Despatches Despatches
November - December 2014
Time - the ultimate gift! What would you do if you were gifted 20 hours more per week? Finally get those gyms hours in, write that book, and learn that language? How can you do this? By releasing yourself from the digital time vampires. Up until June 2014 for a year I have lived in a let apartment mid-week with no TV, Wifi or phone signal. This was my most productive year so far. I then commuted from my weekend home in Brighton for a few months and saw my productivity plummet. Why? It wasn’t just the drive. It was because I had a TV – which is a hypnotic master when your brain needs to chill out, wifi, which meant I could surf the net to my heart’s content, and phone signal, which meant I was constantly contactable.
will not remember the hours spent watching TV or posting on Facebook. You’ll remember the friends you talked to – one on one without texting mates on your mobile simultaneously – you’ll remember the movies you saw – rather than sitting in front of re-runs of Friends. Maybe you’ll be dead proud of the book you wrote – instead of Tweeting something profound about today’s breakfast choice.
Just try for a week to write down all the time that you accrue on all digital tools – you’ll be shocked at how it amounts to days EVERY WEEK wasted. Now I really understand the counter side to this argument that this digital empowerment has completely transformed our flexibility in working and our online productivity. I now work from home at least a day a week. But now I pop to the local café if I need to do research or send an email – or I’ll leave that until my office Not good. hours. As a result, my productivity has returned to its preI don’t have a won’t power – like ‘I won’t watch TV’ or ‘I won’t TV levels, I am doing more of the things that matter than allowing myself to waste time on Sex And The City Sunday look at Facebook’. I need tough measures to make sure I marathons. I’m finding the time, rather than making excuses am not distracted, otherwise I can be as unproductive as the for finally getting back into shape, writing those books and next person. I took drastic measures. I gave my TV away. I unhooked my wifi, I have turned off my mobile phone and then catching up with those friends. went away from work. I am on a digital diet. Try it. You’ll be amazed! Time is the ultimate gift. When you look back at your life you
INSIDE: FAQs • Charity Update • Franchise Focus • Client Focus
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Team Profile: Mike Reith What is your job title? Operations Controller & Courier Manager What does your day to day job involve? Speaking to clients, booking Same Day jobs, allocating them to the drivers, monitoring the afternoon overnight collection runs and assisting with the smooth running of Operations & the Guildford depot. What do you enjoy about working for Diamond Logistics? I enjoy the challenge that this job brings, every day is different and ensuring that our clients deliveries reach their destinations quickly and on time is extremely rewarding. What opportunities do you see in 2014 for logistics and the courier market? Being a part of Diamond Logistics for 13 years I’ve witnessed first-hand how much the company has grown in that time and how much it continues to grow month by month. With the success of the new depots opening up around the UK, the future for Diamond looks bright (PINK!!) What hobbies & Interests do you enjoy outside of work? My main hobby outside of work is my band ‘Acts Of Vengeance’. I’ve been a drummer for 15 years now and have played 100’s of shows around the UK, I’m also a massive fan of American Heavy Metal Giants ‘Metallica’ which is the band that inspired me to start playing music in the first place. I’m also a serious petrol head and religiously follow Formula One & Moto GP. Tell us something we don’t know? I’m a fully qualified Chef and prior to working at Diamond I was head chef of a few very busy restaurants in Guildford. I’m also well known for making a cracking Sunday roast.
21 in 21 Update November Alzheimer Society www.alzheimers.org.uk Alzheimer’s Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many of our 20,000 members have personal experience of dementia, as carers, health professionals or people with dementia themselves, and their experiences help to inform our work.
The Combined Services Disabled Ski Team www.csdst.co.uk CSDST is a charitable organisation which helps to rehabilitate those serving and retired service personnel who have been injured during their military service, through the medium of Adaptive (Alpine) Skiing.
Each month we donate up to £250 to charities that are both secular and apolitical. If you would like to nominate a charity close to your heart for the remaining months of this year, please email me kate@diamondlogistics.co.uk.
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Franchise Focus: Paul Latham On the back of his recent award at the Institute of Couriers for the Ex-Armed forces category, Diamond Logistics marketing department caught up with Paul Latham to see how he is growing his Derby franchise. Q: Tell me more about your Franchise? Diamond Logistics Derby opened in February 2014 with one core aim to provide customers with a locally backed sameday, overnight and international courier service. We have been rapidly expanding and have brought on a number of new accounts who really value the difference a really good courier makes. Q: Why did you look at the logistics sector? I was nearing the end of my time in the forces and I was looking for a new challenge. I also really wanted to apply the skills that I had learnt in the army, including planning, project management, logistics, communication, training and development and of course, driving! Q: What do you enjoy about the Franchise? It’s superb being my own boss. But knowing that I’m part of a dynamic and fast growing network is a great motivator and tremendously exciting. Q: What learnings have you taken away? Teamwork is paramount. The network is there to advise and guide when called upon. My franchise is starting to become established and recognised, this challenge has become easier as word gets round through networking, marketing and referrals. Q: Outside of work, what do you enjoy the most? I am a very keen skier although a little rusty as this season is the first season I have missed in the last 10 years. I enjoy hill walking, F1 and watching Manchester City win the title for a second time in 3 years.
