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DPD named as one of The Sunday Times’ top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For

Delivery company debuts in prestigious list after record breaking year

The UK's favourite parcel delivery company DPD has been listed in the prestigious Sunday Times 'Best Big Companies to Work For' list for the first time, it has been confirmed. The company will feature in the top 25 when the full list is revealed at the Best Companies awards celebration in London on Thursday 25th February.

The Sunday Times 'Best Companies' list celebrates excellence in workplace engagement and is widely acknowledged as the most searching and extensive research into employee engagement carried out in the UK.

Lists are compiled based on employee opinions on how the company; supports wellbeing in the workplace, gives something back to society, shows strong leadership and teaming, provides opportunities for personal growth, and offers fair pay and benefits. Only the organisations with the highest level of overall employee engagement qualify for the 'Best Companies to Work For' list.

The Sunday Times praised DPD's company values and approach to customer service, saying: "DPD understands it needs to retain and develop the most customer centric people in their industry and they've wowed us with how they've achieved it."

DPD's inclusion in the 'Best Place to Work' list is the latest award in an incredible 12 months for the company. In April, DPD was honoured with a prestigious Queen's Award for Innovation; which was followed by the 'Special Award' from consumer champion magazine 'Which?' for consistently high customer satisfaction scores. DPD then made history by becoming the first company to win five Motor Transport awards in a single year. The company ended 2015 by topping both Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert and the Which? customer satisfaction polls for delivery companies, for the third year running. Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO commented, "What we've achieved in the last year is quite extraordinary and way beyond my expectations. The Queen's Award and now this have just moved us into a different league altogether. A lot of people have recognised the fact that we have been growing rapidly. But it is just as important to me that we're growing the right way - by investing in our network, innovating with market leading technology and by nurturing and developing our people. To make the Sunday Times 'best places to work' list is a fantastic validation of this ethos.

"As a business we aim to put people at the heart of everything we do, so we do like to think that we have the most motivated staff in our industry. However, it is results like this that prove it, and it's all the more precious to us because it's our people saying DPD is a great place to work."

DPD's success is due largely to its unique Predict service which notifies parcel recipients of their one-hour delivery timeslot, in advance, by email or text and gives them access to a range of 'in-flight options' such as deliver to a specific neighbour, leave in a specified safe place or divert delivery to the nearest DPD Pickup parcel shop. Predict enables recipients to manage their own delivery via their smartphone or PC and to communicate with their driver in real-time to ensure that millions more parcels are delivered, right, first-time.

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DPD voted the UK’s favourite delivery company for third year running!

DPD voted the UK's favourite parcel delivery company by Which? members...again!

For the third year running, DPD has been ranked as the best express parcel company in a customer satisfaction poll.

The poll was based on the experiences of over 10,500 Which? members, over a six month period.

Members praised DPD's Predict service which informs customers of their one-hour delivery timeslot, and the unique Follow My Parcel service, which lets people track their driver on a map in real-time.

Dwain McDonald, CEO, says: "This is amazing news. We have won a number of awards in recent years - notably the Queen's Award for Innovation and a Which? Special Award - but it is the opinion of our customers we deliver to that matters most. Our aim is to remain 'the nation's favourite delivery company', so the investment in our people, our network and our technology never stops."

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Fab five for DPD!

DPD scoops five prestigious awards at 2015 Motor Transport Awards!

Fantastic news! DPD beat off stiff competition to win five major awards at Wednesday's ceremony:

Home Delivery Operator of the Year

Customer Care

Business Excellence

Best Use of Technology

Technical Excellence

The event is widely considered to be the 'Oscars' of the road transport industry, so to win five separate awards - the only company to ever achieve this feat - is a great endorsement of DPD.

Explaining why DPD won the Home Delivery Operator of the Year Award - one of the most valued awards of the evening - judges described DPD as "consistent, innovative, consumer-minded", and after winning the Customer Care Award, judges praised DPD's "very strong all-round focus on customer service" and said delivering the best possible service all year round is "a state of mind for everyone at DPD". Dwain McDonald, CEO, said: "This is a wonderful achievement and everyone should be very proud. We have made history tonight and to win five awards after a tough, independent judging process, is absolutely amazing!" DPD's five Motor Transport Awards comes hot on the heels of the recent Special Which? Award win, as well as the amazing Queen's Award for Enterprise, showing what an incredible year it's been so far!

