's Customer Care Award, DPD beat dozens of household names and was rewarded for its "outstanding" service to its customers.

The nationwide parcel carrier with its HQ in Smethwick, West Midlands employs more than

 4500, delivers more than a million parcels each week and counts O2, Vodafone and Sony Computers among its customers.

Announcing the result of the UK Customer Experience Award on Friday, the judges praised DPD's "high standards of customer care in every area of their business".

And this honour comes hot on the heels of DPD taking the top slot in the Customer Care category at the motor transport industry 'Oscars' last week when judges said the company's customer care ran "from the boardroom to the loading bay and doorstep."

Both sets of judges were particularly impressed with DPD's 'customer-obsessed' culture; personal client care; on-line innovations plus the parcel carrier's unique Predict service - providing customers with a one-hour delivery window so they don't have to wait in all day for their parcel.

Director of Sales and CRM, Elaine Kerr, said: "This is an incredible double vote of confidence in all that we do. Customer care is our life blood and we're delighted when the outstanding achievements of our people are recognised."

CEO Dwain McDonald said: "Winning one prestigious award is fantastic. Winning two in the same week is amazing! This is wonderful news for all our employees and demonstrates that real customer care pays dividends in the current economic climate."

GeoPost UK's senior management team was 'in the pink' today to launch a £50,000 fundraising campaign for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Carrying a special pink parcel, CEO Dwain McDonald and eight of his team set out on a 12 mile sponsored walk from GeoPost's Smethwick Head Office to the company's Interlink Express depot in Aldridge.

The trek is the first leg of the company's 'Pink Parcel Challenge' which will see GeoPost employees carrying the pink parcel around the UK to raise awareness of the charity's work. Employees can run, swim, cycle or find any other means of travelling 3,907 miles - the distance between all the company's depots - to raise £50,000 by 24 October.

All funds raised by employees for Breakthrough Breast Cancer will be matched pound for pound by the company and more than £5,000 has already been pledged towards today's 12 mile walk.

Dwain McDonald said: "In a recent survey we asked all our employees what kind of good cause we should support and they voted strongly in favour of a cancer charity. That's why I'm delighted to launch this very worthwhile campaign - breast cancer claims the lives of one thousand women every month and we want to help make a difference."

To support DPD's campaign, just visit www.justgiving.com/teams/DPD

DPD's Central Customer Services Elite Team has scooped the 'B2B Team of the Year' category at the prestigious National Customer Service Awards, held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, London on 7 December 2010.

To win the B2B Team category, DPD reached an initial shortlist of eight companies from a total of over 50 entries and to be crowned overall winners the Elite Team saw off strong competition from the likes of RBS and Johnson & Johnson.

The entry focusedon the way that Elite proactively looks after DPD's customers who include PC World, ASOS, O2 and Vodafone.

The NCS Awards judges said: "This is a great achievement from a new team and demonstrates what can be achieved when companies take time to really work closely with customers and build one-to-one relationships.

"Claire Nicolas, Customer Service Manager - Engagement, collected the trophy on behalf of the Elite Team. The win means that DPD has now collected a very impressive nine industry awards so far this year.Director of Sales and CRM,

Elaine Kerr, said: "This is a fantastic award and it's especially pleasing to win a category that recognises the outstanding achievements of our people. The Elite team has only been with us for just over a year but they've already made a huge difference. Our Top 100 customers love the proactive and personal service that they now receive from us."

DPD employees are celebrating again this week after the company scooped its eighth industry award of the year. The company has won the 'Innovation in Delivery' category of the E Commerce Awards for Excellence 2010 organised by IMRG, the leading membership community for the e-retail industry.

DPD also won this award last year and in 2010 saw off stiff competition from Collect +, Shutl and Wickes to collect the accolade.

IMRG judges were impressed by DPD's innovative Predict service which gives home shoppers a one hour window in which their parcel will arrive, so that they don't have to wait in all day wondering when the courier will come. DPD (and sister company Interlink Express) is the only company to offer this convenient service in the UK market. The judges felt that DPD are maintaining the highest delivery standards and constantly innovating and setting a new benchmark in the marketplace.

DPD's Predict service has now won six industry awards since July and is currently shortlisted for a further three. DPD's Director of Marketing Tim Jones said: "IMRG are universally recognised as the authority in e-commerce and fulfilment, so we are honoured to retain this award which recognises the benefits offered by Predict to shippers and shoppers alike."

DPD has achieved the Carbon Trust Standard which underlines its genuine commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

The standard was originally developed to assist businesses in cutting their carbon emissions and it is the ultimate accolade for companies wishing to demonstrate their green credentials. DPD has received this prestigious certification, which lasts for a two-year period, after inspections carried out by third-party assessors that were based around three key criteria:

In winning this award, DPD has joined an illustrious group of companies including Boots, John Lewis, Asda, Marks & Spencer and BT.

Charlie Shiels, Executive Director - Central Operations, said: "It is absolutely vital that we continue to translate words into real actions when it comes to the environment. DPD has clearly demonstrated a proper commitment to environmentally friendly processes."