Delivered, winter 2024 by JerseyPost

Creative team at Jersey Post Group

Tom Wasilewski, Chief Commercial Officer

Amy Pearce, Group Head of Marketing

Sophia Cottier, Marketing & PR Manager

Jasmine Thompson, Marketing Executive

Ruby Scott, Business & Marketing Support Adviser

Design team

TPA Jersey www.tpagency.com

A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to this issue!

Marketing Department +44 1534 616 556 marketing@jerseypost.com

Please do get in touch with any feedback on this issue, and any stories for a future delivered or RedNet.

A warm welcome

Hello colleagues,

Welcome to the third and final edition of delivered for 2024. I can hardly describe it now as the ‘new look’ version, however I hope you are all enjoying the format. Once again in this edition we share a range of stories and news from across the business, which shows just what a diverse and varied business we are, something easily forgotten as we focus on our own teams and day-to-day tasks.

As Mark refers to in his piece, we are embarking on the next phase of our business’ evolution. Periods of change can often be unsettling. However, the results can often be worth it and, as humans, we are adept at quickly adopting our new environments. I believe this will be the case this time, in the same way in which we will shortly be embracing 2025!

One thing I will certainly take through into next year is the feedback you all gave in ‘Your Voice’. The response rate alone was a clear sign of your engagement, and you have my, and my Exec colleagues, commitment that we will act on what you said. However, as with New Year resolutions, I am wary of bold, dramatic claims to change which are then unmet, rather I hope you will notice a gradual change in the business as we go through the next exciting year.

So finally, I want to wish you all, and your families a very Merry Christmas and prosperous new year!

All the best, Tom Wasilewski

jpgl win more postcodes in Pallet-Track network

Well done to the jpgl team at Quadra, who’ve won more Pallet-Track postcodes.

Mark Gould, General Manager at jpgl Quadra, says: “We began with two Portsmouth postcodes in September. And we moved up to six after four weeks, once we were sure we could manage the work. We’re now handling around 90 pallets a day (up from 50), as well as around 40 pallets a day to Jersey and Guernsey.”

Alfie Sedgewick, Transport Planner, has been instrumental in leading the Pallet-Track project. Mark says Alfie’s work has been “invaluable.”

He adds: “Alfie joined us in 2021 as an apprentice at the youthful age of 19. We trained him in all transport functions, starting with controlling our own fleet on imports from Europe. Since his time here he has worked in freight forwarding, and on key accounts for Airbus and GHD, before moving over to Transport.”

The team runs two trucks every night to deliver into and to collect from the Pallet-Track network, using 3.5t, 7.5t and 18t vehicles from the jpgl fleet.

Mark says: “Pallet-Track is a good contract to run. There’s the potential to increase the postcodes in the new year, but we’re currently limited due to the space at the locations we operate out of.”

Michelle Elcombe, Office Manager at jpgl Quadra, adds: “A special thank you to the warehouse guys, who have adjusted their working hours and flexed to meet the new requirements and challenges that a pallet network brings on top of their usual day to day work.”

Delivering excellent customer service

We wanted to say a big well done to colleagues who’ve received some lovely feedback from customers recently – you’ve done us proud!

Rianna in the Jersey Post Customer Care team

“Just a little something to say a HUGE thanks for going over and above to get our parcels to us before we leave tonight very best wishes.”

Rob is our Stock Controller at jpgl Fareham

“I just wanted to say THANK YOU once again for your help today! �� You have always been on top of everything! Appreciate! �� That helps us to be efficient and solve everything ASAP.”

Inacio in the ship2me Customer Care team

“I just had to thank this young man who over the last two days has provided first class customer service. He’s been a pleasure to work with and went out of his way to help with an urgent parcel. A credit to the company.”

Nik Miller, postie at Jersey Post And well done to Nik, who has been nominated by a customer for a “Give Service a Smile” award, an initiative in Jersey that celebrates excellent customer service.

His customer said “Always helpful, cheery and goes above and beyond when he comes to our work!”

Mark and Alfie

Nik Miller

Group CEO Mark Siviter reflects on 2024

As we head towards my third Christmas here at Jersey Post, I’d like to take some time to reflect on what we’ve achieved over the last 12 months.

Following two years of quite some challenge and change, this year has been much more stable as we have progressively addressed most of the biggest issues facing the business when I arrived.

In Jersey, we have reaped the reward of winning the UPS and DPD contracts for Jersey Post and Woodside. Our dedicated posties remain loved by the whole island and we’ve made great strides in improving our public reputation following the loss of the mail plane, helped by a more human approach in our marketing. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone that has volunteered to join in events, have photos taken or even done radio ads! The Marketing team are always looking for volunteers so if you fancy starring in the next event let them know.