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DPD receives special Which? award for being the best delivery company in the UK!

DPD was singled out for a very special award by Which?, the largest independent consumer champion in Europe, for providing the best in customer care and driving change in its sector after it won a "huge" customer satisfaction score.

News of the award is covered in the Guardian, Daily Mail and other UK national newspapers and highlights just how special this award is for a delivery company.

Dwain McDonald, CEO, was delighted to receive the award from Which? Group Chief Executive Peter Vicary-Smith and Steph McGovern, BBC Breakfast's Business Presenter (pictured above), and commented: "I am proud to receive this special award on behalf of all of my people who constantly go above and beyond to ensure our customers get the very best possible delivery experience. Receiving this award from Which? is great independent recognition and something that I'll share with our 9,000 employees who are all brand ambassadors and relentless in putting the customer at the heart of everything that we do."

Peter Vicary-Smith added: "A Which? Award is our way of recognising the businesses that share our ideals and offer products and services that improve their customers' lives."

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DPD and Doddle team-up for smart commute and collect service!

Commute and collect parcel shop group Doddle has joined forces with the UK’s favourite parcel delivery company DPD, as part of the rapidly growing DPD Pickup network launching in June.

Doddle, which has 34 dedicated parcel stores nationwide, will join DPD’s collect and return network, to give DPD customers even more options, with key locations such as Waterloo Station, Cannon Street, Victoria and Westfield Stratford shopping centre.

Doddle launched in September 2014 as a joint venture between Network Rail and Lloyd Dorfman and has already announced plans to expand to around 100 stores by the end of this year.  Its shops are fully manned, open 7 days a week early until late and many include changing rooms.  

DPD Pickup aims to transform ‘collect and return’ by truly integrating it into the purchasing and delivery processes and offering customers a greatly improved parcel shop experience.  From June, DPD Pickup locations will be available as an alternative to home delivery, giving consumers even more choice and flexibility.

In addition, DPD Pickup will be one of the ‘in-flight’ options available in DPD’s text and email notifications, which are sent ahead of a scheduled home delivery. So if customers aren’t going to be at home they can divert their delivery to a DPD Pickup point for collection at a time that suits them.

DPD’s CEO Dwain McDonald commented: “Doddle is a great fit with DPD Pickup and I’m delighted to be able to offer their service as part of our network.  We set out to give our customers a much better parcel shop experience and that’s exactly what Doddle does.  Their shops look great, their staff are really helpful and they are in fantastic locations.   One of our core objectives was to have shops located within five minutes of most people in London, and working with Doddle gives us some fantastic locations in the capital.

“DPD Pickup is all about helping to put our customers in control of where and when their parcel is delivered and giving them even more choice.  Doddle shops are accessible, easy to use and have the capacity to handle very large volumes of parcels.  When you couple that with our Predict and Follow My Parcel services you get a very smart proposition indeed, and a great customer experience.”  

Tim Robinson, Doddle CEO said: “Doddle stores are strategically located in and around major UK train stations, to make parcel collection and delivery something customers can do quickly and easily as part of their commute. Retailers are now more focussed than ever on giving their shoppers the best delivery experience possible.  DPD’s home delivery service is held in very high regard by retailers, but by teaming up I think we can offer both retailers and parcel recipients an unbeatable proposition.”  

Doddle will join Halfords and the Rowlands and Numark Pharmacy chains already signed up under DPD’s plans announced in January.  Further retail partners are likely to be announced in the coming weeks as DPD builds a network of 2,500 parcel shops located at retail outlets that are within ten minutes of most people in the UK.  

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DPD’s Predict wins Queen’s Award for Innovation

The UK’s favourite parcel delivery company DPD has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2015 in the Innovation category, for its unique one hour delivery service, Predict.

The award - the most coveted in British commerce – recognises not only the quality of the innovation itself, but also the enormous contribution Predict has made in the transformation of the company and the dramatic growth achieved in the last five years.

Described as the biggest innovation in the express parcels market this century, Predict has firmly established DPD as the carrier of choice for premium brands in the home delivery sector.

