Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Burry Port firm Celtic Couriers is celebrating success in the prestigious Motor Transport Awards 2013. The firm, one of the biggest companies in Carmarthenshire’s second biggest town, is part of the APC Overnight courier and delivery network. APC scooped the Network of the Year award at a glittering awards night hosted by TV celebrity Dara O’Briain. “It is a major feather in our cap,” said Celtic Couriers co-founder Ivor Skinner, who is also a director of APC Overnight. “As Celtic Couriers, we are shareholders in APC Overnight. As awards to courier and delivery firms go, this really is the ‘Oscar’ of the industry in the UK. “It’s a magnificent achievement and a great boost for the Celtic Couriers business and our nationwide arm of APC Overnight. “To win the award, we had to demonstrate excellent operational efficiency, above-average vehicle utilisation, high customer service levels, value for money and high levels of flexibility and responsiveness. “All of the above form a co...

Ivor Skinner, director of Burry Port-based courier and delivery firm Celtic Couriers, said – “The logistics industry as a whole continues to feel the effects of the price of fuel combined with a hardening of the insurance market, resulting in higher premiums for fleet operators. “However, the outlook for express overnight parcels business in 2013 is optimistic. “The advent of internet shopping has seen volumes continue to rise year on year. “With this growth comes a number of challenges, not least the ability to achieve first time deliveries, particularly to private addresses. “There is also the thorny issue of who picks up the tab for returns. Retailers cannot push all the problems on to the distribution companies and expect them to absorb all the costs. This is most definitely a shared issue. “With the introduction of route optimisation there is now an ability to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the number of miles we travel and thereby reducing the amount of fuel we ...

The Llanelli man behind the success story of one of the UK's leading delivery firms is retiring on a high. APC Managing Director Ivor Skinner is leaving the hot-seat, safe in the knowledge that the firm is on track for continuing success. The last three years have witnessed remarkable changes at APC Overnight resulting in terrific growth in pre-tax profits from £307,000 to £3.4 million in 2011 and with a turnover of £58 million. Each month the company delivers 1.4 million parcels nationwide – and the company is on course for another record year in 2012. The chief architect behind the change in APC’s fortunes was Mr Skinner, who became the company’s Managing Director in 2008. When he took over as MD, it was a critical time for the economy with the worldwide recession looming.  Mr Skinner’s strong leadership has helped APC weather the storm and guided the company into record growth and success. His enthusiasm, drive, people skills and passion for success have all hel...