The UK has been through a huge change this year with the new organisational design bringing Woodside and jpgl closer together. Again, I want to thank everyone for their support and engagement, although challenging at times, we are already seeing the benefits, with greater clarity and sense of purpose across the teams. We are continuing to invest in our freight business through next year, investing in a new trailer park to support growth in our new Isle of Wight and Pallet-Track business.

The big question of course is what happens with the ferries; not just the new operator but the schedule, capacity and price they offer. This will be crucial for Jersey more widely as well as us.

Our international business continues to do well in a difficult market and we have high hopes as we move from our traditional focus on letters to more

Our dedicated posties remain loved by the whole island, and we’ve made great strides in improving our public reputation with a more human approach in our marketing.

parcel services. It is a crowded market but with our ParcelMax product we have some unique strengths.

Despite this great progress, and all your hard work, the business still faces challenges we can’t ignore. We have finalised our budget for next year and have just completed a consultation exercise that will see a shift in the structure of the business towards being functionally led. This is a critical move that will help us simplify the business, and move us towards being sustainably profitable again. Let’s keep that goal in mind as we move into a new year.

I’d like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and look forward to working with you all in 2025.

Mark Siviter

A letter from the King!

Following His Majesty’s visit to the island in the summer, Jersey Post invited young islanders to write to the King sharing their memories in letters or pictures, for free!

“We were delighted to receive a letter from Buckingham Palace thanking the children!”

Mark Siviter, CEO, says:

“Receiving this wonderful letter from Buckingham Palace on behalf of the King, thanking our island children for their letters and pictures, is a very special moment. The Royal visit in July was a momentous day for all of us – especially for so many of our children for whom memories of their visit will last a lifetime.

“We received many envelopes from all over the island and many local schools and groups supported the activity. Our posties collated all the envelopes, packaged these up and sent these onto Buckingham Palace and we are thrilled with the response.”

Community heroes

Dan Irwin and Kieran

Superheroes presented with an award by

A big thank you and shout out to our incredible posties Kieron Monet, Dan Irwin and Dan Ward.

Kieron was on delivery in St Helier and hadn’t seen one of his customers’ for a couple of days. Dan lives close by and was on annual leave. Kieron raised concerns and on a dog walk, Dan stopped by the house and got no answer. They called the police and discovered that the customer had collapsed. An ambulance was called and the customer is now in hospital recovering. The same duo also saved the life of a little girl in 2023, who ran out into the road.

Dan Ward is another superhero postie. He raised the alarm about a gas leak whilst on his round. The fire service and police both attended the scene to investigate. Well done Dan, your actions ensured everyone was safe! Thank you from everyone at Jersey Post – you’re true community heroes!

Monet

Thomas Greechan

Robert’s fun facts

Robert Davies from the IT team is well-known across the business for his fun facts! Here he shares some about the postal industry around the world with us.

There is an underwater Post Office! Located near Hideaway Island, Vanuatu Post Office is submerged about nine feet underwater. Snorkelers and divers can send waterproof postcards from here.

Have you ever looked at a Royal Mail stamp and noticed that the UK is not written on any stamp? Probably not! However, the United Kingdom is the only country that does not include its name on its postage stamps. Instead, the country of origin is indicated by a portrait of the current monarch. The design was based on Queen Victoria’s engraved head, which was considered the most difficult image to forge.

Royal Mail is one of the oldest postal systems in the world, established in 1516 by King Henry VIII. Initially, the postal service was only for royal use. It wasn’t until 1635 that King Charles I opened it up to the public. The famous red pillar boxes were first introduced in 1852.

The highest Post Office in the world is on Mount Everest in Tibet, China, at over 5,000 metres. The second highest can be found at Himachal Pradesh, India, at an altitude of 4,440 meters (14,500 feet).

The Penny Black is the world’s first postage stamp. It was issued in 1840 and featured Queen Victoria. It was replaced by the Penny Red after nine months because its postmark could be easily rubbed off. Today, a Penny Black costs around £500. An 1840 penny is roughly equivalent to £1 in 2024, slightly less than the cost of a Royal Mail First Class stamp.

The black mailbox in Nevada, USA has become a landmark for extraterrestrial enthusiasts. It’s located on Route 375, known for its association with Area 51 and UFO sightings.

The Penguin Post Office, Antarctica, is situated in Port Lockroy and is the southernmost Post Office in the world. It’s named after the colony of gentoo penguins that live nearby.