Launched in 2010, Predict remains the only free service in the UK to give parcel recipients advanced notification of their exact one hour delivery slot by SMS or email, so that they don’t have to wait in all day for their parcel.  The service includes a full range of ‘in-flight’ options allowing the customer to divert their parcel at any time to a specified neighbour or arrange the delivery for another day if they can’t be at home.

Predict has been directly responsible for over £178m of new business wins making the company the fastest growing major delivery firm in the UK, and helping DPD leapfrog traditional home delivery players such as Yodel and City Link, by growing both profitability and turnover year on year.

Thanks to Predict, DPD has been able to embark on an unprecedented investment and expansion programme creating over 2,000 new jobs in the UK in the last two years.  In September, DPD will open a new £100m parcel hub at Hinckley in the East Midlands, which will be the largest of its kind in Europe, creating another 1,000 permanent full-time jobs.

DPD’s CEO Dwain McDonald commented: “This is a tremendous day for DPD and fantastic recognition for all the hard work, from so many people, that went into developing Predict.  Our strategy all along has been based on investing in technology, people and service to create the best delivery experience possible for our customers.  That passion for innovation and our obsession with customer service really come together around Predict.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have been able to do in the last five years in terms of UK jobs, wealth creation and growth.  Creating over 1,000 new jobs a year off the back of a recession and a prolonged economic downturn is a hell of an achievement, and we aren’t done yet!  2015 is set to be our biggest year so far, with the opening of our 4th sorting hub which will give us capacity to grow our business even further.

“No other delivery company has come close to matching our levels of growth, profitability or investment in recent years and we remain the only UK carrier to truly transform its business model to cater for the internet shopping revolution.  As a result, retailers can clearly recognise that DPD’s innovations give them a genuine competitive edge and the opportunity to add real value for their customers in the delivery phase.

“The benefits from Predict have been huge – from helping retailers drive repeat sales from happy customers to massive efficiency and cost savings from dramatically fewer failed deliveries. To deliver an equal number of parcels we can now run significantly fewer vehicles and drive a lot less miles, which in turn reduces our cost per stop and our CO2 emissions.”

Predict was developed in the UK by DPD’s own IT department and operations team in close association with local depot managers.  It uses a bespoke route optimisation system which is fully integrated with the driver’s handheld device.  That same device also enables the driver and the customer to communicate in real-time about the delivery.

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DPD's new Careers website is now live!

With building work on our brand new £100m parcel hub at Hinckley completed ahead of schedule, our recruitment drive for a number of available positions at the site is now well underway.

We are delighted to announce our Careers website is now live and you can register and apply for one of the roles available. By visiting the website you'll also find out more about working for DPD.

Check out our new Careers website now at: http://careers.dpd.co.uk.

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DPD creates over 250 jobs with £10.2m investment in six new depots

The UK's fastest growing major parcel delivery company DPD has invested £10.2m on new depots in Dartford, Feltham, Radlett, Reading, Liverpool and Lincoln.

The new depots, which collectively are expected to create over 250 new jobs, will expand DPD's capacity to handle a significant increase in B2C parcel volumes generated by its hugely successful one-hour timeslot service, Predict.

The new state-of-the art, purpose built facilities in Dartford, Feltham and Reading are replacements for existing DPD depots while Lincoln, Liverpool and Radlett are brand new depot locations for the company.

Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO, commented; "The level of investment in our network this year is unprecedented. These new depots are part of our ongoing expansion, enabling us to increase our capacity and ensure we are always several steps ahead of the competition and the growing demand for our services. Our business has grown rapidly in the last few years due to the popularity of Predict and Follow My Parcel, but this level of investment in brand new locations and larger, purpose built depots makes a huge difference in terms of efficiency."

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If you're interested in joining DPD, check out our Careers page for more information: http://www.dpd.co.uk/content/careers/welcome.jsp

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Double delight as DPD wins at two separate award ceremonies on the same day

The UK's favourite parcel delivery company DPD has been honoured at two different award ceremonies in London, within the space of a few hours.

