Yello!
OUR COLLEAGUE MAGAZINE WINTER 2023
‘Tis the season to be…
STRICTLY! HOW DANCE AND DHL KEPT KARA ON THE RIGHT PATH: P6
P11
P12
Hero driver saves biker dad’s life
The site where Christmas came early
INSIDE: WE’VE GOT UK MAIL: 8 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THEM P10 AND: WASP STING VICTIM CHEATS DEATH – BY LISTENING TO HIS BOSS P5
. . . 3 2 20 ear! y a t Wha
We’ve achieved so much together in the last 12 months As One, with Passion and thanks to your Can Do attitude. You’ve shared your stories of success, bravery, teamwork and kindness in and out of work – stories that tell the world who we are and why we love what we do. From the Senior Leadership Team, a big thank you, enjoy your holiday and we look forward to seeing you refreshed and ready to make some more headlines in 2024.
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elcome W W
elcome to my final introduction to Yello! Over the past few years I have always looked forward to Yello! landing on my desk so I can read about the great work our DHL colleagues are doing at work and in our communities. This edition is no exception. From the driver helping someone in need to our Customer Service team in Milton Keynes mucking in on Global Volunteering Day, it’s full of feel-good stories for an interesting and heart-warming read. This edition also features our freshly opened site at Preston and the recent Long Service Awards, which bring back very happy memories for me. I appreciate we’re all in the midst of Peak season but please do take time out from your busy schedule to have a read. It never ceases to amaze me what incredible colleagues we have at DHL eCommerce UK, and as I head towards my retirement it’s the people I will remember the most. Also, the new hub opening in late 2024 will be a landmark event for the business and I’m truly sorry to be missing it. As I think about my time here and the transformation from UK Mail into DHL, I feel proud of what we’ve achieved so far. I’ve always said that becoming a real employer of choice is a long journey. We’re only part way there but I know that with the Can Do spirit of all of you, the journey will continue and DHL eCommerce UK will truly become a ‘great place to work’, which has always been my dream. Sending you all the very warmest Season’s Greetings and a very Happy New Year!
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Contents 18 04 Look after yourself The new ‘six in one’ approach to help with your wellbeing.
05 Sting in the tail
12 Space, a new frontier How new kit, new tech, new canteen and a big new site are making Preston pop!
From wasp attack to near death in 20 minutes – why it pays to listen to your colleagues!
15 Giving back is great
06 Dancing queen
17 Core business
09 “I had a problem”
18 Top of the Pops
11 Marvellous Marcus
20 Aisle give it a go!
The Strictly sensational sales exec whose life might have been different – but for dancing.
A colleague who confronted a mental health issue shares her story to help others.
Hero driver in motorway rescue drama almost pays with his life.
The teams getting closer to their communities and loving it.
New Apple phone launch day roll-out gets a great reception for its incredible teamwork.
Smash hit long-servers were in boogie wonderland at this year’s two gala dinners.
WIN… a £300 supermarket grocery shopping spree.
Peter Fuller, CEO
QR codes Don’t forget! Whenever you see a QR code, scan it with your smartphone camera app to view additional content or videos here and online.
Please recycle this magazine responsibly CBP013605
Payroll Lottery winners The Payroll Lottery is just £2 a month to enter, with half of your contribution going to the monthly winner and the other half to charity. 02 Yello!
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Congratulations to our Payroll Lottery winners:
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September: Daniel Carder – Ops Clerk, East Midlands – £589 October: Andrew Potter – Warehouse Operative, Leicester – £593 November: Andrew Dowling – Field Account Manager, South West – £595
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To be in with a chance to win, email payroll_ecsuk@dhl.com with your name, location and payroll number.
Or scan here
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A joined up approach to
wellbeing Six point plan will look after our people
“W
e wanted the various elements of wellbeing support to be like a jigsaw so that when the pieces are joined together, they cover every aspect of our colleagues’ lives.” That’s the view of Compensation and Benefits Manager Emma Ward whose new holistic package will focus on six key elements that affect us all. From January, Parcel Perks will be aligned to the six key elements of Mind, Money, Body, Career, Family and Community “All of those are so often interlinked, so by aligning them in one place we will enhance the benefits on offer to people if they’re struggling with one or more,” says Emma. The new easy to access area of the website, set to launch early in 2024, builds on the success of the original
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and Digital GP service.
“The site will inform, support, and educate people and signpost them to next steps if they feel they need help or advice. Previously, benefits existed in silos, but we wanted to put the individual at the centre so they can pick and choose what area they need to ensure there’s something for everyone at the point they need it.” Emma Ward
Sign up to the Parcel Perks app here
People first Emma says the package has all the benefits in one place
The Parcel Perks app allows colleagues to access information, discounts and support, including: The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is available via phone and online 24/7 365 days a year and features a cognitive behavioural therapy programme. It also offers confidential counselling for family or relationship, stress and anxiety and other mental health problems. Useful advice on pensions and how to manage your money in the Financial Wellbeing section. A dedicated area giving you ideas to volunteer in your community or say thanks to a colleague.
Sting saviour Lifesaver Andy Hall (left) gives his namesake an online lesson in wasp avoidance after the swelling (right)
ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE BOSS Five words that could save your life!
