Princess backs humanitarian plan
The Princess Royal has joined leading figures from the humanitarian and logistics sectors to launch a collaboration plan to improve the effectiveness of emergency aid. Speaking at the inaugural Humanitarian Logistics Summit, she said: “It is vitally important that the role of logistics in responding to emergencies is recognised and supported across the aid sector.” The summit agreed a joint initiative focusing on three areas: improving professional development; improving technical support for logisticians in the field; and improving benchmarking and metrics.[asset_ref id=”1175″]
Co-op rolls out support for FareShare
The Co-operative has signed up to support FareShare, the charity that distributes surplus food to the poor. The move follows a pilot project at the Birtley distribution centre in County Durham. The Co-operative has now introduced the initiative at its distribution centre in Thurrock in Essex. It is also putting systems in place to launch the scheme at other sites across the country, including Newhouse, near Glasgow, and Lea Green on Merseyside, later this year. Co-op Food chief Tim Hurrell said: “FareShare is a fantastic charity whose simple concept of tackling food poverty and food waste is one we are delighted to support.”
Products supplied in the trial included over-supplies, quality control rejections, damaged packaging and food nearing the end of its shelf life. The Co-op has gone for a DC-based scheme as most of its stores are small to medium-sized and do not generated enough waste to make a store based scheme practical.
Why I love Wigan
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy and CILT chairman Paul Brooks present prizes to the winners of the “Why I love Wigan” competition supported by White Arrow Logistics. Gracie Broad and Megan Ormshaw from Mab’s Cross Primary School won £1,000 cash for their school and shared the top individual prize of £250. Gracie’s entry was an interactive story and art book all about the town and Megan’s entry was a “Wigan time capsule”.
DHL goes racing
DHL is sponsoring the 2011 FIA Formula One world championship, and is its official logistics partner. It has a dedicated team to deliver equipment with fast-lane global customs clearance, and will transport the cars, spare parts, fuel, and also TV and computer equipment, radio sets and headphones, and furnishings for the VIP hospitality Paddock Club. Ken Allen, chief executive of DHL Express said: “Success in Formula One racing depends on a perfect mix of skills, commitment and a can-do attitude of trained and highly-capable professionals. The same applies to logistics.”
FTA members raise £50,000 for Transaid
Freight Transport Association members donated £50,000 to Transaid as part of their annual membership renewals since January 2010. The money has enabled more than 1,400 drivers in Africa to receive professional training.
FTA president Stewart Oades said: “By opting to donate a proportion of their annual membership fee to Transaid, FTA members have not only shown an outstanding level of generosity in these undeniably tough times, but will help support Transaid to do the exceptional work it does in improving transport in those developing countries where it is literally a life or death issue.”
Wincanton hosts road safety visit
Wincanton has hosted a visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Federal Road Safety Commission. The event was organised by Wincanton-sponsored safety charity RoadSafe which is advising Nigerian authorities on how to reduce the 5,500 deaths and 50,000 injuries that take place on the country’s roads every year.
The FRSC delegation visited one of Wincanton’s operations in Corby where they received best practice insights from the company’s senior managers on a range of topics.