DPD collected two highly coveted industry awards winning the Transport & Automotive category at the 2014 UK Customer Experience Awards and then just a few hours later; the Supply Chain Collaboration category at the prestigious Retail Week Supply Chain Awards.

Now in their fifth year, the UK Customer Experience Awards celebrate and promote excellence in customer experience. DPD beat off stiff competition from Arriva Bus, Zenith and Gap Group to win the UK Customer Experience Award, recognising the exceptional service DPD gives its customers.

Meanwhile, judges of the Retail Week Supply Chain Awards were impressed by the strength of DPD's partnership with fashion retailer ASOS, commenting:

"The winners of this category epitomise first class collaboration. The strong partnership is a win-win for both parties, with the distribution company getting insight and drive to develop services, and the retailer benefitting from first to market services. In turn, the retailer has reaped the rewards in the shape of extra business, extended cut off times and massive improvements to its supply chain."

DPD was also commended for its innovative 'Retail Hub' solution which means that ASOS customers can order up to 10pm and still get a next day delivery from DPD across the UK. Runners-up in this hotly contested category included DHL, M&S, Wincanton, Norbert Dentressangle and Shop Direct.

Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO, said: "It's fantastic to win two such prestigious awards and it proves that DPD has the most dedicated and customer-centric people in the industry. Giving companies like ASOS an exceptional delivery experience keeps their customers coming back for more and demonstrates just how key delivery is in the online retail market.

"We've had an amazing run of award wins in the last couple of years - but we never sit back and relax - we come back and we work out how to improve things again. That's how businesses and retailers differentiate us in the market - we are always talking to them about the next service improvement or the latest technical innovation to ensure we stay ahead of the competition and continue to give them the best service in the industry."

With DPD's Predict and Follow My Parcel services, recipients receive a notification of their delivery the evening before and are able to access five 'in-flight' delivery options, including; 'Change the delivery day', 'Deliver to a specific neighbour' and 'Deliver to a safe place'. These can be accessed via a smartphone, tablet or desktop at any point during the delivery if the customer can't be at home to accept their parcel. Customers who are available on the delivery day then receive advanced notification of their exact one-hour timeslot and can track their driver using a unique mapping tool all the way around his route to their front door.

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Great news! GDP rose by 0.8% in the second quarter of 2014, meaning the UK economy is now 0.2% above the pre-crisis peak in Q1 2008.

DPD is the fastest growing express parcel carrier in the UK and we've consistently invested in our network to improve our service and create new jobs.

We're currently in the process of a £175m UK expansion programme, including a £100m, state of the art sortation hub in Hinckley, which will be the largest of its type in Europe.

Our CEO, Dwain McDonald, says: "To create 1,000 new jobs in a year is an incredible achievement. I'm not sure how many other companies are growing at that rate, but it has been very satisfying for us to be able to make such a significant contribution to the economy and help spread some good news."  

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DPD now delivers on a Sunday!

From 20 July, our services are available nationwide, 7 days a week

Offering our services 7 days a week - yet another industry-first from DPD - means we're able to give you exactly what you want, when you want it. And remember, you won't have to wait in all day, because we'll provide the same service as on any other day - with Predict, we'll provide a one hour delivery window, and thanks to Follow My Parcel, you can watch your driver's progress on a real-time map, and you'll get a final 15 minute delivery window.

Check out our film to find out more:

http://goo.gl/m7D35C

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Our final National Apprenticeship Week instalment...

As National Apprenticeship Week draws to a conclusion, here's the final Q&A that we conducted. This time, it's Mark Walters, PC Support Technician...

What's it like working for DPD?

Fun, challenging and ever-changing.

What, in your opinion, does an Apprenticeship with DPD offer to a young person?

A place providing helpful and valid training towards a chosen position, with real opportunities towards an actual job role.

How does work life differ to school/college life?

A more professional and helpful environment, as you get the chance to speak to people and gain from everyone's varied experiences in their roles.

If you had the choice, would you rather be a zebra or a cat?

I'd rather be a cat, as they get fed better food than I can cook! (Note to self, never go to Mark's house for dinner).

Describe yourself in three words.

Polite. Professional. Diligent.

What are your career ambitions?

To become senior and obtain expertise in a wide number of areas.

Chocolate or crisps?