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ndy Cotton was minutes from death after a routine tea break chat almost ended in tragedy at one of our sites. He was grabbing some air outside the warehouse when he wafted a wasp away and his day took a terrible turn as it returned to sting him on the face. The Stafford site Operations Manager walked back into the office after the chinwag with his Site Manager Andy Hall to check the painful sting in a mirror. But before he could, his arms and feet were itching, a nasty rash had appeared on his arms and his face had turned bright red. “I splashed water on myself but when I looked up and saw my lips and felt them going numb, I thought: ‘Hang on, this is serious’ and ran outside,” recalls Andy. When he returned to Andy with his lips, face and eyes severely swollen, it
A SONG TO REMEMBER
A singer-songwriter who penned a top five iTunes track celebrating Wales’s footballers reaching the World Cup Finals is at it again… this time with a more serious message. Our Key Account Manager Andrew Dowling’s new song Here For You is a poignant message to anyone who feels they need to talk about poor mental health. Recorded for October’s Mental Heath Day, the song had 10,000 clicks within weeks of its release. It starts with the words “When you feel all alone, the world drags you down, I want you to know I’m here for you now, you don’t have to go through this alone.” Cardiff-based Andrew, whose track is on Spotify, says: “If it helps one person open up and start a conversation, it will have been worthwhile.”
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Looking better Andy, loving the attention from his wife
sparked a frantic 10 minutes which he later discovered was touch and go. “When he said he was calling an ambulance, I said: ‘I’ll be fine, leave it a few minutes.’ Seconds later I collapsed and was out cold on the floor.”
Scary
Within minutes he’d slipped into unconsciousness in the site’s reception as paramedics raced to the scene and administered adrenaline. Andy adds: “I was on a drip for nine hours. They said that if I hadn’t had the injection I might not have made it, which was scary.” Medics said a series of stings on Andy’s back when a wasp got inside his T-shirt last year may have caused a reaction and the anaphylactic shock. Andy says: “It was so quick and Andy insisted on calling 999. Had I been with someone else who didn’t want to argue with me, I might not be here today.” He has now been issued with EpiPens and is lapping up the concern from his wife and mother: “It’s keeping my wife on her toes and my mum’s been sending me emails about how to avoid wasps. “One bit of advice is not to wear bright clothing – not easy in DHL uniform. The downside is that every time I refuse to make Andy a cup of tea, he’s reminding me I wouldn’t be here but for him.”
Wasp watch
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There are 9,000 species of wasp in the UK.
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Wasps aren’t always black and yellow. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours – and some are only 1mm long!
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They munch on many of the common pests that annoy farmers and gardeners, including aphids and caterpillars.
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There’s even a species of wasp that preys on clothes moths but you wouldn’t want them in your wardrobe!
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Wasps are pollinators but aren’t as good at it as bees because they have fewer hairs on their bodies for pollen to stick to.
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Strictly SPANGLY
From salsa to sales, the mum whose life could have been very different but for dance
K
ara Brackley bends over backwards to meet the needs of our customers, so it’s just as well she’s flexible and agile. Both physically and mentally, those attributes are the result of an upbringing where freestyle – one of the hardest and most exhausting forms of dance – was the centre of her world. As a teenager she was one of the stars of the genre, a heart-racing combination of fast-paced dance, acrobatics and gymnastics. After making her first moves aged three, she quick-stepped her way to the brink of a professional career – and performed in front of Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman (pictured right).
Happiest memories
He was an adjudicator at an Association of Dance and Freestyle Professionals tournament, and quickly endeared himself to the girls nervously waiting in the wings. “He was lovely man, a real gentleman. He was cheeky but was always warm, firm and fair to us. We were so sad when he passed away,” says Kara. At 16, the South Londoner with the accent to match, faced the dilemma of whether to pursue a career in dance or continue with her education. She chose university and admits: “It was a wrench because dance had been such a big part
All the right moves Caring Kara knows how to look after her customers
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Following in Mum’s footsteps
of my life. Squashing into the back of cars with the girls on the way to tournaments up north are some of my happiest memories. “My mum gave up so much, taking me to training four nights a week and funding it all – I appreciated it then and even more now. What dance taught me has made me a better person and better at my job.”
Magical
One of the highlights of her dance career was wearing a bespoke £1,200 Swarovski rhinestone costume created by Vicky Barkess, Strictly’s dressmaker to the stars. “That was amazing. Going so fast doing splits, cartwheels and back flips in a bespoke outfit glittering with every movement was magical,” she adds. “And competing against the best dancers in the country and winning was another highlight.” As a graduate of the Vicki Cooper Dance School in Crawley, she and friends took on schools from the north of England – traditionally home of the best freestylers – as they carved a reputation. “We were already pretty tough coming from this part of London, but that made us tougher. I like to think that everything I learned as a dancer is helping me in my work with DHL,” she laughs.
Hard knock life
As a mum to 10-year-old Luca and Grace, four, she’s drawn on the hard knock life of the competitive dance scene and her upbringing in Croydon to pass on the qualities she learned. But the 34-year-old admits her path to becoming a passionate Field Sales Executive covering the South London patch she loves could have been very different but for dance. “One day we got back from a tournament and the disco we used to go to had been smoke-bombed. I wasn’t there because I was travelling the country for dance. It was a rough place and but for dance, my life could have easily taken a different route,” she adds. She’s pleased with her decision to stop dancing, but has already enrolled her little one in baby ballet – so the next DHL Strictly superstar could be on her way.