Christmas at the sorting office

Jersey Post’s Christmas campaign features our posties, enjoying a festive meal together in the sorting office, symbolising community and diversity.

The campaign was inspired by the stamp team’s issue, Jersey’s International Christmas, which features traditional festive dishes enjoyed by the many different communities that make up the island.

As one of the island’s largest employers, Jersey Post is home to many nationalities, including French, South African, Romanian, Portuguese and Polish. We’re delighted to celebrate our diversity in this year’s campaign.

We worked with some awesome suppliers to create our festive feast images – Marquee Solutions, who styled our table; Pink Panda

catering, who made all the dishes; Andy Le Gresley, who captured all the merriment and personalities perfectly, as always, with his camera; and TPA, our design agency who we’ve worked with for many years, and provided expert creative direction.

Although we weren’t able to eat any of the delicious looking food (as it was three days old and not fully cooked), we all enjoyed a well-deserved mince pie at the end of the shoot, as we listened to Christmas music.

A big, big thank you to all our posties that went in front of the camera – Natasha, Lisa, John, Matt, Lidia, Chin, and Turbo. We had a lot of fun working with you!

And of course, to all those who helped behind the scenes, as we couldn’t have done the shoot without you – Paul, Thomas, Darren, Marcin, Bluete and Tony.

The campaign has been very well received by customers and colleagues - we’ve had lots of lovely feedback.

Turbo

Lidia

Natasha Chin John

Lisa Matt

Our international community at Jersey Post

Our Christmas stamps feature eight international dishes. We ask some of our team to share their Christmas traditions with us.

Annare Dougherty is Head of Business Development. She’s from Paarl in the Western Cape in South Africa, and has been in Jersey for 6 years.

Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa. Definitely no Christmas jumpers! In South Africa, it is a long-held tradition to have Christmas Day lunch in the early afternoon. However, the trend is slowly starting to shift as more and more South Africans are opting for a Christmas Eve dinner, leaving them time to relax on Christmas Day. Many families also choose to have a braai instead of a formal, sit-down lunch.

Postie, Przemek, is from Poland and worked with the Jersey Stamps team on the Barszcz czerwony (beetroot soup) and mushroom pierogi (dumplings) that feature on the festive stamps.

The recipe came from my wife who usually cooks it for us during festive occasions, including Christmas Eve. The dumplings are a specialty of hers, she now has a dough machine which makes them a little easier to cook but she has since done them from scratch.

Islander Paul Noel works in the postal deliveries team, and has been with us for over 35 years. As an 18th century reenactor, he describes how islanders would have celebrated 300 years ago.

Homes were decorated with greenery, traditionally holly, ivy, mistletoe, and other evergreens. Herbs, such as rosemary and bay were also used. Kissing boughs, spheres of greenery with ribbons, candles and spices were popular too. Christmas dinner would be some form of meat with as much veg as they could spare. For richer people it would be a banquet with a Turkey and other meats like beef, roast pork, quail and loads of veg and potatoes. Christmas pudding and cakes would finish the meal.

Bluete Vieira is our Eastern Deliveries Manager and is from Madeira.

Christmas in Portugal starts very early on Christmas Eve. We make a traditional chicken soup, and we will go to the mass at midnight. Then back home we will eat the chicken soup, have drinks, play cards games and have a lot of family round. We will carry on through the night and in the early hours of Christmas Day, before going to bed, we will open the presents.

Why not have a go at some of the recipes featured on Jersey’s International Christmas?

We traditionally eat gammon, roast leg of lamb (on the “braai”), roast potatoes, salads, and desserts like trifle. Seafood on the braai is also popular during the holiday. Church services, Christmas crackers and Christmas cakes are also part of the celebrations.

The soup can be adapted - some people will shred the beetroot, whilst others prefer to dice it into cubes.

For me in 2024, it’s very busy in the lead up to Christmas at work, so I look forward to a more leisurely start, with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. I then go round to see family for a complete dinner of turkey, veg, and Christmas pudding, following by cheese and biscuits. Afterwards we’ll watch Dr Who and play family board games.

On Christmas Day our traditional food is cod (bacallhau). Some people will do a chicken (English-style, we use chicken instead turkey).

Do share your creations with us! Step-by-step guides can be downloaded at www.jerseystamps.com

Your voice

We ran an employee engagement survey across the Channel Islands and UK business from 30th September to 21st October. The purpose of the survey was to understand how colleagues feel about working for Jersey Post Group and identify how we can become a better and more effective place to work.

Each department is now analysing their data and designing action plans that will be put into place early next year. We will provide a detailed update in our next edition setting out all the actions that have been taken and the impact they have had.

