Formed in 1992 by construction engineer Dode Fraser following a motorcycle accident Pronto Despatch has continued to go from strength to strength thanks to becoming a member of the Courier Exchange ten years ago.
Initially operating as a motorcycle courier business, the company quickly recognised that if they were to expand they needed to be a small van and transit business. As a result Dode swapped his two wheels for four and the company now operates a fleet of ten vehicles.
Being a member of Courier Exchange enables him to serve both the UK and Europe via the 2000 plus Courier Exchange member companies and although based in Inverness, the company operates on the mantra of 'Never Say No' - an ethos which has taken the business forward. However it was joining Courier Exchange at the beginning of the new millennium that marked the beginning of a new era for Dode and his team.
Courier Exchange has grown to become the world's largest trading hub for the sameday courier and express freight industry and has helped Pronto Despatch develop important contacts with other businesses.
Pronto Despatch's business is incredibly versatile and the company has the ability to deliver anything from a consignment of parts to an oil tanker in Northern Spain for critical repairs as it has done only recently to three suitcases of Christmas presents for an elderly lady. Indeed its customer base reflects this which is a mix of national and regional businesses.
The company prides itself on its ability to deliver in every sense of the word and irrespective of the nature of the consignment all customers have come to recognise Pronto Despatch as providing exceptional levels of service.
Dode Fraser commented: "The Courier Exchange has been instrumental in creating what my business has become today.
"When I first launched the business I never envisaged Pronto Despatch as being a regional courier company. I knew we had the potential of servicing national accounts but the mechanism to achieve this simply did not exist.
"We were member companies of the National Courier Association which provided us with some capacity via their member companies but this was extremely limited and largely ineffective. The Courier Exchange was the first exchange which worked and it was like a breath of fresh air.
"As far as I am concerned we have at our disposal a fleet of thousands of vehicles which enables me to accept almost any job and find a vehicle that suits whilst at the same time having the comfort that it will be a job well done.