The courier industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; road haulage; storage and warehousing; wholesaling; freight forwarding; and the postal services. Logistics is the movement and supply of all goods (or freight) from raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to the delivery of the finished product to companies and consumers. This is known as the ‘supply chain.’ Nearly 2,320,000 people work in the logistics sector, which accounts to 8% of the UK workforce. It has been estimated that the logistics sector is worth £86.54 billion to the UK economy.
Couriers, or dispatch riders, collect items, such as packages, documents and messages, and deliver them to customers. Normally couriers work in and around larger towns and cities, although there is work on cross‐country deliveries. On a daily basis, couriers collect the schedule of pick‐up points and delivery addresses from their depot. They plan routes and sort packages into order of dropping‐off points. They need to find the quickest route to delivery addresses and sign for packages that they pick up. They also take signatures when delivering them. Couriers usually drive a van or ride a motorcycle, but in some larger cities cycle couriers are usual.
Key facts:
- There are 90,100 people working in the courier industry, which equates to 5% of the logistics workforce in the UK.
- There are around 10,800 workplaces across the UK in the industry.
Jobs in the industry range from: courier, motorcycle courier, van driver.
National and regional data
East Midlands – 156,600 employees work within the logistics sector in the region. Of these 6,800 people work in the courier industry, which equates to 4% of the logistics workforce in the East Midlands.
East of England – 186,700 workers are employed in the logistics sector in the East of England, of these 10,800 work in the courier industry. This is 6% of the logistics workforce in the region.
London – 178,800 employees work in logistics in London. In this region 9,100 people work in the courier industry, which accounts for 5% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North East – The logistics sector employs 55,000 workers in the North East, of these, 1,900 are employed in courier. This is 3% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North West – 193,400 workers are employed in the logistics sector in the North West, of these 8,500 are employed in the courier industry. Courier employment accounts for 4% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South East – 256,300 employees work in logistics in the region. The courier industry employs 12,500 employees, which equates to 5% of the logistics workforce in the South East.
South West – 135,100 employees work within the logistics sector in this region. Of these 8,000 people work in courier, which equates to 6% of the logistics workforce in the South West.
West Midlands – The logistics sector employs 187,500 in the West Midlands, of these 15,100 are employed in the courier industry. This is 8% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber – 158,100 workers are employed in the logistics sector in the region. 8,000 of these individuals work in the courier industry. This is 5% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Northern Ireland – There is an estimated 900 people working in courier activities in around 175 workplaces.
Scotland – There is an estimated 5,800 employees in courier activities, accounting for 5% of the logistics sector, in around 600 workplaces.
Wales – There is an estimated 4,100 employees in courier activities, accounting for 7% of the logistics sector, in around 300 workplaces.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007 and Inter‐Departmental Business Register, 2007.]
