Are you interested in working as a delivery driver Job in the UK? Check out our guide to becoming a delivery driver in the UK!
Couriers and delivery drivers play an important role in delivering mail and packages to people throughout the United Kingdom. There has been a significant increase in the demand for couriers and drivers who can help people get their deliveries on time, particularly in the last couple of years.
Courier services are used in a wide range of industries, from construction and manufacturing to pharmaceuticals and law. In the last year, there has been a 239.8 percent increase in the number of delivery driver job ads posted, and there are over 32,000 vacancies that need to be filled to get driver job in the UK.
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Do you want to work as a delivery driver or courier in the United Kingdom? If so, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about finding a delivery driver job in the UK.
How Much Do Couriers And Delivery Drivers Earn In The United Kingdom?
According to the linked article, the average courier worker in the UK earns £25,958 per year. However, salaries for delivery drivers and couriers vary greatly depending on the type of work performed and the industry in which they work.
The table below provides more information on how much you can earn working as a courier in the United Kingdom:
Types of Couriers |
Job Description |
Average Salary |
Standard Courier Services |
Standard couriers pick up deliveries and transport them to their intended recipient, typically within a few days of the delivery being placed. |
£30,100 per year |
Same-Day Courier |
Same-day couriers are responsible for making deliveries the same day they’ve been ordered. |
£37,500 per year |
Overnight Couriers |
Overnight couriers are responsible for making deliveries within one business day of the order being placed. |
£21,137 per year |
Warehouse Courier Services |
Warehouse couriers are responsible for picking up deliveries from the warehouse and transporting them to their final destination. |
£21,500 per year |
Medical Courier Services |
Medical couriers handle deliveries to hospitals and medical clinics. |
£20,085 per year |
Pharmaceutical Courier Services |
Pharmaceutical courier services handle deliveries to and from pharmacies throughout the country. |
£38,465 per year |
Who Makes Use of Courier Services?
Courier and delivery services are in high demand across a wide range of industries and businesses. Some of the most notable examples are as follows:
Clinics and hospitals
Medical courier services are frequently used by hospitals, clinics, and other businesses in the healthcare industry to transport time-sensitive documents (lab results, medical samples, etc.), as well as medical supplies and equipment. They even transport organs from one hospital to another in some cases!
Hospitals and clinics must collaborate with couriers who have a reputation for handling sensitive deliveries with care. Because most medical deliveries are time-sensitive, medical couriers must also be quick.
Pharmaceutical Corporations
Couriers are also used by businesses in the pharmaceutical industry to help with time-sensitive deliveries, such as medication deliveries.
Pharmaceutical couriers must adhere to stringent, and at times complex, regulations. They must also provide accurate and transparent delivery in order for all clients to receive their packages on time.
Universities and Colleges
Many primary, secondary, and university schools collaborate with couriers to ensure that packages and important documents are delivered on time.
Courier services ensure that students meet transcript and application deadlines. They also handle the transportation and delivery of sensitive financial documents, such as tuition and scholarship applications.
Printing Businesses
Many printing companies rely on delivery drivers and couriers to handle last-minute orders. Courier services ensure that shipments arrive on time and in good condition, making them ideal for assisting clients who place last-minute orders.
Printing companies can provide a better customer experience with the help of courier services, and they may even generate more leads as a result of positive responses. This allows for increased revenue and long-term success.
Legal Services
Professional courier services are frequently used by law firms to help them transport case reports, serve papers, and even deliver evidence so that it can be examined. Law firms must adhere to strict delivery deadlines, so they frequently work with same-day and overnight couriers to ensure everything is completed on time.
Accounting Firms
Accounting firms make use of courier services to easily obtain and send important and confidential tax forms, payroll forms, and audits. The best courier services (particularly same-day and overnight couriers) will deliver documents on time while keeping information private.
Real Estate Agents
Estate agents are frequently required to send and receive important documents within a few hours. For current and prospective homeowners, these quick turnaround times make all the difference.
Estate agents and their teams can ensure sensitive documents are delivered on time by partnering with a reputable courier service. This enables them to retain clients and grow their businesses more quickly.
Manufacturing Firms
Courier services are also used by manufacturing companies and warehouse managers on a regular basis.
These businesses require their deliveries to be shipped and delivered as soon as possible, and couriers can assist them in doing so. When deliveries are made quickly and on time, manufacturers and warehouse managers can better meet the needs of their customers and maintain strong relationships.
E-commerce Businesses
Couriers and delivery drivers are also used by e-commerce companies to help them deliver orders to customers on time.
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More businesses than ever before are now offering online ordering and delivery services. As a result, there is an increasing demand for couriers throughout the United Kingdom (and the world, for that matter).
When e-commerce companies collaborate with a great courier, it makes it easier for them to grow their business and provide better customer service.
What Qualifications Do I Require to Work as a Courier or Delivery Driver in the United Kingdom?
If you want to work as a delivery driver in the UK, you must have the necessary skills. The following are the minimum requirements that everyone must meet if they want to work as a courier:
Valid Driver’s Licence
A license is the most important thing for a potential courier. If you don’t already have a license, you’ll need to take the following steps to get one as soon as possible:
Examine the Date
If you got your license after January 1, 1997, you can only legally drive vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. If you received your license before January 1, 1997, you may drive vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes without obtaining a separate C1 license to find a driver job in the UK.
Obtain a C1 Licence (If Necessary)
If the date you obtained your license precludes you from driving a heavier vehicle, such as a delivery van, you will need to obtain additional training to obtain your C1 license.
You must be at least 18 years old to obtain a C1 license. You’ll also have to pass a series of medical, theoretical, and practical exams to get a driver job in the UK.