Toby Clyde-Smith, the project lead for the Your Voice Survey said this: “A huge thank you to the 74% of you who took the time to share your thoughts in our recent survey. In organisations like ours anything over

60% is a real achievement and gives us a great chance of making positive change. But the hardest part isn’t gathering the data, it’s turning it into meaningful action. We are working hard to turn your feedback into action at three levels—group, departmental, and team. Leaders across the business are working hard with colleagues to dive into the data, identify what’s important and build meaningful action plans which we’ll share in the new year. Your voice matters, and we’re committed to delivering on it!”

Well done to our long servers!

Terry Southouse in the finance team enjoyed cakes with his colleagues to celebrate his 20 years.

Posties, Pat Murphy, Kevin Crowther, Nik Miller and John Bainbridge joined us 20 years ago.

Paul Belhomme, Head of Operations, started as a postie at the Mont Millais sorting office in 1994.

Our festive depots and sorting office

Dave

Turbo and Lisa

Jason and Craig

Moshiur

Kim and Luc Jac

Chin and Jasmine

Protecting posties from aggressive dogs

Harry Matthews is Head Dog Trainer at Origin Dog Training in Jersey. He gives us a few tips on how to avoid dog bites.

We work with all types of dogs and people, including reactive and aggressive dogs and their owners. I was a police dog handler and dealt with many incidents involving dog bites.

Postie dog incidents are rare in Jersey. However, they do occur.

Here are four top tips to prevent those incidents from occurring;

Time and space

Allow the dog to have as much time and space as possible. Don’t approach if you don’t have to. Take your time. Let the dog work out that you’re friendly. Slow your movement down. Fast movement can set a dog off so don’t run (unless they’re about to bite).

Watch for signs

Dogs rarely go from green to red. The amber zone signs can be quick but it’s worth looking for them; low growl, grumble, bark, rapid bark, then bite. As the dog goes from green to red, their body language will stiffen. Hackles will often stick up.

Verbal feedback

Dogs pick up on tone. A calm, confident steady tone of voice is a must. Any tone too lively or angry can upset the dog. Talk in a low soft manner. Keep talking to the dog. Tell them they’re a good dog. Even if they’re barking or growling at you. Better they bark than bite.

Be

confident

Use wide open postures. Obvious hand signals. Avoid prolonged eye contact. Act confidently as if you’re supposed to be there. By acting suspicious or creeping into a property it can encourage the dog to react.

If you’re bitten, please let your manager know as soon as possible and this will be registered as an accident on duty. Jersey Post will always inform the police and will write to the home owner to either warn them to keep their dog under control, or to advise that mail will need to be collected until we are confident that the postie can deliver safely.

If the bite has broken the skin, you’ll need to attend A&E or your doctor in case a tetanus injection is needed. In the case of minor scratches, always thoroughly clean the skin.

Search “Origin Dog Training” on Facebook or Google for more info.

From post to parcels, freight to pallets

Mark Houghton is the new UK Operations Director at jpgl.

His career in logistics spans post, parcels, pallets, next day and same day delivery through to e-commerce and customs, working with some of biggest names in the industry.

What was your first logistics role?

I started at CitySprint, which is now part of the DPD Group. I was there for over two years as a Service Centre Manager. I briefly lived in Cornwall, before I joined Asendia UK, which was founded by La Poste and Swiss Post. I was the UK General Manager and managed the lettershop and the growth of the fulfilment (e-commerce) centres located in the UK.

And you also have experience of freight and pallet shipping?

I’ve worked in every part of logistics! Working at the Pall-Ex Group opened my eyes to the pallet networks. I then moved into freight forwarding with Regional Express part of the Delamode Group. I worked with well-known fashion brands such as Burberry and Boden, ASOS, Amazon Global Logistics (AGL) and Amazon Transport Service (ATS) moving Amazon Seller freight worldwide - sea, air, road and rail.

You’ve also worked internationally?

Yes, I took up a remote role at Gxpress PVT (India) as a consultant, helping to expand their Amazon network regionally and setting up a subsidiary in Dubai to manage the final mile for e-commerce parcels for Amazon. This strategy was mirrored in the EU (Netherlands,

the gateway to Europe), delivering the end-to-end supply chain warehousing, customs and final mile delivery.

What does your role entail at jpgl?

My initial focus is on harmonising and integrating jpgl and Woodside UK into one team – including people, fleet and systems. This will help improve efficiencies, costs and service delivery.

Can you give us an update on Havant, our new truck park?

We’re in the very early stages of making this site fit for purpose.

