FFS, I wish people would stop assuming they're associated with one of the other major couriers just because they use a similar business model.
I bought beans from Asda today, Co Op also sell beans, that must mean that Co Op own Asda!
They're not Yodel, they're not Hermes.
Enough people say it it suddenly becomes true.
I sat in a presentation with their national logistics manager at their Milton Keynes RDC last year as they asked us if we interested in putting a tender in to supply cover for 20 routes in there.
Some of their requirements:
All the drivers had to be supplied on a self employed basis, we couldn't employ people and put them in there as they would potentially be earning less than NMW.
We had to pay for compulsory drug and alcohol testing every so many months.
We had to supply staff actually in the RDC to supervise the loading and unloading of parcels, as well as provide support through out the day.
We had to have X amount of drivers on standby (self employed as well) to provide cover if the regular driver was off.
If we used the driver anywhere else for a period of 6 weeks I think it was or longer, they had to go through the (unpaid) induction course and initial compulsory drug and alcohol testing, as well as providing yet another disclosure.
They were expecting us to provide cover for the routes 7 days a week, with no driver working more than 60 hours a working week.
All for 80 odd pence a drop.
I didn't bother completing the tender process.