“I’m now incredibly proud to be doing the best I can for my customers in my territory… because it’s my territory and I want the best for it. And DHL is the best”
Brand Ambassador Kara insists she couldn’t have achieved half as much as she has in her working career without the support of the business and her South East team. Her son Luca has ADHD and her daughter Grace is a bundle of energy, so as a mum with a career, life hasn’t always been easy. But the backing of her Regional Sales Manager Paul Tandy has been crucial in giving her the flexibility to be the best she can be. “As a business you couldn’t ask any more of DHL and that’s why I’m so proud to be an ambassador for a company that genuinely cares about its people,” she says. Both her children head off for school wearing DHL backpacks and many of Luca’s ‘show and tell’ sessions focus on the work of the DHL Foundation. She says: “He’s always telling his friends that DHL doesn’t just move freight and that we deliver important things to people and communities in distress. “His condition – and to my mind it’s not a disorder because one day he’ll be brilliant in finance or any job where memory is important – means I have to shuffle my day, but DHL always have my back.” She adds: “Paul is supportive, gives me guidance and makes me want to try even harder – and that’s something you see throughout the business.” Tiny dancers? Grace and Luca love being mini brand ambassadors
Yello! 07
“The figures suggest people can see that we’re acting on their feedback”
Start a conversation
Scan for support services near you
Employee Opinion Survey shows surge in engagement
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top what you’re doing and take a look at your team-mates… the people who make working for DHL fun and something you’re proud to do. Because latest statistics show eight out of 10 of them are fully engaged and on board with everything we’re doing As One and with Passion, every day. That’s the “extremely positive” finding of the latest Employee Opinion Survey (EOS), which an incredible 95% of you completed to help us get a clear picture of how we’re getting on. Here’s the best bit. The engagement score hit 80% for the first time ever – that’s 5% up on last year and a rise of 30% compared to when we joined DHL Group seven years ago.
At a glance…
From despairing to caring
Enjoy your job? Growing numbers of you are completely engaged in what you do
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Tiffany’s ‘let’s talk’ plea to colleagues
8 out of 10 are fully engaged Respect Our people work for each other to delight our customers… and each other
4,000 completed the EOS
Dive deeper
Better still in the eyes of Peter Fuller, CEO of DHL eCommerce UK, is the fact that almost two thirds of you noticed areas where improvements had been made following last year’s EOS. “That suggests people can see we’re acting on their feedback, but it’s an area where we can get better,” he says. “We’ll assess their comments and, where we can, take steps to improve things. “The response rate is a great sign that people know their opinions on all aspects of their job really matter.”
any (right) with colleague It takes two to talk Tiff Executive Sidra Mahmood es and friend, Direct Sal
87% believe the company promotes diversity and inclusivity While he’s delighted by the 95% participation – a massive leap from the 35% of 2016 – it’s the figures around pride that have pleased Peter almost as much. “You can feel those when you’re out and about. If we harness them, we’ll delight our customers and achieve great results, which means we all benefit.” An impressive 82% (up 5%) of you said you were proud to work for the business, while 86% (up 3%) are passionate about contributing to our shared success. Those scores are great news because when we’re engaged, we’re more likely to be passionate about what we do and bring our best to our site, van or lorry. Detailed findings have been passed to managers who are looking into where teams can drive the scores up next year. Peter says: “Some managers have told
me they’re disappointed with their team’s scores, but that shows they care and want to improve. That’s why we need the feedback… to dive deeper into things. “Now it’s time to look at how people are feeling, investigate any issues and tweak things where they’re good to make them better or address them where they’re not so good. That’s the point of the EOS – it’s all about self-analysis, with the aim always to keep improving.”
Valuable
But it’s some of the comments in the completed surveys that give Peter the greatest pride: “People saying ‘this is the best company I’ve worked for’ gives you a good feeling, and some of the negative comments are equally valuable if we’re going to get even better. “We get so much data from every person – and I read it all – and we look forward to it because it forms the basis for all our plans for the following year.” Two other key performance indicators of Leadership and Team also saw scores increase by 3% to 77% – proof that the Certified management programmes are having a positive effect on our culture. The First Choice initiative has also been warmly received by you, with scores climbing 8% to 70% in a show of support for the continuous improvement work.
T
iffany Moore is fun, chatty, lively, full of energy and great company. But there have been times when the chaos of life, love and work have dragged her into a whirlpool of emotion she thought she’d never escape. But add intelligent and brave to her list of attributes and she’s now cast off the spectres of anxiety and fear to help herself… and her colleagues.
Recognising triggers
Our Direct Sales Manager suffers from borderline personality disorder, which typically manifested itself when she and a partner had a row. “My biggest trigger was fear of abandonment, and negative self-perception. If we had a row it was the end of the world. I’d push them away and say I wanted to kill myself or self-harm. “When I calmed down, I’d see my responses were completely irrational, but when the mind goes slightly wrong you need to treat it like a part of the body.” That’s why Ryton-based Tiffany has joined the growing band of trained Mental Health First Aiders within DHL eCommerce UK to provide support and help for colleagues who are struggling. “I got my diagnosis just as I started at DHL four years ago but I realised I had a problem around eight years ago. I sought help, talked about it and learned to recognise the triggers to avoid them.” She has chosen to speak out to break down the stigma she feels still lingers around mental health and to encourage people to join the training programme.
“Good health and wellbeing are as important as physical health, and companies like ours are leading the way in changing attitudes,” she says. One in six adults experience a ‘common mental disorder’ such as depression or anxiety every week, but Tiffany believes that’s an underestimate. “I’ve experienced poor mental health and come out of it by learning that life isn’t always going to be this bad – things will get better. “People’s emotions fluctuate, we’re all different, but work and stress of daily life means it’s easy to lose perspective. That’s why I wanted to help others.”