The practical aspect of the test is divided into five sections:
- Eye examinations
- Checks for general driving ability
- Vehicle inspections in reverse
- Providing answers to a series of vehicle safety questions
- Independent driving examinations
This test usually takes about 40 minutes to complete.
A perfect driving record
A clean driving record is also required if you want to work as a courier driver in the UK. If you’ve been in a lot of car accidents or received a lot of driving penalties or fines, you might have a difficult time getting hired.
Courier services may not want to risk hiring someone who could cause an accident on the job or harm their reputation, so your application may be rejected in favor of someone else’s.
Basic English and Math Abilities
You’ll need basic English and maths skills to pass the C1 driving test and work as a courier in the UK. This includes being able to read and interpret instructions and directions, calculating the time it takes to travel from one location to another, and so on.
Excellent Communication Skills
Couriers and delivery drivers must also have good communication skills.
Couriers don’t need to communicate with their customers all that much. They must, however, follow orders from managers and supervisors, provide information to customers, and interact with coworkers.
If you have trouble with this type of communication, now is a good time to start working on it. These abilities can help you stand out from the crowd of applicants and, once hired, qualify for raises and promotions sooner.
Possibility of Lifting Heavy Weights
When making deliveries, couriers frequently have to lift moderately heavy (and sometimes very heavy) packages.
If you can’t comfortably and safely lift 30kg or so, you may be disqualified from certain courier jobs, especially those that require a lot of heavier deliveries. This does not preclude you from working as a courier; however, you may need to look for positions that do not require as many heavy packages.
Capability to drive for extended periods of time
Couriers spend a significant amount of time on the road, especially if they work full-time. They get in and out of the van to drop off packages, but they spend the majority of their time inside.
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If you are unable to sit in a vehicle for hours at a time and drive from one location to another, you may find it difficult to work as a courier in the long run. Consider this when deciding whether or not a career as a courier is a good fit for you.
How to Get a Job as a Courier or Delivery Driver in the United Kingdom
If you’re looking for a courier job in the UK but aren’t sure where to start, consider whether you want to work as a self-employed courier or for a delivery driver company and get a driver job in the UK.
Whatever path you take, the following are the steps you’ll need to take to find a delivery driver job in the UK:
Courier Jobs for Self-Employed
If you work as a self-employed courier in the UK, you can often earn more money than if you work for another delivery service. If you want to work as a self-employed courier, you must do the following to build a clientele and earn a living:
Purchase a Vehicle
You’ll need your own van or another type of delivery vehicle as a self-employed courier. If you don’t already have access to a van, you’ll need to find one that you can afford to buy or rent.
When determining what you can afford, keep in mind that insurance, fuel, and repair costs must all be factored into the total cost of the van. This will save you from unpleasant surprises later on.
Establish Your Fees
How much will you charge for your courier services?
As a starting point, consult the table above that breaks down average courier salaries. Then, calculate how much you’ll have to charge for deliveries (and how many deliveries you’ll have to make per day/week) to earn something close to that amount.
Keep in mind that as you work to build your clientele, you may need to charge lower-than-average prices at first. However, if your prices are too low, you will struggle to make ends meet.
Promote Your Services
Following that, it is your responsibility to publicize your services and entice people to work with you.
There is a high demand for couriers and delivery drivers in the UK right now, so you should have no trouble finding work. Don’t be discouraged if it takes some time to build a consistent client list.
Consider taxes and insurance costs.
Make sure you’re deducting a portion of your earnings to cover taxes, insurance, and other costs associated with running a courier service. This prevents you from later facing government penalties or unexpected fees.
Create Your Own Company
Building a successful courier business and earning a good living as a delivery driver takes time. It is acceptable to work for a few months (or even longer) before earning a consistent income.
Be patient, keep marketing your services, and be open to receiving feedback from other professionals along the way. This will assist you in becoming a better courier and attracting more clients in the future.
Become a Courier in the United Kingdom
If you want to work for a well-known company as a delivery driver in the UK, you’ll need to take a slightly different route. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get hired by a courier service.
Look for Opportunities in the Right Places
There are numerous online platforms where you can look for courier jobs in the UK. GrabJobs, on the other hand, is one of the best to use.
GrabJobs is a simple platform that allows you to narrow down your job search based on a variety of criteria such as salary, part-time vs. full-time, experience requirements, and more. If you want to work as a courier but have specific requirements, GrabJobs can help you find a position that meets all of your requirements.
Update Your Curriculum Vitae
Set aside sometime after you’ve narrowed down the courier jobs you want to apply for to update your resume. This will assist you in creating a resume that is appealing to potential employers while also highlighting your skills and experience.
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Make sure to proofread your resume as well, and that it is free of spelling and grammatical errors. This will help you make a good impression on hiring managers and increase your chances of getting an interview.
When it comes to job interviews, make sure to practice before the big day.
Practice your responses to questions such as “Why do you want to work as a courier for our company?” and “Do you have any experience as a delivery driver?” This gives you more confidence when you walk into the interview room and positions you to make a good impression on the interviewer.
Begin delivering
You’ll be ready to hit the road and start making deliveries once you’ve nailed the interview and been hired by a courier service.
There may be a brief training period during which you will work with another driver to learn the fundamentals. You will, however, soon be on your own and making deliveries on your own.
Over time, you will be able to handle more complex responsibilities, such as delivering delicate packages or earning your C2 license, which will allow you to drive larger vehicles.
Find a Courier Job in the United Kingdom Today!
Are you prepared to look for a delivery driver job in the UK? Whether you want to be an overnight courier, a self-employed courier, or something in between, the steps outlined above will assist you in establishing yourself and earning money as a courier.
If you’re looking for courier jobs in the UK, check out www.careercartz.com as well. Our simple search methods will assist you in locating a position that meets your requirements and allows you to earn a living.
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