Client Focus: The Keystone Group have been using Diamond Logistics Derby Multi-Carrier Solution since April. Diamond provide a safe & secure logistics solution which covers their three sites including England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Keystone Group’s consignments are quite diverse and challenging at times but we have managed to accommodate all their requests and needs to date.
Our Mission Statement Work in mutual benefit, delivering time-critical delivery solutions to our clients. Provide great career opportunities to our team and subcontractors. Contribute positively to society on local, regional and global levels. Be a really good company to trust, work for and to belong to.
“We have been using Diamond since April this year and have never looked back; their service is excellent and they are always willing to go the extra mile to carry our promises to our customers. Always helpful and flexible to accommodate our needs with their staff always being professional and friendly, acting, in part, as the public face of the logistics side of our company” The Keystone Group is the largest steel manufacturer and Europe’s fastest growing roof manufacturer. For a full list of products please visit www.thekeystonegroup.co.uk or call 0 28 8676 2184
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I have a parcel that needs to be in Birmingham for 10am tomorrow, what is the safest and most secure method of getting it there?
Diamond works with smart businesses to deliver not only their promises but their profits too. Big or small we deliver it either same-day, overnight or international and even warehousing.
What makes your different? We are your local national courier company. We have 15 sites across the UK all owner managed and run by likeminded logistics professionals.
Where do you deliver? We deliver international, national and regional too. From Axminister to Zanzibar we will make sure that your consignment or parcel gets there on time and securely.
How do I book a delivery? Contact one of our local depots below and give them a call to see how you can benefit from really good services from Diamond Logistics.
How do I track my shipment? All parcels we ship offer track and trace facilities. Simply log on to www.diamondlogistics.co.uk and enter the consignment number and hit “Track Shipment”. It’s as easy as 1, 2,3.
FAQs
What does Diamond do?
Give Julian a call at our Birmingham depot on 0121 667 8283. Depending on the weight and dimensions of the items we will normally give you a price for a number of delivery methods.
What about the customer service, if anything goes wrong?
Diamond logistics handles all enquiries between the customer, you and the carrier. Should anything go wrong will keep you reliably informed and up-to date with your parcels journey.
How many branches do you have?
We have 15 sites nationwide delivering time critical consignments for our customers. We have plans to grow to 26 by the end of 2014 and 40 by the end of 2015.
Where can I enquire about the Franchise?
Simply visit www.diamondlogistics.co.uk/ franchise and see what it takes to become part of the Franchise network or call us on 01483 536888 to discuss your application in more detail.
Keep in Touch Surrey
Unit 9, The Pines Business Park Broad Street, Guildford Surrey GU3 3BH T: 0845 591 7334 E: info@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Sussex
7b Durban Road South Bersted Industrial Estate Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO22 9QT T: 01243 885729 E: russell@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Southampton
Unit 30, Claylands Road Bishops Waltham, Hampshire SO32 1BH T: 02380 988919 E: nathan@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Norwich
The True Centre, 31 Caister Rd, Great Yarmouth, NR30 4DA, T: 01603 859401 E: kevin.baker@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Sheffield
Unit 10, Carbook Industrial Estate Dunlop Street, Sheffield S9 2HR T: 0114 299 4844 E: steve.nash@diamondlogistics.co.uk
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Central Scotland
East London
Unit 9/10 Bigger Road Industrial Estate Cleland, Motherwell ML1 5PB T: 01698 442 336 E: cscotland@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Unit 27 Walthamstow Business Centre Clifford Road, London E17 4SX T: 0203 603 9458 E: eastlondon@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Basildon
1 Noble Square, Courtauld Road Basildon, Essex SS13 1LS T: 01268 857 854 E: basildon@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Unit 33 Britannia Enterprise Park Britannia Way, Lichfield West Midlands WS14 9UY T: 01543 889601 E: lichfield@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Birmingham
Coventry
Slough
Derby
Bolton
Northampton
Unit 31, Evans Easy Space Middlemore Road West Bromwich B21 0AL T: 0121 667 8283 E: birmingham@diamondlogistics.co.uk 914 Yeovil Road Slough Trading Estate, Slough SL1 4JA T: 01753 257 299 E: Dean.russell@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 2, Moses Gate Workshops Manchester Road, Bolton BL3 2QG T: 01204 896 359 E: asad.ullah@diamondlogistics.co.uk
Lichfield
Unit 14 Stampings Blue Ribbon Industrial Estate Foleshill CV6 5RB T: 0247 6666 240 E: Coventry@diamondlogistics.co.uk Unit 5C Sinfin Industrial Estate Sinfin Lane, Derby Derbyshire DE24 9GL T: 01332 897 674 E: derby@diamondlogistics.co.uk Brixworth Coldstore Old Harborough Road Northampton NN6 9BX T: 01604 806314 E: northampton@diamondlogistics.co.uk