Chocolate - you can never beat a Twirl or a Mars! (Other brands are available). 

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DPD marks National Apprenticeship Week

We've been spending this week focusing on our Apprenticeship scheme to mark National Apprenticeship Week.

Today, our attention turns to our Credit & Billing team in Bristol, where Jade Radford works on DPD Claims. She took time out of her schedule to answer our mostly work-related, but occasionally puerile, questions!

What's it like working for DPD?

It's great - I work with some amazing people and there is always lots of work to do.

What, in your opinion, does an Apprenticeship with DPD offer to a young person?

It's a first step on the career ladder. This is a good place to start and work your way up.

How does work life differ to school/college life? 

It's a lot different. There's a lot more responsibility, but I prefer work life.

If you had the choice, would you rather be a zebra or a cat?

A cat - they get more attention!

Describe yourself in three words.

Friendly. Outgoing. Reliable.

What are your career ambitions? 

To work my way up within the company and see where it takes me...

Chocolate or crisps?

Chocolate all the way!

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It's National Apprenticeship Week, and to mark this, we've been focusing on our Apprenticeship scheme over the past couple of days.

Today, Paul McDonald (Training Manager) and Steve Woodman (Regional Manager) are visiting the Shard to identify local schools within the West London area with which a partnership could be forged.

After taking this photo, Paul emailed us to say he was a little scared of going to the top!

#vertigo

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Focus on... National Apprenticeship Week

Yesterday, we featured our Digital Designer - Gursimran Singh - to mark National Apprenticeship Week. Today, the focus turns to our Finance team, where Abigail Colucci works. Abigail successfully graduated following her Apprenticeship and now holds a full-time post (Accounts Payable Assistant) with the best parcel carrier in the business!

What's it like working for DPD?

It's enjoyable, but it also can be very challenging! 

What, in your opinion, does an Apprenticeship with DPD offer to a young person?

It offers young people experience of a real working environment and gives life skills that can be used in everyday life too. It was great that I was able to gain qualifications at the same time as working. Overall, a very good experience.

How does work life differ to school/college life?

Work differs to school because you get more responsibilities and a greater sense of importance with specific jobs and tasks to complete, each with an actual impact on a huge business.   

If you had the choice, would you rather be a zebra or a cat?

Zebra.

Describe yourself in three words.

Ambitious. Hardworking. Independent.

What are your career ambitions?

To gain more responsibilities in the office and move higher up within the company. 

Chocolate or crisps?

Crisps.

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DPD marks National Apprenticeship Week

Here at DPD, we're very proud of the Apprenticeship programme that we run, with heaps of enthusiastic young people holding posts across the business thanks to our focus on recruiting and developing tomorrow's stars!

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2014, we'll be profiling four different Apprentices from across our business to give you a taster of what it's like to work for DPD.

To kick things off, here's a Q&A with Gursimran Singh (pictured below) - affectionately known as Garry to his colleagues - who recently became a full-time Digital Designer within our Marketing team.

What's it like working for DPD?

It's great. It's good to know that you work for a large company, which is growing very quickly. Everyone has supported me throughout my apprenticeship and always given me a helping hand whenever I need it.

What, in your opinion, does an Apprenticeship with DPD offer to a young person?

It offered me the chance to go into the field I've always wanted to and gave me the opportunity to turn my hobby into a career.

How does work life differ to school/college life?

At school you're not as independent and don't have all that much freedom!

If you had the choice, would you rather be a zebra or a cat?

Cat - technically speaking, a lion's still a cat! :P (Garry's favourite animal is a lion, so he's done us on a technicality).

Describe yourself in three words.

Calm. Creative. Hardworking.

What are your career ambitions?

I'd like to keep improving my skills and work up the ladder here at DPD.

Chocolate or crisps?

Chocolate. Crisps give me headaches! :-/

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Even more innovation from DPD!

We've made it even easier to get assistance from DPD. Take a look at our great range of 'How Can We Help?' options by clicking here.

What's more, if we miss you and leave a 'Sorry We Missed You' card, we'll notify you by SMS and email, so you can rearrange your delivery straight away instead of having to wait until you get home. We'll even provide a picture of where our driver left your calling card! Click here for more.