I’m working the Freight Project Team to oversee the design of the site and our move here, which will be completed next year. Our trailer park is already up and running with our trailers and trucks on site. We hope to move cross-dock, Pallet-Track and ship2me to Havant by the middle of 2025.

Dwayne, a postie of many talents

Postie Dwayne Murray has made a branded Jersey Post 3D phone holder so he can play music whilst he’s loading his van.

The prototype is made from a type of plastic and the design amplifies the music and gives out great sound. It took Dwayne two hours to design and 10 hours to print! There’s still a bit of work to do to get to the final design, so watch this space.

Mark Houghton

eTag roll-out across Jersey

The

SecureDrop

eTag roll-out is a collaboration between four teams in Jersey – operations, data, customer care and marketing.

Unlike the SecureDrop barcode, an eTag uses the same technology as contactless bank cards, and contains an encrypted unique identifier for the property. When scanned, it allows the postie to identify the property and use the scanners’ database to look-up the latest property information.

This includes info on SecureDrop (particularly important if it’s not the usual postie delivering), access instructions, any hazards, and also allows the postie to verify the address, ensuring that both parcel and property match.

The eTags don’t store any personal information on them, access is encrypted, and only readable by one of Jersey Post’s handheld devices.

50% of island households have a registered SecureDrop location, and there are currently three levels of service (Home, Neighbour and Signature). To be eligible for an eTag, the customer must have (or upgrade to) a Signature service, which enables all items to be delivered (including large and signed for, where permitted) to the customers’ property. The Home and Neighbour options are being withdrawn.

By Christmas we’ll have installed over 14,000 tags since the project started, with six parishes completed. The biggest is yet to come - with the roll-out in St Helier, where there are over 20,000 SecureDrop accounts, spread over 21 rounds. The team hope to finish the next six parishes by the middle of 2025.

There are seven coloured tags to choose from – white and grey are naturally the most popular. For the brighter coloured doors, such as pink, the ops team will ring the doorbell and talk to the customer.

The roll-out is split by postal rounds in the parish, with each round taking up to two days to complete. The number of posties involved varies, dependent on availability and area knowledge.

A passion for running

Well done to postie James Oliver, who came third in the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon!

James at the start of the marathon

He says: “I love training for the marathons as it can be social and I really like pushing myself to the limit. I also feel running is great for you as it gets you out in the fresh air and it’s always good for your mental wellbeing!”

James has been a postie for 10 years. Running is his passion. He’s completed five official marathons, including three in Jersey and two in London; and he’s taken part in the Round the Rock Ultra Marathon.

James is hoping to take part in the Berlin and London marathons in 2025.

James in action

Look after your wellbeing this winter

Taking care of our wellbeing is essential for a happier, healthier life.

Here are some simple ways to boost your wellbeing this winter:

Go for a walk: whether with friends, family, or on your own, spending time outdoors can work wonders for your mind and body.

Connect over coffee: a friendly chat can brighten your day and help you feel more positive.

Prioritise sleep: a good night’s sleep is vital for mental health. Most of us struggle to function without adequate rest, so make it a priority.

Manage stress: talk to a friend or a counsellor to share your thoughts and find support.

Discover a new hobby: hobbies keep us engaged and give us something to look forward to. Finding joy in activities you love is a powerful way to enhance your emotional wellbeing.

Alcohol awareness

During Christmas, alcohol consumption often rises as people celebrate and relax. Jersey has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption globally, with the average islander consuming 12 litres of pure alcohol annually.

Health guidelines recommend limiting alcohol to two to three units daily or 14 units weekly—about six pints of beer or six medium glasses of wine. Monitoring your own and others’ drinking habits is vital, and speaking up about concerning behaviour could make a difference.

We recently attended an alcohol awareness workshop, hosted by Jersey Public Health. It covered key topics like recognising overconsumption, the effects of binge drinking, accessing help, and starting open conversations about alcohol.

Wellbeing aids for colleagues

Help@hand by Unum is your all-in-one health and wellbeing support app, available free to all Jersey Post and jpgl employees and their eligible family members. You can access: a 24/7 helpline for immediate support, 24/7 remote GP services, mental health support, medical second opinions, lifestyle coaching, personal training, and much more! Download Help@hand on the app store.

At Woodside, colleagues can access Care First, a free and confidential support service available 24/7. Whether you’re seeking advice, information, or counselling on a range of topics from finance to bereavement and more, Care First offers guidance and practical solutions when life feels overwhelming. There are weekly webinars and there’s a wellbeing app, My Possible Self, colleagues can download.

See RedNet for more details or get in touch with the HR team.

