Latest news with #RachelHopkins
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ArrowXL Optimizes Last Mile Delivery and Unlocks Capacity with Descartes
LONDON and ATLANTA, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that ArrowXL, the U.K.'s largest and longest-established two-person home delivery and warehousing specialist, is using Descartes' route planning and execution solution to automate and optimize last mile delivery route planning. This enables ArrowXL's route planning team to plan and optimize routes for deliveries dynamically and more efficiently, unlocking transportation capacity for the organization. 'ArrowXL is focused on bespoke services centered around a customer-first approach,' said Rachel Hopkins, Chief Information Officer, ArrowXL. 'With over 40 years' experience completing deliveries for the U.K.'s leading retailers, e-tailers, and manufacturers, we manage over 2.6 million consumer deliveries annually and we're growing. We cover 100 percent of the U.K., with 98% of the country covered six days a week and the remaining 2% covered on nominated days—all from seven main hubs and eight outbases using a fleet of 250 vehicles. We offer 'Next-Day', 'Nominated Day' and 'Diary Booking' delivery appointments to customers, as well as the setting up and connection of some white goods, assembly of some furniture items, and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling and packaging removal. Managing and executing these delivery services successfully at the sheer scale that we do requires precision planning and execution. With Descartes in place, our team of planners has automated and streamlined previous manual planning processes, allowing us to optimize our vehicle usage and minimize CO2 emissions. This approach increases capacity across our operations dynamically in real-time. Since the Descartes solution interfaces between our system and our clients' systems, we provide the entire value chain with a true view of delivery capacity to take advantage of, allowing everyone to increase operational efficiency.' Descartes' cloud-based last mile delivery solution helps distribution-intensive companies improve operational efficiency and customer experience. It supports dynamic delivery requirements, including same-day delivery. The Descartes solution improves route productivity by using advanced optimization technology to reduce the distance driven per delivery, which maximizes delivery capacity and reduces costs. In ArrowXL's case, Descartes helps the company to manage deliveries efficiently where boundaries between delivery locations and team areas are unclear. Descartes also improves delivery sustainability with increased route productivity. 'We're pleased our solution is playing an important role for ArrowXL in optimizing route planning and maintaining a high-level of customer experience,' said Gary Taylor, VP Sales, EMEA at Descartes. 'ArrowXL delivers goods daily in the U.K. for some of the highest profile brands in ecommerce and on the high street. Automating route planning and helping planners to execute this function dynamically will continue to allow the business to unlock capacity, support with increasing revenue, and enable their own clients to provide more delivery slots to their customers, all of which improves overall customer experience and service levels.' About ArrowXL ArrowXL is the UK's largest and longest-established two-person home delivery and warehousing specialist. We are committed to innovation and continuous improvement - investing in technology, new services and training. Learn more at About Descartes Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world's largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Global Media Contact Cara Strohack [email protected] Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ('forward-looking statements') that relate to Descartes' route planning and execution solution offerings and potential benefits derived therefrom; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, 'Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results' in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada including Descartes' most recently filed management's discussion and analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ArrowXL Optimizes Last Mile Delivery and Unlocks Capacity with Descartes
LONDON and ATLANTA, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that ArrowXL, the U.K.'s largest and longest-established two-person home delivery and warehousing specialist, is using Descartes' route planning and execution solution to automate and optimize last mile delivery route planning. This enables ArrowXL's route planning team to plan and optimize routes for deliveries dynamically and more efficiently, unlocking transportation capacity for the organization. 'ArrowXL is focused on bespoke services centered around a customer-first approach,' said Rachel Hopkins, Chief Information Officer, ArrowXL. 'With over 40 years' experience completing deliveries for the U.K.'s leading retailers, e-tailers, and manufacturers, we manage over 2.6 million consumer deliveries annually and we're growing. We cover 100 percent of the U.K., with 98% of the country covered six days a week and the remaining 2% covered on nominated days—all from seven main hubs and eight outbases using a fleet of 250 vehicles. We offer 'Next-Day', 'Nominated Day' and 'Diary Booking' delivery appointments to customers, as well as the setting up and connection of some white goods, assembly of some furniture items, and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling and packaging removal. Managing and executing these delivery services successfully at the sheer scale that we do requires precision planning and execution. With Descartes in place, our team of planners has automated and streamlined previous manual planning processes, allowing us to optimize our vehicle usage and minimize CO2 emissions. This approach increases capacity across our operations dynamically in real-time. Since the Descartes solution interfaces between our system and our clients' systems, we provide the entire value chain with a true view of delivery capacity to take advantage of, allowing everyone to increase operational efficiency.' Descartes' cloud-based last mile delivery solution helps distribution-intensive companies improve operational efficiency and customer experience. It supports dynamic delivery requirements, including same-day delivery. The Descartes solution improves route productivity by using advanced optimization technology to reduce the distance driven per delivery, which maximizes delivery capacity and reduces costs. In ArrowXL's case, Descartes helps the company to manage deliveries efficiently where boundaries between delivery locations and team areas are unclear. Descartes also improves delivery sustainability with increased route productivity. 'We're pleased our solution is playing an important role for ArrowXL in optimizing route planning and maintaining a high-level of customer experience,' said Gary Taylor, VP Sales, EMEA at Descartes. 'ArrowXL delivers goods daily in the U.K. for some of the highest profile brands in ecommerce and on the high street. Automating route planning and helping planners to execute this function dynamically will continue to allow the business to unlock capacity, support with increasing revenue, and enable their own clients to provide more delivery slots to their customers, all of which improves overall customer experience and service levels.' About ArrowXL ArrowXL is the UK's largest and longest-established two-person home delivery and warehousing specialist. We are committed to innovation and continuous improvement - investing in technology, new services and training. Learn more at About Descartes Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world's largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Global Media Contact Cara Strohack cstrohack@ Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ('forward-looking statements') that relate to Descartes' route planning and execution solution offerings and potential benefits derived therefrom; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, 'Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results' in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada including Descartes' most recently filed management's discussion and analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Yahoo