SOME USEFUL NUMBERS MIND at mind.org.uk/needurgent-help The Samaritans at samaritans.org or call 116 123 Employee Assistance Programme is a 24/7 support line for help on topics including mental and financial health. Call 0333 400 0545 and quote 78300 Andy’s Man Club for men aged 18 and above to speak openly about their mental health. Visit andysmanclub.co.uk
Scan here to find out who your Mental Health First Aider is
From Aldershot to Wellingborough, our dedicated team of 85 qualified Mental Health First Aiders are waiting to talk. And we want to grow the team to ensure help is always at hand if you need it. You don’t need to be a medical or counselling expert – Mental Health First Aiders are a contact for anyone wanting to talk about their mental health and find out the support that is always available to them. They are also here to chat about and signpost you to the support available, regardless of whether you have a diagnosed condition. Neil Huntington and Mark Madges from the Operations Training team run the courses, and Neil says: “We teach practical skills, including spotting signs and symptoms. Taking part raises awareness and mental health literacy, boosts knowledge and confidence and promotes early intervention to aid recovery.”
THE COURSES ARE:
L evel 1 Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health – identifies suspected mental health conditions and teaches people how to start a conversation. L evel 2 First Aid for Mental Health – shares knowledge on suspected mental health conditions and the effects of drugs and alcohol. Also shows how to draft an action plan. L evel 3 Supervising First Aid for Mental Health – covers a range of mental health conditions and the support and help provided by professionals. To find out more please contact opstraining_ecsuk@dhl.com
Yello! 09
EIGHT THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT UK MAIL
Our mail business has been sending a billion plus letters every year for almost 20 years, but do you really know what they do? Danny Narey, Sales Director for UK Mail, explains
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As a Downstream Access (DSA) service provider we allow customers to pre-sort their mail so it’s fit for delivery directly into a regional Royal Mail centre. We collect the mail, check it’s sorted properly and deliver it to a regional centre – saving Royal Mail time and money.
3 We were the first licensed DSA mail carrier and have stayed at the forefront of postal services by maintaining a high profile service to be trusted by companies with their customer communications.
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We currently handle more than a billion letters every year.
6 Then there’s direct mail. You can call it ‘junk mail’ if you like, but it remains the most effective way to drive online and in-store purchases. Weird, eh? Send a letter to get someone to go to a website and buy stuff – to be delivered by DHL e-Commerce UK?
7 All mail producers are potential customer for us. Larger brands, financial services companies and utilities now have bulk mail production sites. The growth of e-commerce means many have moved into product fulfilment and despatch so UK Mail and DHL eCommerce UK share customers.
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We mechanically sort letters at our major operating sites for customers with lower volumes and handle international post. That’s why we’re such a good fit with DHL eCommerce… we’re a transport company too!
5 Many household names use our services. We can’t discuss them all but if you’ve had a bank account, driving licence or hospital appointment, there’s a good chance we’ve played a major part in getting vital communications to your door.
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Mail still matters in the digital age. It comes through the letterbox and stays there longer than an email. People value its physical qualities. It’s reassuring too – you often need to show an official letter with your name and address on. Young people react better to receiving letters than any other age group.
Marcus our motorway
l e v r a m “I thought he was dead,” admits linehaul hero Marcus
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father-of-two involved in a highspeed motorway crash says he wouldn’t be alive today but for the bravery of one of our drivers. Linehaul Driver Marcus Hawkins was on a routine evening run when he was overtaken by a motorcyclist at 70mph as he chatted to his mum on the hands-free. But seconds later he looked on in horror as sparks flew and the biker wobbled in the middle lane before veering across the traffic, throwing him from his saddle into the hard shoulder.
groaned and rolled over onto his back before repeatedly slipping in and out of consciousness.
Talking
Minutes later the drama almost escalated as a van veered onto the hard shoulder to avoid the queuing traffic, missing Marcus and the injured man by feet. “That was when what I was doing struck me. It took the ambulances half an hour to arrive, so I was constantly talking to the man to stop him drifting away. “We kept him warm with my DHL fleece and covered him up before helping the paramedics take him to the ambulance.” The bike careered on up the busy M5 Marcus, who spent five years as a stretch just north of Exeter as its owner shunter at our Exeter site before taking lay face down and motionless on the his HGV licence, texted the man’s number verge, missing his helmet. days later to see how he “It all happened so was getting on. quickly, and my first He replied with the thought was to try to text to the left and added: stop the traffic. I put my “I’m recovering fairly hazard lights on and Hi Marcus, well. Whilst I have lots of pulled across the first Thank you so much. injuries, luckily there’s no lane by the hard One of the most serious implications. If shoulder,” recalls significant facts of it there’s anything I can do Marcus, 31. all is that if I hadn’t please shout.” “I ran over to him. received medical The rider spent weeks He wasn’t moving and intervention as quick in hospital recovering didn’t have his helmet as I did, I most likely from a fractured spine, on. My immediate would have died nine broken ribs, head thought was that he or 100% had life injuries and severe was dead because he changing injuries. damage to his legs, but had a red jumper on is now on the mend. and in the half-light, Marcus says: “He has I thought he was two children, so I was covered in blood.” relieved to get that text As our Exeter-based and to know what I did colleague knelt down made a real difference.” by his side, the man
Groaned
“Marcus is a very no-nonsense guy who gets the job done with a minimum of fuss so to hear he was good in a crisis doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Like many of our drivers he considers himself to be an ambassador for the business and always looks out for the public as he did in this case. We’re incredibly proud of him here but we’re not surprised by his actions. He loves his job and is an extremely valued member of the team.” Site Manager Garry Moore
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Loving the space Service Provider Joanne Bennett unloading parcels onto our new belt with (above) Owner Driver Chris Daly (front) and Warehouse Operative Abdelaziz Jafrane
55 98% 120,000
drivers covering routes on a 70-30% urban to rural split
Efficient, safe and brand spanking new Michelle Kerr in front of the new bays and Mark Lancaster with the new electric pump lift
amazing delivery success rate
“It’s brilliant here!” Move sees morale hit a “new level” as a warmer winter beckons for Preston’s all-stars
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hen a fleet of cold, wet, and damp drivers rolled out of our cramped site for the final time, they barely gave it a backward glance. Because once they’d completed all the drops to their usual near perfect standard, they returned later that day to a tailor-made site four times the size just up the road. “Morale has gone through the roof since we moved. They don’t need to load up in the pouring rain and cold any more, and that makes a massive difference,” says Operations Supervisor Terry McDermott.
