XPO, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable end-to-end logistics solutions across Europe, held its first Apprenticeship Awards on October 24, with Jack Jarvis taking the Providers Choice Award.

 

The Providers Choice Award resulted from a nomination by providers and HR Business Partners. They chose the winner and presented it at a ceremony at the Staverton Park Hotel in Daventry.

 

Other recognitions included:

 

• Shining Star—given to James Yarrow, who has embraced the apprenticeship most effectively and taken the next step in his career progression. Line managers nominated the candidate, and the HR Business Partners decided the winner again.
• Early Bird Award – presented to Amy Roberts, who finished her apprenticeship in record time.
• Outstanding Result – given to Loredana Ionita, who has worked hard to achieve extraordinary results in written assignments.

 

The Apprentice Awards capped off a unique series of events that took place from the morning into the early afternoon. These included two guest speakers, a quiz and picture challenge, and messages of appreciation from XPO to the apprentices gathered on the day.

 

Lynn Brown, vice president – human resources – UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “We want to congratulate all our 51 apprentices, especially our award winners who have already made outstanding contributions to the business. These individuals have gone above and beyond in their work and commitment to XPO, and each of them has been highly successful in their relevant fields. We look forward to working with them in the time ahead and watching their careers progress.”

 

The apprentices have taken roles across XPO, with six in finance—two of whom are level 7 CIMAs—five in HR, with one extra apprentice waiting to enrol, three Traffic Office apprentices, and three HGV technicians—the latter two filling entry-level apprentice roles. After completing their apprenticeships, a high percentage of incumbents have gone on to be promoted or enrolled on another apprenticeship, taking their development and career opportunities to the next level, thanks to this investment.

 

There are also 30 apprentices working towards Leadership and Management qualifications, with an additional six waiting to enrol. One apprentice is in Safety, Health, and Environment, one is working towards a Chartered Management degree, and one is working towards a Digital and Technology degree. Two apprentices are also working towards a Supply Chain Management degree.

 

The split between male and female apprentices is almost 50/50, with 25 women and 26 men in current XPO apprenticeships.

 

XPO Logistics is a leading innovative supply chain company in Europe, offering end-to-end logistics solutions that combine full-truckload, less-than-truckload, pallet distribution, last-mile delivery, global freight forwarding, and warehousing services. The company tailors its solutions to the specific needs of its customers in a wide range of industrial and consumer sectors.

 

As Acorn Trade Partners (ATP) and Oakland International celebrate their successful year-long collaboration with Grubby, a UK-based producer of plant-based recipe kits, focus has now turned to developing and expanding product and service offer to better serve Grubby’s customer base.

ATP Director Peter Turone stated: “ATP’s collaboration with Oakland International has been a real success delivering a wide variety of the premium fresh produce needed for Grubby’s food boxes, and is the result of teamwork, dedication, and a shared passion and vision to deliver excellence.”

During a recent visit to Valefresco Ltd., a major produce partner to ATP, the day was spent amongst crops where the aroma of fresh basil filled the air and served as a reminder of the importance of sustainable farming. Valefresco is a major supplier of green salads and vegetables such as pak choi, spinach, salad leaves, and herbs including fresh basil grown in water-efficient vertical farms. Grubby’s team was able to see firsthand the desire, commitment and enthusiasm driving British farming, witnessing the complete fresh produce process from farm to table.

Added Peter: “Farming, often passed down through the generations, comes with its own set of unique challenges, from Brexit to COVID-19, to increasingly unpredictable weather, yet despite these hurdles our growers remain resilient, producing exceptional crops that help us deliver quality time and time again for our customers. Here’s to many more years of ATP and Oakland International collaboration delivering incredible fresh produce to Grubby’s customers!”

Grubby’s team expressed how the farm visit had deepened their admiration for the effort behind each recipe box, appreciating the dedication of farmers, ATP, Oakland International, and the entire supply chain.

Martin Holden-White Founder and CEO of Grubby said: “A huge thanks to Oakland International whose relentless effort in refining packing operations has allowed us to deliver well over 100,000 boxes and approximately 500,000 meals. Their consistent ‘can-do’ attitude has allowed us to expand recipe choices and add additional delivery days. It’s great to work with a team that thrives on challenges and continues to raise the bar.

