Shell Step Success:
As reported in our July Newsletter, Konstantins Golovnovs has been working closely with Nicholsons Transport as part of the Shell Step Programme, with the aim of helping to implement our strategic business plans. Konstantins has taught all of the Nicholsons team about the Kaizen philosophy which emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement in the workplace and has introduced many new practices to ensure those continuous improvements can be achieved within Nicholsons Transport.
Unfortunately Konstantins two month placement with us has come to an end but the Kaizen legacy he has left behind will live on. From all of the team at Nicholsons we wish Konstantins every success for the future.
Fuel Surcharge for September 2009:
We are pleased to announce that our Fuel Surcharge will remain unchanged for the coming month of September 2009.
However, as we advised back in the May edition of our newsletter, Fuel Duty rises by 2 pence per litre from 1st September this year. This increase following an earlier 2 pence per litre increase back in April. Unfortunately we cannot absorb this cost and are therefore advising all customers that, with effect from 1st October 2009, our Fuel Surcharge will rise by 0.5%. If, in the interim there be a last minute change of heart by the Chancellor as to the wisdom of the increase in Fuel Duty, or should bulk-fuel prices see a compensatory fall in price, we will of course keep you informed and amend our Fuel Surcharge accordingly.
Fuel Surcharge August 2009:
As notified in our July newsletter, after five consecutive months of no change, our Fuel Surcharge will increase by 0.5% for the month of August. Despite the slight fall in fuel prices on the supermarket forecourts in the last week or so, where the supermarkets use fuel prices as a loss-leader in an attempt to get us into the stores and spending, the bulk-price of fuel and unfortunately our fuel costs have risen to the point that we are no longer able to absorb the whole of the cost without passing some of it on.
As always we will keep you fully informed and forewarned of any future changes necessary to our Fuel Surcharge.
Exceptional Service Scheme:
At Nicholsons Transport we always strive to provide exceptional service. We believe that when our employees see individuals at other workplaces providing exceptional service their behaviour should be recognised.
We have recently produced an exceptional service feedback form which our drivers are encouraged to fill out whenever they experience exceptional service. A letter is then sent from Nicholsons Transport to the individuals manager making them aware of their employees outstanding performance.
So far we have had many reports of exceptional service which is very refreshing to see.
The feedback we receive from the nominated companies has been very positive and in some cases we have received a letter back thanking us for bringing this to their attention and outlining the action the company is taking to reward the nominated employee.
Fuel Surcharge July 2009:
Nicholsons Transport Ltd are pleased to announce that once again, and for the fifth consecutive month, our Fuel Surcharge will remain unchanged for the month of July.
We are sure you have all noticed that prices on the forecourts have continued their upward climb. As with the price on the forecourt, so to with the bulk-price of fuel and unfortunately our fuel costs have risen to the point that we are no longer able to absorb the whole of the cost without passing some of it on. To that end we would like to inform you that our Fuel Surcharge will increase by 0.5% from 1st August. It isn't a huge amount, every £100.00 you spend with us will now cost you £100.50p! But we are letting you know now, over a month in advance of the increase, in order that you can make any costing adjustments necessary in your own financial models.
Obviously it goes without saying that, in the extremely unlikely event of fuel prices falling significantly between now and 1st August, we will not implement the increase.
Graduate Placement through the Shell Step Programme:
Nicholsons Transport has recently taken on Konstantins Golovnovs, a recent Business Finance graduate from Durham University, as part of the Shell Step programme. Konstantins is here until the end of August to help to implement Nicholsons Strategic Business Plans.
The Shell Step programme is a nationwide programme which assigns graduates and undergraduates to small to medium organizations who desire a task to be fulfilled.
Fuel Surcharge Notice - June 2009
Nicholsons Transport Ltd are pleased to announce that our Fuel Surcharge will remain unchanged for the month of June.
Despite the bulk-price of fuel rising once more, seemingly as a direct result of the increase in fuel duty, this is the fourth consecutive month that we have been able to avoid passing on any increase to our customers.
During that time our fuel costs have actually risen by 0.51% in total but, as a result of efficiencies and savings in other areas of our business, we have been able to absorb the increased fuel costs.
As ever, we shall keep you updated and informed with regard to our Fuel Surcharge via this monthly newsletter.
Fuel Surcharge Notice - May 2009
Despite the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Darling's much publicised and controversial increase in fuel duty of 3.65%, or 2 pence per litre, introduced in April, Nicholsons Transport are pleased to announce that our fuel surcharge will remain unchanged for the coming month of May. Our fuel costs actually rose by around 0.4% in the month, but we are prepared to absorb this increase without passing a single penny of it on to you, our valued customers.