He’s proud of his Preston site’s 98% delivery success rate – even before the switch to the new automated site. A meticulously planned move earlier this year saw our North West operation move into a 120,000 sq ft unit as the team said goodbye to their previous 32,000 sq ft home. Terry says: “It’s brilliant here. A lot of work went into making it happen smoothly, and on the day it did, the drivers left the old site in the morning and returned to the new one in the afternoon.
Key to success
“We’d shown them around before and they were impressed, but now that it’s winter they’ll really feel the benefits of being able to load indoors. It’s good to make sure our service providers, employed drivers and all warehouse colleagues and operations teams are well looked after because they are key to the success of our business.” A new high-tech conveyor system automatically segregrates all parcels, both inbound and outbound Pride in Preston (l to r) Terry, Site Manager Karl Gerrard and Operations Manager James Hart 12 Yello!
Quick catch up Warehouse Supervisor Michelle Kerr and Shift Manager Mick Parkinson
sq ft unit - three times larger than the old site
and supports our drive for continuous improvement in the service we offer our customers and our limitless growth strategy.
Investment
The site is equipped with new electric pump trucks, which are less labour intensive, as well as being safer to operate. Four specific trailer bays have also provided the team with a safer system in the warehouse when it comes to vehicle movements. But it’s the investment in people that has had an almost instant impact on morale at the site, whose 55 drivers cover 70-30% urban-rural routes from Preston, Lancaster and Burnley to Blackburn, Southport and the Fylde Coast. “We recruit well to get good people all year round, so there’s cover and we’re always looking out for each other,” says Terry. “Since we’ve moved, the atmosphere has gone to another level. People appreciate that the business is investing in them. It also gives us potential to handle more volume which puts us in a great place for Peak.” A new canteen features a TV, charging sockets,
microwaves, and a big fridge, making it perfect for a quick break. Well-equipped locker rooms and state-of-the-art restrooms complete the change of scene for the north west team. Mark adds: “Those little things make a difference and it really feels like the business gets that. “We’ve listened to what colleagues said they wanted in a new site and believe that this will have a really positive impact on next year’s Employee Opinion Survey.”
Bay watch Four new trailer bays have ended any loading issues
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Half a bike for
free!
This quarter’s
30 years Free wheel amigos (l to r) Luke, Kai and Gareth
Sound too good to be true? It isn’t
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reathe, get your heart pumping, give your mental health a boost… and save money while you’re at it. That’s the choice growing numbers of colleagues across the network are making as take up of the popular Cycle2Work scheme continues to rise. They’re also ensuring the daily commute to their sites is better for the environment, which in turn benefits all of us. One of the most recent colleagues to make the switch from petrol to pedal is Kai Gaunt, who was convinced by a friend at his Swindon site to give it a go. Kai, 21, says: “I thought the application process might be a pain, but it was so easy. I now have a great bike I got for half the retail price and I’m riding all the time.” As a youngster the Operations Administrator used to cycle everywhere, but was sceptical about going back to two wheels. But he adds: “I’m not sure why I didn’t do it before. Maybe I was stuck in the car comfort zone, but I’ve halved my weekly fuel bill and it’s been great for clearing my head after work. “When I get in, I feel wide awake and then the weekend comes and I’m out on the tracks which is so exhilarating and gives you a huge buzz.” Kai and Warehouse Operative Luke Rowlands were persuaded to make the
The mechanics... • Payments are taken in monthly instalments from your salary. • You can save up to 47% through Cycle2work, depending on your tax bracket. • The current window for your Cycle2Work application ends on 31 December. • The 2024 windows run from 1 March to 30 April, 1 June to 31 August and 1 October to 31 December.
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GET GRAFTING, FEEL GOOD
Long-servers
most of the Cycle2Work benefit by Backshift Supervisor and now weekend bike buddy, Gareth Whyte. He says: “If someone offered you a top of the range bike for half the price, you’d think there was a catch. But there’s no catch. This scheme is a no brainer. “I bought an electric bike so much cheaper that the Halfords team said I still had money left, so I bought a helmet, lights and a three-year service plan too.” He adds: “I’m doing 14 miles a day and Luke’s doing 20. We’re all getting fit in the fresh air with adrenaline pumping. Next year we’re going trail riding in the Forest of Dean.”
