The UK’s leading premium express delivery company City Link enjoyed a night of success at this year’s prestigious National Courier Awards.
The company picked up the Training & Apprentices Award while three members of staff – Kathy Smart, Tom Walker and Luke Turner - each celebrated individual awards in the Office category. Driver Joe Dodd won an award in the Four Wheel category.
The Training & Apprentices Award was in recognition of the company’s commitment to developing the skills of young employees – from front-line staff through to potential managers.
Since 2012 City Link has trained 178 apprentices aged 18 to 25 and is currently training 68.
The training programmes – one in Warehousing & Distribution and the other in Contact Centre Operations - promote good practice and instil the company’s ‘right first time’ ethos.
During their 12 months of on-the-job training each apprentice acquires the skills necessary to pursue a career in the transport industry and work towards the nationally recognised NVQ.
City Link has made a substantial investment in the scheme, writing all course materials and delivering the training in-house. The course is in line with standards set by awarding bodies.
From the first year’s intake alone 27 successfully completed an NVQ Level 3 in Leadership & Management. Nine of these were later promoted into supervisory, team management and depot management roles.
Senior Payroll Administrator Kathy Smart, based within the HR department at Swindon, was branded a ‘powerhouse’ who regularly puts in extra hours to ensure the job is done right first time.
Judges heard how over the years Kathy had frequently worked evenings and weekends to ensure her figures tallied up and colleagues were paid on time.
Tom Walker, Supervisor at the Southampton depot, was nominated for his willingness to always go the extra mile.
A clear demonstration of his dedication came just before last Christmas when he started suffering stomach cramps one day while at work.
The pain became so severe that after he returned home from work, he was rushed to hospital. He underwent an emergency operation to have his appendix out.
With it being peak season Tom was mindful his colleagues would struggle without the extra pair of hands. With this in mind – and despite reassurances and frequent reminders from City Link and his colleagues that he should be taking it easy – Tom couldn’t wait to get back to help. Not only was he back at his desk within six days of his operation but he volunteered extra hours because, in his words, “That’s what we do at Christmas!”
Luke Turner, Warehouse Supervisor at Gatwick, is a rising star within City Link.
Aged just 24 his ‘exemplary’, ‘can-do’ attitude has not gone un-noticed by his colleagues.
Judges heard how – in one example of his willingness to go the extra mile – Luke led his team to liaise closely with a significant customer when the customer’s IT system failed.
The failure meant the customer was unable to print labels for a large number of important, time-sensitive consignments. But under Luke’s leadership and direction – and with the support of his dedicated team – City Link was able to trunk the consignments on the required date and make the deadline.
Finally Joe Dodd was commended for being a good Samaritan in tending to a motorcyclist who had lost control of his bike. He called 999, waited with the injured man until the emergency services had arrived and also tended to his bike.
His citation referred to a generous spirit which exemplified the high standards of professionalism and helpfulness that Joe brings to his job on a daily basis.
Scott Maynard, HR Director City Link, said: “We are delighted City Link has received the recognition it deserves in this year’s National Courier Awards.
“Every day we work hard to offer the highest levels of service to customers and we are immensely proud that our workforce – everyone from individuals such as Kathy, Tom, Luke and Joe, through to our apprentices – share that same ethos.
“It is this determination which enables City Link to go from strength to strength and stand out from the competition.”
Mr. Maynard added: “Not ones to rest on our laurels, our focus now is to maintain these excellent standards and to continue building on them in the years to come."