In conversation with David Ryder, our Operations Manager at jpgl Fareham Reach.

How long have you been at jpgl?

I joined jpgl in June 2023 after a chance meeting between the (then) General Manager Leanne and my wife Jo. It turned out that Leanne was looking for an assistant General Manager and I was currently looking for a new opportunity. I joined as Assistant Manager and am now the Operations Manager. I oversee the day-to-day management of Fareham, working alongside a brilliant team.

Can you tell us more about the Fareham Reach part of jpgl? We’re the sole UK distributor for TaylorMade Golf. We pick, pack and despatch orders to all the main retailers. Between July and October, we’ve picked an incredible 608,000 pieces on 40,000 separate orders. And we’ve not even started our peak season yet.

What did you do before you joined jpgl?

I spent 12 years in retail at Halfords, working my way from a Saturday boy to store supervisor. This was across all departments, so I could easily repair your bike, sell you an alternator or fit a car alarm system. Back then it was essential that you could be multi-skilled and quick to turn your hand to anything.

After that I spent 12 years as an operations manager for a mailing fulfilment house, working for many different clients like Bauer Media, Haymarket Publishing, BBC and The Gallup company (those old enough will remember that the BBC radio charts were compiled by them!).

My last long-term role before jpgl was with Delamode. They were one of the largest third-party logistics companies in the UK. I started as a pre-retail supervisor and ended as a shift manager looking after around 100 people during a shift. This is the role that gave me the skills to become part of jpgl.

What do you get up to outside of work?

Without trying to sound too clichéd, I enjoy time with my wife and two children. I have a daughter of 16 and a son of 14 - both bringing me equal amounts of joy and cost! I am keen on 3D model printing (I have a bank of six 3D printers) and enjoy tinkering in my workshop. I also enjoy fishing with my son Freddie when the weather and time allows or being a taxi to my daughter Maddy. Oh and of course holidays in the sun!

Christmas shoebox appeal

Thank you to everybody at Jersey Post who put together a Christmas shoebox for the Rotary Club, filled with gifts and essentials for disadvantaged children in Moldova, Montenegro and Romania. You helped the Rotary Club make their target of sending 1000 boxes!

Keeping the Isle of Wight connected

Leigh Mackenzie is the Depot Manager at jpgl in the Isle of Wight. He tells us about his 17 year career in logistics.

Where did you start your career?

I started working in logistics in 2007 with Red Funnel Distribution in the Isle of Wight as an office junior, dealing with customers, before moving up to look after the home delivery side of the business and then onto the Rigid vehicles and the HGV Class 1. In 2011 Red Funnel sold the distribution side of the business to Steve Porter Transport so I moved across to work with this team.

You were with Steve Porter in the Isle of Wight for 12 years?

Yes, I really got my teeth into logistics there. I gained valuable experience and I rose through the ranks from Transport Coordinator, to Transport Planner, Traffic Manager, and then finally to Operations Manager.

What qualifications did you undertake during this time?

I gained my National and International CPC, IOSH accreditation in Health and Safety, Full First Aid at Work and I also refreshed my B1 Counter Balance Forklift Licence.

What were your responsibilities as Depot Manager at Steve Porter?

My job was very varied. I planned and coordinated all the deliveries around the island; spoke to the customers, to book

in their freight; unloaded the trailers and looked after key accounts like Sheldon & Clayton. I also liaised with the ferry company to make sure we had the correct bookings in place for our trailers to and from the island, and also looked after the vehicle maintenance.

Since joining jpgl in the Isle of Wight this summer, how is business going?

Our volumes are increasing, which means more activity at our depot. Each week, we’re seeing new customers coming on board, shipping goods to and from the island. There have been more and more enquires on email and over the phone. The feedback we’ve been getting is extremely positive. Our Unique Selling Point will continue to be customer communication.

What do you get up to after work?

I’m a keen sportsman, playing football for my local team, as well as doing park runs, going swimming and cycling and playing golf. My 4 year-old border collie cross huntaway dog keeps me on my toes!

The Isle of Wight team has received some lovely feedback from their new customers on their Facebook page:

We switched to jpgl for all our freight and pallet collections. David and the team have been fantastic – great communication, friendly drivers and detailed service.

Switched to jpgl a couple of months ago after 20 years of using two other carrier and can honestly say they are a breath of fresh air compared with the rest! These guys take good care of the goods from start to finish. A five-star service.

Leigh Mackenzie

Managing our CI depots

Paul Brimage and Virgilio Dias manage our Woodside depots in Guernsey and Jersey respectively.