Peter Rawcliffe Loss Prevention Samantha Hugill Runcorn Peter Grazette Ryton Hub
25 years Alan Bennett Runcorn David Little Exeter Frank Kirkland Glasgow
20 years Rosemary Potter Carlisle Jason Ruskin Docklands Joao Baptista Leicester Mark Davies Cardiff Daniel Ewen Sittingbourne Kim Hartas York Jayne Harmsworth Real Estate
Paul Smith Birmingham Stadium Point Stephen Cooksey Bristol Charles Ellis Carlisle William Hutchison Glasgow Andrzek Zyzak Leeds Steven Spencer Middleton Mark Lancaster Preston David Evans Preston Barry Ellis Runcorn
Rebecca Allen-Dwight, Operations Administrator and ECG Rep
Visit cycle2work.info and enter the employer code DHLECOMMERCEC2W
Where there’s a swill Some of the team who loved life on the farm
Mucking in... by mucking out
Simon Reid Query Handling
15 years
“Gareth, Kai and Luke work in different areas but the scheme has really brought them together in and out of work. They’re real ambassadors for the health, financial and environmental benefits of getting a bike”
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Sardar Shaikh Greenford
Clive Wallis Ryton Hub
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blind farmer helping people with disabilities grow in confidence by giving them a taste of working life in the countryside has opened the eyes of our customer service crew. Mike Duxbury, blind since the age of six, is co-founder of Inclusive Farm – a working livestock and poultry enterprise for students and people with disabilities to learn animal husbandry and nutrition – near our Milton Keynes office. “He encourages local people and schoolchildren to add to the diversity of the rural workforce,” says Linda Rowlinson, our National Accounts and Digital Manager. “The farm always needs volunteers so we approached them, got clearances in place and sent volunteers from our Customer
Scott Andrews Birmingham Stadium Point Sara Lawrence Crawley Peter Iley Newcastle Michael Mackay Sales-Mail Accounts Management Janina Mancas RS Components Corby Samuel Pullen RS Components Nuneaton Nathan Reid Wellingborough Do you know who was Top of the Pops in the year you started at DHL? Take our quiz on p19.
Dream team Farmer Mike (left) and Rob became firm fencing friends
Service team every day for two weeks.” Customer Service Adviser Rob Hayes had experience as a kitchen fitter and was soon mending fences and turning a large flat pack dog house into the finished article… with no bits left over! Linda adds: “He enjoyed it so much he’s been going back on Saturdays. Everyone had such a good time mucking out, feeding the animals, and clearing fields that we let some of the 20 go back twice. They said it felt so good to support a worthwhile venture in their community. “There are admin and safeguarding hoops to jump through but once you do, the reward far exceeds all the effort.” Rob says: “Mike is a true inspiration dedicated to empowering disabled children by showing them that they really can accomplish anything, regardless of their abilities. “Our time at the farm was fulfilling and the farm team praised us for being consistently friendly and keen to help.”
team of volunteers from our Wellingborough site loved getting stuck into weeding and tidying at a community hub so much they went back for a second go. The helpers spent their time freeing up valuable space in some of the rooms at the Wellingborough African Caribbean Association community centre. Their hard work meant a more welcoming environment for visitors to the town’s main meeting place for people from African, Caribbean and mixed heritage communities. The Association supports people in areas covering education, training, business, employment, health, wellbeing and youth support.
Building bonds The team with pride in their community But its rooms and meeting areas were being used for storage so volunteers from our Wellingborough site swung into action on Global Volunteering Day to give them a clear out. Site Manager Alan Stewart says: “We also cleared the areas outside of weeds to spruce the venue up and you could feel the team enjoying it more and more as they day went on. The feel-good factor was so strong some went back twice. “It’s important for us to bond as a team in and out of work, but if we can also connect with our community, that grows a real bond between us as a business and the areas we work in.”
Yello! 15
Perfect
reception New tech’s on time… thanks to YOU
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Wheelchair star’s VIP fans A
ction woman Helen Thompson has added the title of marathon finisher to her growing list of achievements. Our Administrator, a GB Women’s Wheelchair Rugby World Cup gold winner, completed the gruelling 26-mile course in a superb 5 hours, 39 minutes. The bicep-burning test around the Olympic lake at Dorney in Bucks edged her nearer a £7,700 fundraising target for a new rugby chair to take her game to the next level. As a warm-up for the main event, she also completed a half marathon at the same venue with six of her Berkshire Banshees team-mates and Mark Madges, our Regional Trainer (South). “Mark does a lot of runs to support blind runners so when I knew we were
doing the half marathon I called and asked him if he’d help out. He didn’t hesitate and was delighted to take part,” says Thames Valley-based Helen.
Unexpected
His backing paid off as she prepared for the marathon as a competitor doing the route alongside able-bodied runners, during which she experienced a rare moment of prejudice. She adds: “It was a reminder of why I’m so determined to compete. One runner alongside me said: ‘I can push you round if you like.’ I told him: ‘You’ll have to catch me if you want to push me.’” Helen’s strict 15 hours a week training schedule and success story has also caught the attention of some unexpected
Building support (left) Helen and Mark, and some of the other wheel wonders
new fans of the wheelchair rugby game. She explains: “I was playing a match in Worcester recently and saw our CEO Peter Fuller in the stands. He came especially, watched the game and even stayed for a chat about the rules after.”