“Additionally, a special thanks to Peter and the ATP team for their role in building strong supplier relationships, adapting to new challenges, and ensuring that top-quality produce arrives in every Grubby box week after week. This commitment to quality and innovation is helping Grubby gear up for the busy seasons ahead, with exciting supplier partnerships in the making.”

Thankfully, due to the size and power of the trucks, most businesses appreciate that forklift training for novice operators is a requirement. However, the standard of training currently received across the UK is a real mixed bag, leaving some operators (and their colleagues and businesses) at risk.

For training to effectively promote safety and ensure compliance, the standards to which it is delivered are critical. Taking on a training provider without an understanding of the standards and service they offer can be a false economy, and may give you inadequate protection in the case of an audit or investigation.

Fortunately, the industry’s accreditation scheme is here to help. We explain its role and terminology to ensure you’re fully informed before entrusting a provider to upskill your new recruits…

What is accredited forklift training?

The Accrediting Bodies Association (ABA) was formed in 2012 to champion uniformity and standardisation within workplace transport training. The member bodies that make up the ABA together provide consistent frameworks for testing standards and categorisation of equipment. Working in consultation with the HSE, those bodies accredit training and regularly audit registered courses to ensure standards continue to be met.

It’s important to remember that not all training is created or delivered equally.

Receiving training accredited by a member body of the ABA guarantees you are getting standardised operator testing within the workplace transport category you require. You can also be assured that it complies with the requirements of Approved Code of Practice, L117, the HSE’s definitive guide to forklift safety and training.

Accredited training delivered to standards set by the ABA can help to provide employers with the assurance that requirements for safety and compliance will be met, which is added value that you may struggle to find with non-accredited providers.

Understanding the terminology

Due to the nature of the terminology surrounding accredited training within the industry, it is important that you know exactly what to look for, or you may be under the impression that you are receiving a standard of training which you are not.

For the best assurances of quality and standardisation, check that you are receiving accredited training. It’s key to note that subtle differences in language in this area can make all the difference. For instance, understanding that an “accredited provider” may not necessarily offer training accredited to ABA standards is crucial. Also, you may notice that a business utilises “registered instructors”, but again, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to provide you with accredited training.

For training to be accredited to ABA standards, three key measures must all be in place:

• it must be carried out by instructors registered to an ABA member body
• testing must be done to ABA standards
• courses must be registered with an ABA member accrediting body (this can only be done by a registered provider)

If your chosen provider meets the criteria, they can offer training accredited by an ABA member body, of which you can be certain of the quality delivered.

Checking the terminology will ensure you’re as covered as you think you are – look a little deeper and make sure your provider will deliver training that complies with L117.

Added value is found in assurance and quality

Crucially, for businesses in need of forklift training, accreditation provides the assurance that requirements will be met. You will have peace of mind that your operators are receiving consistent, high-quality training, and that the courses provided cover you for any and all legal requirements.

It is important therefore, that you consider this peace of mind when comparing quotes from multiple training providers, and properly assess the options in front of you. Which options give the necessary legal and quality assurances? Though price is obviously important, consider the future and which will be more cost-effective in the long run, should an accident or audit occur.

Essentially, businesses can fall into the trap of viewing forklift training as merely a tick box exercise. In doing so, the desire to source it as cheaply and efficiently as possible can put you at risk of selecting a provider without confirming exactly what you are getting for your money.

Always look for the relevant assurances of standards and service to ensure your operations remain safe, compliant and profitable. A provider whose standards are externally verified will ensure you and your team are in safe hands, leaving you suitably skilled and legally protected.

Mentor deliver accredited training, registered with AITT, a founding member of the ABA, and all testing is conducted to ABA standards. Instructors delivering our training are all registered with AITT and undergo regular audits to ensure training is consistently delivered to their standards, wherever it takes place in the UK. We also hold training records and certificates on our customers’ behalf for a minimum of seven years, should you need them at any stage.

For further guidance on ensuring training meets requirements, or to discuss accredited courses for your business, visit: https://mentortraining.co.uk/ or call 01246 555222.