Virgilio has been with the business since 1997. Originally from Madeira, Virgilio oversees a team of 17 at the New North Quay depot. Paul joined the team in Guernsey in 2018 when it was a two-man-band and now oversees a team of 12.

Can you tell us a bit about your role as Depot Manager?

VD: I start at 6am at New North Quay. I plan the day with the drivers, and with the warehouse manager and supervisor, as well as look at the trailer movements. I’m also in contact with Jersey Post with the day’s plan to deliver and collect post to and from Rue des Pres and the docks. I check in with the team on any problems with deliveries and collections. I sometimes work nights to tranship Amazon trailers for a few hours.

PB: My role is busy and very varied. I deal with queries and ensure goods are delivered on time. Sometimes I will be in the warehouse supervising deliveries – and when needed, I will deliver the goods myself when we’re short staffed. This keeps the customers happy and shows the drivers that I’m a hands-on manager and team player. Communication is key to ensure all staff are aware of deadlines and workloads. During lockdown, I was considered an essential worker!

What sort of items do you transport?

VD: There’s a bit of everything – from straw to a hydro pool! As well as parcels from Amazon, UPS, DPD and Yodel. We only have a small warehouse in Jersey, so we try to deliver as much as we can on the day items arrive.

PB: We receive such a variety of goods, from small jiffy bags to extremely large oak barns, plants, motorbikes, baths, kitchens, Amazon goods, sofas, TVs, animal feed - the list is long! We had to move our Guernsey depot to larger premises as we were growing and expanding so fast. We now have capacity to grow further.

What do you get up to outside of work?

VD: I like to learn new challenges. I was with the Honorary Police for four years but stopped in the summer as I needed more time to myself. I like fishing and football and spending time with my family.

PB: I’m happily married with an adult son and a stepson. I enjoy going on cruises and I play in a pool league team once a week. It’s my way to unwind and catch-up with friends!

This keeps the customers happy and shows the drivers that I’m a hands-on manager and team player. Communication is key to ensure all staff are aware of deadlines and workloads.

Paul Brimage

Virgilio Dias (right)

One role at a time

And were you then offered a job?

Robyn Pestana, HR Partner, takes us through her varied career at Jersey Post.

How many roles have you had in the company?

Since October 2017, I’ve held four roles at Jersey Post. How did one role lead to another?

My journey began in our staff canteen as a Catering Assistant during school holidays and the Christmas season. The HR team then mentioned they were looking for support at the Rue De Pres Counters over the holiday period, handling parcel collections as a Seasonal Operative. I welcomed this opportunity to gain new experience.

In this role I built stronger connections with the HR team. Recognising my interest in new opportunities, the HR Director invited me to complete a summer work experience placement with the HR department, which I eagerly accepted. This experience offered a valuable look into the inner workings of HR and how it supports our business. I had the chance to observe day-to-day HR responsibilities and contributed to tasks like filing and scanning, gaining firsthand insight into this essential function. This placement helped me to find clarity about my career path — I knew I wanted to pursue a future in HR.

After completing my work experience, I was delighted to be offered a permanent role as a trainee on the HR team, working towards becoming a qualified HR Partner. Since joining the HR team, I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with colleagues across the business and meeting new people through the recruitment process. This role has allowed me to develop important skills, build meaningful relationships, and learn continuously in a dynamic environment. What’s your favourite thing about your role now?

One of my favourite aspects of being an HR Partner is the variety and excitement each day brings—there’s never a dull moment in HR!

Ordinary islanders doing extraordinary things

Jersey Post was thrilled to sponsor the JEP’s Pride of Jersey Awards for a third year.

The awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of islanders, who go above and beyond for the community. There were 16 categories this year, recognising customer service employees, neighbours, grandparents, teachers, volunteers and fundraisers.

Aimie Tonsberg, our HR Director, represented Jersey Post on the judging panel. She helped with the very special Gary Burgess Award category, alongside JEP editor, Andy Sibcy, and Gary’s husband, Alan. This award is presented to someone who acts as a “guiding light for the Island, supporting the community through their positive words or actions.” She also said a few words and announced the winner at the awards event - the late Simon Boas, the author and humanitarian aid worker.

Aimie said: “I was a little nervous before joining the judging event. But shortly after being introduced to Alan, we found ourselves deep in conversation regarding the very highbrow Channel Four series, First Dates! It’s fair to say we connected straight away with our love for love.’