“I’ve also had emails from Pablo Ciano, our Group CEO, who’s asked to be kept up to date about our results. If you needed proof that our most senior managers care about everyone in DHL, that’s it right there”
THE ROAD TO SOMEWHERE
Change of direction Chris Sinclair is finding a new gear at the age of 33
16 Yello!
A pilot scheme helping our talented colleagues explore different career paths within the business has been hailed a major success. Driving Ambition, launched to tackle a shortage of Class 1 lorry drivers, will see 22 former warehouse colleagues graduate by early next year. All are working their way through an intensive fortnight-long programme as part of the six-week package. Head of Resourcing, Daisy Smith, who worked with Supply Chain to make the ‘Warehouse to Wheels’ route a reality, says: “This collaboration showed we can
be extremely agile and innovative when business needs demand it.” Two new drivers a month are joining the Linehaul and Day Bulk rotas after the detailed induction and training. Daisy adds: “It’s important for talented office and warehouse people to see opportunities to grow their careers.” Chris Sinclair, a Backshift Supervisor at our Gateshead site, says: “I wanted to grow my skill set and can’t wait to get started. The great thing about DHL is the opportunities that exist to change roles, and as a driver there’s no better company to work for.”
meticulous operation involving almost every aspect of our supply chain ensured 45,000 early bird tech hunters got their gear on time. The Apple iPhone 15 roll-out ran like clockwork thanks to the agility of our teams around the UK who were undaunted by an underestimate of product numbers and last-minute totes added to lorries heading for O2 stores. “That forced us to think on our feet, but as usual everyone pulled together to get the job done,” says Senior Key Account Manager for O2, Sarah Arber.
Outstanding
Celebrities, footballers, VIPs and gadget fans were among the list of people clamouring for the kudos of grabbing the latest mobile model on its launch date. But ahead of the excitement, our army of drivers, operations teams and security experts were hard at work to make sure big-name clients O2 and Apple ended up as happy as their customers. Sarah says: “It’s a very big deal in the tech world. People like to have the new model the day it lands, so a year’s worth of planning goes into making sure everything runs like clockwork.” That meant that when O2 told us their estimated numbers were 100% too low and Apple’s totals were also up 400%, we had to act fast. Sarah and Gayle Andrews, her DHL opposite number looking after Apple, were on a hotline to the clients throughout launch day, with help from Customer Service Adviser Farhan Almaflahi whose liaison role
on the day was hailed as “outstanding”. Sarah says: “A week before launch we delivered to retail outlets and the items were stored. On the day itself an embargo meant we couldn’t deliver anything to individuals before 8am. “Most phones go to home addresses so everything had to be planned from timings down to the escort vehicles accompanying our bulk lorries.” The Hub team worked with our security advisers to ensure a smooth process that earned an email from our O2 clients. Sarah adds: “Without the planning and dedication of our implants in O2, loss prevention, network planning, customer services and drivers, this operation wouldn’t have been the huge success it was.”
Thank you for your sup port. We’ve thrown everythin g at you and you have suppor ted us with it all, whether it was helping monitor deliveries to specific stores due to the ft risks, running reports or handling last minute tot es that we’ve handed you . Farhan was nothing sho rt of outstanding, tracking the multiple deliveries every day and speaking to depots . Pass on our thanks to the wid er teams at the depots and all the drivers that suppor ted. We will do it all again same time next year. Thanks Jackie Strafford Supply Chain Service Relationship Manager – Transport, O2
Yello! 17
Top pops
Sing up for the South
of the
iva Fore v •V 18 Yello!
Keep on
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26 years: Robin Velayudhan, Mail Sorter • 25 years: Stephen Bustard, Warehouse Operative • Eric Frimpong, Warehouse Operative • Awod Khiyar, Operations Manager • 24 years: Alan Bearman, Warehouse Operative • 23 years: Tony Fabian, Bulk Driver • Becky Edwards, Operations Supervisor • Ryan Jones, Linehaul Driver • Toj Gurung, Warehouse Operative • Gavin Harsham, Operations Manager • Leon Cheney, Operations Administrator • Joseph Rushworth, Linehaul Driver • 22 years: Andrew Clarke, Operations Supervisor • Peter Parker, Operations Administrator • Sarah Dunn, Site Manager • Jonathan Wood, Site Manager • Mark Dowsing, Operations Supervisor • David Allen, Site Manager • Martin Baker, Quality and Compliance Manager • 21 years: Harry Monk, Site Manager • Samantha Blake, Site Manager • Trevor Jones, Bulk Driver • Deborah Reid, Claims Administrator • Esin Kernutt Operational Process Auditor • 20 years: Dan Smith, Operations Manager • Silvana Santosuosso, Customer Services Adviser
Make a noise for the North
In the groove (above with Peter Fuller) Becky’s a ball of energy who brings the shift teams together
“Since I joined, the automation has gone to another level and the culture has changed enormously. The business genuinely cares about its people and is investing accordingly” Warren Rimmer Becky, a mum-of-two, nanny and Crystal Palace fan, starts her day at 4.30am, her no-nonsense approach making her a hit with colleagues and drivers keen to join her weekly football score predictor. “I try to bring the day, back and night shifts together because we’re all one team. I love throwing myself into situations where I can learn, and the DHL programmes have made that easy. The more you put in, the more you get out,” she says. “When I started, we had dot matrix printers, CB radios to talk to the drivers and fax machines. The technology across and within sites has made our whole operation so much smoother.” But she adds: “It’s the people that make us what we are. I’ve made some great friends over the years. Everyone wants the same thing here and looks out for each other, which makes the job easier.”