Sadly, that particular increase does not appear enough to satisfy Mr Darling in his efforts to claw himself and Gordon Brown out of the deep, deep hole they and the banking sector have dug the UK economy into. In his Budget Speech on 22nd April, the Chancellor announced a further 2 pence per litre increase in fuel duty, with effect from 1st September. Not content with this second increase in a matter of months, Mr Darling then announced that fuel duty would increase by a further 1 pence per litre over and above the rate of inflation each April for the next four years!
It doesn't sound much does it, just tuppence per litre? But the Chancellor's own estimate is for that increase to generate an additional £3.6 billion for the Exchequer by 2011.
What the actual effect of this additional increase in September will be is too early to say but, as ever, you can be assured that here at Nicholsons Transport we will do everything possible to minimise any impact on our customers and will keep you updated and informed at every opportunity.
Culture for Success Awards 2009 - May 2009
This year we applied for the Culture for Success award organized by the Service Network. This award is based upon your companies attitude to its personnel, customer service, winning business and being part of the region. We are pleased to announce that Nicholsons Transport were shortlisted in the small business category and recieved runner up recognition. The judges were very impressed with all of the training that our employees recieve and the Nicholsons Transport company culture.
New Transport Team Member Employed - May 2009
At our Nicholsons branch we have recently employed a new transport team member to work in our reliable and dedicated transport team. Thomas Colley joins us from Cemex and previously studied Media and Communications at Sheffield University. Tom said "I am excited about my new role at Nicholsons and I'm looking forward to getting started"
Fuel Surcharge Notice - April 2009
We are pleased to announce that our fuel surcharge will remain unchanged for April. Naturally we would love to be announcing a seventh reduction in eight months, but sadly bulk-fuel prices actually climbed slightly again last month. However, here at Nicholsons Transport, our cost-effective and efficient routing and 'green' driving practices were able to off-set this slight rise in bulk-fuel prices. All of which means that we do not need to pass on this slightly increased cost to our most valued asset - you, our customer.
We hope that this slight rise in bulk-fuel prices represents the final 'norming' of those prices and that we can all now look forward to a lengthy period of sensible and stable pricing, but, whatever happens in the coming months, you can rest assured that Nicholsons Transport will be the first to keep you up to date and informed.
Fuel Surcharge Decrease – March 2009
Good news! Once again the price we are able to obtain for bulk-buying fuel fell slightly in January. That, coupled with our continued education of all our employees in more fuel-efficient, 'green' driving techniques, mean that we are once more able to reduce our Fuel Surcharge by 0.5%. This latest reduction, the sixth such reduction Nicholsons Transport has been able to introduce in the last seven months, comes into effect on 1st March 2009. Should you require any further details about our Fuel Surcharge please contact any member of staff.
Look out for our new Newsletter! - February 2009
Nicholsons have started to produce a Newsletter that is given out to all of our existing customers and also potential customers in the local area. There are possibilities of promoting your companies' services through an article on the Newsletter for a fee of £25. This fee will be donated to a local charity. If you want more information or want to take part send Karen an email at: karen.wandless@nicholsonstransport.co.uk
New member of Staff – February 2009
Sue Reed has recently joined the Nicholsons team in a new position of Sales Executive. Sue will be joining Wendy and Karen in the Marketing and Sales Department. Sue said "I have always had a passion for sales, I love meeting new people and the feeling you get when you increase your businesses productivity through your personal activity is fantastic". Sue has only been at Nicholsons for a short while but has already managed to pull in new business and increase the brand awareness of Nicholsons transport.
Nicholsons plan growth this year, even in the current economic climate – January 2009
In the current economic state many companies are finding it hard to survive, however Nicholsons are managing to increase their customer base and have forecast an increase in business activity regardless of the economic climate. Nicholsons plan to gain this increase through training and development of staff father than increasing our prices to the customers.
Graduate recently employed by Nicholsons - January 2009
A new member of staff has been taken on in the head office in Billingham. Karen Wandless is our newly appointed Business and Marketing Planner. A recent graduate from Newcastle University, Karen obtained a BA Hons in Business Management. She has been hired to increase the brand awareness of Nicholsons Transport and to come up with fresh, new ideas. Karen was found through the Graduates for Business scheme, which is a government run scheme with the aim of keeping graduates from the North East of England, within the North East and working within small to medium enterprises.
So far Karen has assessed the companies activities and produced many reports outlining her thoughts on how to improve the current running of the business. Karen is currently updating the website and working on the design of a Newsletter that will be sent out to Nicholsons customers.
Fuel Surcharge Decrease - January 2009
Due to an overall decrease in the price of fuel, as of the 1st February 2009 Nicholsons fuel surcharge will decrease by 0.5%. Contact Nicholsons to see what impact this has on your company's rate.