“Both Simon and Gary were truly blessed to have known love. It shone from them both like a beacon for the island. Through Simon’s actions and writing he reminded us that ‘much more unites us than divides us.’ And he encouraged us all to (in his own words) ‘observe the little acts of tenderness, the stoic humour, the courage...… and to realise that everyone is basically just doing their best’”

The awards event was held at Albert Bartlett, with over 250 attendees, made up of the nominees and their families, as well as sponsors. The Jersey Post table was hosted by Chair Kevin Keen, who was joined by posties, operations, and a few of the exec team. Mark Siviter, CEO, also gave a speech at the Awards event. He said he was proud and humbled to be involved.

“Our island community is incredibly important to us at Jersey Post. We exist to serve. The standard of nominations is always so awe-inspiring. This year has been no exception. Every single nominee is a winner in our eyes.”

A big thank you to Darren and his team for getting one of our electric vans up to Albert Bartlett to go on display at the event!

Aimie Tonsberg presenting the Gary Burgess Award

Meet Holly, our new stamps designer

Introducing the newest member of the Jersey Stamps team, Holly Gilbert, Philatelic Design and Production Manager.

Before joining the Jersey Stamps team, Holly spent three dynamic years in retail marketing, leading the Design and Marketing team at SandpiperCI. During her time there, she managed big brands well-known to us such as M&S, Morrisons Daily, and Matalan.

In her role at Jersey Stamps, Holly is excited to reconnect with her background in graphic design and dive into the fascinating world of stamps. She’s especially eager to discover the history and intricate process behind each issue, appreciating the level of detail and artistry involved in stamp design.

Award-winning stamp

The EUROPA: Underwater Fauna and Flora periwinkle stamp, photographed by Jersey-based underwater photographer Nicola Miskin, has won “the most beautiful stamp” category at the 2024 EUROPA Stamps Competition, as voted for by PostEurop’s Expert Jury.

Two stamp issues that have already captivated her are the 150 Years of La Corbière Lighthouse and Jersey from the Air II, launched in early 2023. She finds both series visually striking, with incredible attention to detail.

Outside of work, Holly is a passionate netball player for St. Clement. She also juggles the role of “part-time taxi driver” for her young daughter, keeping up with her five year old’s busy social life!

Well done to the Jersey Stamps team – Sam, Roxanne and Holly!

Holly Gilbert

Behind the wheel and the lens

Tony Wells is an Arctic driver and Fleet and Transportation Coordinator for Woodside Logistics in Jersey.

He began his career in 1998, training and earning his Class 2 (rigid trucks) licence, followed by Class 1 (Arctic trucks).

After working for various logistics companies, Tony joined Woodside in February 2022 and has spoken about his love of being a driver. “It’s a job I love doing and wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

Tony runs an Instagram page called @jerseycitrucks, where he shares photos of trucks he spots and of his 22-yearold truck, Betty, which he hopes to buy and restore from Woodside, after she retires.

“The page was set up, so I had something to look back on in years to come and to keep a record of the deliveries I’ve done and hopefully document the small restoration I have planned for Betty when she retires,” Tony says.

Through Instagram, he’s connected with truck enthusiasts who are often surprised by how compact Jersey trucks are compared to those in the UK. “I think it has changed the way I go about things when I’m driving, it definitely changed how I look at the deliveries I do. Before it was just about getting the delivery done, but now there could be a story to that delivery.”

What is your favourite thing about being a Woodside driver? It’s changed over time. Before moving to Jersey, it was going to different places around the UK and transporting different types of freight from helicopters to Yeovil in Somerset, to CDs for Sony in Birmingham, I loved the variety.

In Jersey we tend to go to the same places, but it has its own challenges. Driving a large truck in Jersey took some time for me to get used to, as the roads are a lot smaller than in the UK. Getting into deliveries has its own challenges and is a very

skilled job that you only get with experience. The thing I love the most is the challenge of delivering oversized loads, for example, the swimming pools which are over four metres wide and can be up to 12 metres long.

Are there any lanes or roads in Jersey that you try to avoid when driving trucks?

Yes! I always turn right at Haute Croix and go around Mont Mado to avoid the tight section toward St. John, especially when there’s a truck or tractor. You must watch out for those low branches; while trees are supposed to be trimmed to 12 feet, our trailers are over 13 feet high.

Other reasons to avoid certain roads are P30 restrictions on over-width vehicles. For those over 2.3m wide, a P30 permit is required, along with annual permission from each parish. Some roads, like Mount Bingham, are off-limits to P30 vehicles unless we’re delivering there.

What unexpected things do you try to show in your Instagram posts?

People don’t realise just how manoeuvrable Arctic trucks are, or where we can take them—it’s a skill that comes only with experience. UK drivers often think we drive in circles all day, but they’re always surprised when I show them where we manage to get into, like tight spots for pool deliveries.