34 years: Denise Rodgers, Regional Sales Manager • 30 years: Kenneth Aitken, Linehaul Driver • 29 years: Darren Walker, Shift Manager • 27 years: Andrew Wedge, Linehaul Regional Night Manager • 26 years: Grahame Chapman, Warehouse Operative • 25 years: Warren Rimmer, Mail and Packets Product Manager • Louise Smith, Operations Administrator • Paula Lyons, Sales Executive • 24 years: Dawne Bedford, Account Handler • 23 years: Dorothy Meadows, Revenue Protection Officer • Emma O’Toole, IT Programme Lead – Parcels • 22 years: Harold Thomson, Linehaul Driver • 21 years: John Torley, Warehouse Operative • Paul Helps, Operations Supervisor • Catherine Mill, Director of Key Accounts • Peter Hocking, Shift Manager • 20 years: David Woods, General Manager, Customer Operations
#1 Pop quiz
Name the artists that match our colleagues’ start months
Denise Rodgers – Like a Prayer • Dorothy Meadows – Rise • Kenneth Aitken – I Will Always Love You • Darren Walker – Sure • Andrew Wedge – Fastlove • Awod Khiyar – Spice Up Your Life • Paula Lyons – It’s Like That • Louise Smith – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing • Stephen Bustard – Brimful of Asha • Leon Cheney – Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) • Tony Fabian – Music • Ryan Jones Breathless • Jonathan Wood – Eternal Flame • David Allen – Can’t Get You Out of My Head • Esin Kernutt – Light My Fire • Dawne Bedford – Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom • Harold Thomson – Independent Woman • David Woods – Dilemma Answers: Like a Prayer (Madonna) • Rise (Gabrielle) • I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston) • Sure (Take That) • Fastlove (George Michael) • Spice Up Your Life (Spice Girls) • It’s Like That (Run DMC versus Jason Nevins) • I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith) • Brimful of Asha (Cornershop) • Groovejet, If This Ain’t Love (Spiller) • Music (Madonna) • Breathless (The Corrs) • Eternal Flame (Atomic Kitten) • Can’t Get You Out of My Head (Kylie Minogue) • Light My Fire (Will Young) • Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom (Venga Boys) • Independent Woman (Destiny’s Child) • Dilemma (Nelly ft Kelly Rowland)
gust 1998 Au
Always prepared (above with Peter Fuller) Logistics of a very different kind keep the ex-Army man on his toes
er 19 9 9
irls • 01 eG
by the Spic er
b em
ong-servers Becky Edwards and Warren Rimmer might not have realised it, but the Number One hits on the day they joined DHL pretty much sum up their time with us. Becky’s first day 24 years ago was filled with the strains of Keep on Movin’ by Five, while Warren’s 1998 arrival saw the Spice Girls hit top spot with Viva Forever. They joined 41 other colleagues with an incredible 1,033 years of experience between them at long service award ceremonies where most of their ‘start date songs’ took pride of place. It wasn’t great for Quality and Compliance Manager in Customer Experience Martin Baker, whose song from 22 years ago – Can We Fix It by Bob the Builder – drew a resounding ‘yes we can’ from the DHL faithful. Becky, our Operations Supervisor at Docklands, is true to her song, throwing herself into the Certified programme, Go Teach, Trucks and Child Safety as well as being the site’s Mental Health First Aider. It’s no different for Warren, who after eight years as an ammunition and explosives specialist officer in the Army, is glad his role as Product Manager with UK Mail has been a little more long term… and safer. “The explosive work in Bosnia kept me busy and I’m still here, albeit looking after a slightly different kind of logistics. The immediacy of both jobs is what I like but admittedly this one is less high risk,” he says.
• 06 Nov
L
in’ by Fiv ov e
Meet our very own hit makers
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Yello! 19
! n i W A £300 SUPERMARKET GROCERY SHOP Everyone’s cash-strapped in January, so we’re turning the festive season Yello! with our biggest prize ever. Stock up on the essentials or treat yourself to something special with a £300 sweep at a supermarket near you.
Simply answer this question to be in with a chance: What percentage of colleagues completed the Employee Opinion Survey? Send your answer and your name to yello_ecsuk@dhl.com, or by text to 07860 021367
BE IN IT TO WIN IT!
It takes seconds to enter – simply email your answer and your name to:
yello_ecsuk@dhl.com or text 07860 021367 THE CLOSING DATE IS:
26 January 2024
Terms and conditions: Entry to our competition is free. To enter, you must be a DHL Parcel UK colleague. You can only enter the competition once and the first entry per colleague will be accepted. The winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries. The editor’s decision is final and no cash alternative will be offered. We collect your details, name, contact number and address solely for the purpose of processing and selecting a competition winner. The winner will be contacted and their name will be printed in the next edition. Your data is not shared with any third party and is deleted after the competition has finished and the winner confirmed. Entries must be received by 26 January 2024.
Debbie Bond, a Driver Controller at Tunbridge, who won a two night break for two in the last Yello! competition, says: “What a lovely surprise. It will be a great start to the new year.”
Visit the wonder Wall ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP? Just 13 points separate the titlechasers with the season around a third of the way through. Last season’s winner Paul Stewart is tucked in nicely but with only around 50 points between the top 15, it looks like we’re set for a battle royal. The winner stands to collect a Premier League or EFL shirt of their choice… so pick wisely.
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MICHAEL POWELL PAUL STEWART TOM MCCOY LEE MADDISON ANDREW DEWEY
912 904 903 889 889
Carnival capers Never forget that we’re all a vital part of the communities we serve and should celebrate alongside them with a smile… and something super scary!
Make a difference This wonderful letter from a carer reminds us what an important and uplifting service our whole team provide, from the warehouse to our customers’ doors. Be proud.