Logistics Skills Alliance, West Thames College and Feltham West London Logistics hub were centre stage at the National Courier Awards 2025 to celebrate apprentice wins with the Minster for Express final mile logistics.
West Thames College Principal Marta Gajewska stood with Minister Seema Malhotra to celebrate the Whistl win for Express Logistics level two apprentices.
It was a historic turnout in epic city livery hall alongside largest mix of express companies ever. The short-lister line was walked in by bagpipe final mile escort to the stage recognising best of best.
First award went to next generation, education VIPs on stage, WTC FE Principal Marta Gajewska and Minister, the Rt. Hon. Seema Malhotra MP to award the next generation. First up was Express delivery Express sortation Level 2 for Whistl apprentice that went to Amber Pickard and then HGV Apprentice Matthew Crane from Bolton.
Knowledge skills and behaviour units delivered over twelve months, both virtually and in the workplace, paid for by Govt levy funding. Starting with the question, what is Express logistics? Covering parcel and mail post, the customer promise and first time every time delivery via a workbook package delivered in the job with interaction of the Whistl line managers and supervisors.
Following the apprentices. Twenty-nine individual winners in 29th year of standing ovation celebrations. Four Superheroes: Absolutely , Evri and 2 DPD. All office winners nominated for Fellowship of IOC. Step Change category win went to Evri for a four-legged robot at door with maximum access for delivery. Minister Seema Malhotra celebrating four logistics apprentice winners with West Thames College Principal Marta Gajewska. Pair of two-wheelers clocking up forty years and a half-century duo for iconic reliability for decades of delivery. Triple win for TVS in Office category and another half a century of service for Addison Lee office pair. Standing ovation for Services to Industry went to Fellow Louise O’Neil Whistl for contribution to next generation education in our sector. Govt dept win for DVSA & Cardiopulmonary theory test road safety. Driver Safety double consecutive year win for Whistl national driver project. Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell celebrated Green win for Addison Lee for the Scootec schools green space project & Team award double – CitySprint library team and Royal Mail USO team.
Trafalgar Day Military win for logistics Royal Navy PO Gary Chenery, Defence Courier Service DCS. Alderman of the city of London, Alison Gowman spoke Lady Mayors show and introduced the IOC delivery of knowledge as a giant blue owl danced across the stage ready for the pageant. Livery Masters on the City Sq mile stage for the individuals include IOC Hon fellow Carmen Leon Daniels and Master of the Fuellers Ash Shastri.
It was a Gala celebration to remember from start to finish. Guests welcomed by Marines ensemble on the balcony, Jen the Roo stilt walker, bagpipes led the shortlisters to stage. Trumpet fanfare for the winners. Vice Chancellor, Traffic Commissioner and Livery Masters were on stage to present the sparkling glass awards. Individuals fresh from the iconic shortlisters group photo walked tall and proud into the magnificent City of London livery hall with their golden award plaques headed by the bagpipers.
Check out the special 2025 gallery of shortlister photos here
50 Shortlisters on the edge of their seats. 29 Winners of the twenty-ninth independent, unsponsored awards of the Institute of Couriers. Winners the best-kept secret in our sector, the winners only finding out as they are called to the stage.
LSA Chairman Carl Lomas delivered the opening keynote to a year of early Peak and exploding express courier numbers in a sector recognised as key worker, critical infrastructure. IOC CEO Dr Tracey Worth explained the Curly Wurlys at table as iconic showcase of our sector trade show data collection. She showcased the new history book of the sector and spoke Lord Mayor's Show pageant entry, Tracey organised the loudest rattle of clappers ever, and welcomed the best to an evening to remember.
It was the largest mix of companies ever, from West London logistics hot spot across the UK. SMEs, Regionals and National brands at the same tables. DfT, DFE, DEFRA, DVSA all in the room.
Post code index of tables for a gala dinner, setting the tone of celebration for what has become a unique approach to recognising the best of the best in final mile. Tweets by the bucketload, photos live on the web as Carl Lomas and Dr Tracey Worth read narratives to bring a tear to the eye from the winning reports of 2025. Check out the full and extensive nomination details listed on the IOC web.
First award went to next generation, education VIPs on stage, WTC FE Principal Marta Gajewska and Minister, the Rt. Hon. Seema Malhotra MP to award the next generation. First up was Express delivery L2 Royal Logistic Corps, Private Freestone-Shaw, Express sortation Level 2 Whistl went to Amber Pickard and HGV Apprentice Matthew Crane from Bolton.
Two-wheel winners on our front line, first the pedal bikes, with a pair delivering a quarter of century of years on the road from Addison Lee, Ben Bonnici and Jason O’Connor, then Santis go-to cycle courier Szabby Kalman. Two-wheel powered winners including cargo bikes; a double brand pair, first Addison Lee with over fifty years for Mark Aisthorpe and David Beckwith, then 40 years for Martin Robinson and a dual role maintenance and rider win for Alexander Kite for Santis Global.
Van winners included Manchester Darren Cheetham, the most reliable courier you could ever ask for. Tam Geddes from Whistl Glasgow, Nikki Littlejohn from Route One Northampton, Royal Mail postie of the year Richard Kesterton and double DX SBL pair Igor Fernando and Massoud Gauori.
Two Contract winners, CitySprint Mohammed Raza Manchester Wickes and Natalie Eamer Smiths News overnight miracle deliveries.
All of the office shortlisters nominated for fellowship by awards panel of judges led by Simon Brooks. winners called included Connor O’Neil, Holly Carter, Danielle Collins, Dan Howell, and a triple brand special from TVS, Kamila Lewandowska, Rachael O’Connor & Oliver Swan. Finish with fifty years pair of Addison Lee Mark Georgiou and Jack Murray.
Military winner – Royal Navy Defence Courier Services on Trafalgar Day – PO Gary Chenery instrumental in global logistics for defence.
2025 special category for four SuperHero ambassadors for our sector – Ben Fergus-Woolf, Absolutely providing sanctuary for phone snatch victim. Amputee Gary Jones for Evri Body form collective, then a DPD pairing, Sham Singh community hero and Jacob Felton rescue of lady with broken hip.
Life services closed the evening, standing ovation went to Education group chair, from Whistl, Louise O’Neil as clappers rattled the roof of the City of London Livery Hall for the 2025 National Courier Awards delivered by the Institute of Couriers.
The full details
2025 A gala evening celebration rattling the clappers with standing ovations for final mile.
The gala evening recognised best-of-the-best in express, courier, last mile, final mile.
Take a full tour of the best-of-the-best winners after the event.
Hot off the press - Full winner narratives are on the web for 2025.
Mantelpiece photos here
Gallery networking photos of the event here