Prior to the introduction of ultra processed pet food in the 1950’s, in the form of canned wet food and kibble, pets were fed diets of what their humans had in ready supply. Those ingredients were not typically fresh and served on the spot. BOOST Pet is here to ‘make pet food fresh again.’

BOOST Pet is more than just another pet food brand – it is part of a revolution, catering to a growing community of pet parents who want better for their furry companions – more nutrition, more transparency, and more accessibility, all without compromising on quality. So far, the customer demand has been remarkable.

Co-founders Liam Wylie and Patrick Nestel come from pet and retail management backgrounds respectively, the pair met in Australia where the fresh pet food category has existed for 20 years. In Australia, Wylie is somewhat of an industry pioneer. Initially working for a grocer managing the pet food category and overseeing much of the early days of the fresh pet food category, Liam then joined ‘The Real Pet Food Co’ which was at the time, the world’s largest Fresh Pet Food manufacturer.

After returning to the UK to be closer with family, Wylie could not believe the fresh pet food category did not exist in grocery yet and convinced Nestel to join him in making ‘fresh pet food accessible for all.’ So, the pair set up a factory from scratch to begin making the products themselves. This was the only way to deliver the most affordable fresh offer in the UK, a commitment that underpins the brands ethos.

Patrick Nestel, director of BOOST Pet said: “We realised there was a gap in grocery for fresh, wholesome meals that do not sacrifice value. Our goals and values have always been focussed around two things. We stand up for transparency within our ingredients and lean away from anything ultra-processed. If you read the back of pet food products in the UK, it is not uncommon for the ingredients to only add up to 60%, or products can be called chicken and only include 25% chicken…We take pride in the transparency of our ingredients, the only thing we don’t list is on our packs is water, which is typically 5-10% and used for product consistency. I think it is insane that people feed what are unknown ingredients to their pets. Pets deserve an honest diet, which is what we expect for ourselves, and that is what BOOST is all about.”

BOOST Pet has experienced impressive growth since the company started selling in May 2023 and attributes this to its unique selling point of delivering products within the fresh pet food category, a typically premium segment, at affordable grocery prices. The brand has grown from claiming no freezer space in stores to claiming over two hundred freezers in major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Marks & Spencer’s, and others by Christmas 2024. Notably, BOOST Pet is the first frozen pet food brand to achieve this in UK grocery.

This uncompromising stance on quality has helped BOOST Pet carve out a loyal customer base, many of whom report noticeable improvements in their pets’ health, from shinier coats to better energy levels. Chris from Yorkshire commented; “My pup was bought up on rolls and canned food – so seeing the massive health, energy and coat benefits from BOOST when he wasn’t eating anything else made me the happiest dog owner.” But BOOST’s success is not just about the product – it’s about how the company delivers an all-around positive experience while prioritising accessibility.

BOOST Pet’s online business allows customer to one time purchase or subscribe, which is a departure from many online competitors who only allow subscriptions. This gives pet parents additional options in accessing the brand.

“Our customers want to know what they are eating and that their food is not ultra-processed, this applies to their pet’s food too. They know their pets are getting the best nutrition possible, and they do not have to think twice about what’s in their food. We take care of everything for them, from sourcing the best ingredients to delivering it fresh, ready to serve.” Nestel shares.

The company’s ability to blend their years of industry knowledge, commitment to value and prioritising their servicing on the supplying the supermarkets, has played a critical role in its success. While BOOST Pet has stayed true to its original mission, it has also remained nimble adjusting its offerings and business model based on real-time customer feedback and industry trends.

Looking ahead, BOOST Pet has ambitious plans to expand across the UK and beyond and is on a mission to make fresh, high-quality pet food more accessible to pet owners everywhere. “We’re just getting started,” says Nestel. “Our goal is to continue delivering fresh food that does not sacrifice accessibility to pet owners. It is all about improving the lives of pets and their owners, and we’re excited for what’s next.”

BOOST Pet food is not just a brand; it is part of a movement toward better pet care, where fresh, nutritious food is the new standard. Through its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation, BOOST Pet are pioneers in the pet food industry. With a rapidly growing customer base, exciting plans for the future, and a mission that resonates deeply with today’s pet owners, BOOST Pet is well on its way to becoming the household name.

Let’s make pet food fresh again!