Gangs dragging youngsters into knife crime, says MP
An MP has welcomed extra police funding to tackle organised crime gangs which she says are dragging young people in her town into knife crime. Rachel Hopkins, MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire, was speaking as new figures show violent crime makes up almost a third of all incidents reported in the town, and a local teacher told the BBC that based on statistics "a knife incident could happen in any school". The government has given an extra £7.3m to Bedfordshire Police to help the force tackle violent and organised crime. Meanwhile, a charity that works with pupils in Luton's schools says its preventative work is making a difference. According to Police UK there were 225 crimes reported in Luton in February. Some 72 of them were recorded as violent or sexual crimes and it is another statistic that shows the challenges facing the town. In January, Bedfordshire was ranked eighth in the country for the number of knife offences by the Office for National Statistics. Last year the county played host to a visit by the Knife Angel, a sculpture built from 100,000 seized blades, which led to the recovery of more than 1,500 knives and weapons in the county. The Att10tive charity has hosted over 100 knife crime workshops and the BBC Politics East programme joined them for a visit to the Chalk Hills Academy. A former pupil, Azaan Kaleem, was fatally stabbed in Luton in March 2018 with two teenagers jailed for his murder. "What people see is the very top of the iceberg, they don't see 95% of work that goes on to reduce it," said Montell Neufville from the charity. "There might be something that happens tomorrow or next week, but you probably won't hear that 10 times more [attacks] did not happen because of the work that goes on every day." But teachers said the threat of knife violence was always present. Michael Taylor said: "Colleagues in our pastoral team have seen an increase in the prevalence of gangs and knife crime and it only seems to be getting bigger and bigger. "If you look at the demographics of Luton and the number of incidents that are happening then a knife incident could happen in any school." However pupils at the academy said they felt safe in Luton. Katie said she heard of "some gang activity" but was not sure if that was just "the news picking out stories that are interesting". Mikhael said he felt "quite safe" as there were "not as much gangs here, compared to London". Anthony said he was worried about gangs near where he lived, but said his Mum had "warned me and told me what I should and should not do". The Wingman Mentors, who are funded by the Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit (Veru), have set themselves the target of getting more than 200 bleed kits in locations across the town. One of them, Simon Philbert, said: "One of the frustrations I have is seeing a lot of young people with man bags, and they have other paraphernalia in the bags. "If one of them had a bleed kit in there, it could prevent a fatality. "For me they are a lifesaver. It is not just about the kits, but also the awareness." Hopkins welcomed the award of an extra £7.3m to Bedfordshire police which she said would ensure continued support for frontline operations including tackling serious and organised crime and targeting gangs, gun crime and youth violence in hotspot areas. "We are too aware that there is significant and organised crime in Luton which exploits young people and that's why young people get drawn into knife crime," she said. She said she was also lobbying for Bedfordshire Police to get a better deal under the police funding formula. Maria Lovell, a Labour member of Luton Council and a former mayor, said she felt the town was safe. "There is a lot of immense work going on within our community," she said. "We are working with everybody and we will all be in it together as long as we have to, and we are not giving up." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Group hopes bleed-kit project will save lives Knife Angel memorial to young victims arrives Two men seriously hurt after town centre stabbing ONS: Police force data tables Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit Att10tive Wingman Mentors
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Assisted dying: Proposal to extend eligibility for neurodegenerative illness
People with neurodegenerative illnesses such as motor neurone disease (MND) should be able to request assisted dying with 12 months left to live, MPs have proposed. This would extend the eligibility for this group from the current six-month life expectancy under the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon, who is on the committee set to undertake formal scrutiny of the Bill next week, said his proposal 'will ensure more people with neurodegenerative conditions will be able to access an assisted death if that is their choice'. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is about ensuring people facing painful deaths from terminal conditions can have the choice of how they die. For people with neurodegenerative conditions, such as MND, the final six months may be too late to apply. 1/2 — Tom Gordon MP (@tomgordonLD) February 6, 2025 The amendment is supported by a number of other MPs including Labour's Rachel Hopkins, who said a new law 'should be a compassionate one' with a different approach to different terminal illnesses where necessary. The committee took evidence from some 50 witnesses last week, including medical and legal experts as well as bereaved families. Among those who sat before the committee was retired High Court judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn, who told MPs the Bill 'is not ever going to provide an assisted death for me'. Sir Nicholas, who has the neurodegenerative condition Parkinson's, told how he fears he will have to go to Dignitas rather than endure a 'poor death' in the UK with that disease. As it stands, the Bill could see terminally ill adults in England and Wales with under six months to live legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge. The proposed amendment would see the definition of terminal illness changed to include neurodegenerative illnesses, diseases or medical conditions where a person's death as a result of such an illness can reasonably be expected within 12 months. Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK, said: 'As currently drafted, the Bill will bring no relief for the majority of those who travel to Switzerland each year and it desperately needs amendment.' He argued that the 'evidence is clear that the time limit currently in the Bill is not workable for those with neurodegenerative conditions and it needs to change'. Opposition groups have argued a new law could see vulnerable people feel pressured into an assisted death if they feel they have become a burden. Dr Gordon Macdonald, from Care Not Killing, said: 'This amendment shines a spotlight on the dangers of legalising state-assisted killing, as once politicians say there are some lives not worth living it is only a matter of which conditions and illnesses are included.' He claimed the legislation is being rushed 'with indecent haste' and said more independent expert evidence is needed to 'hear about the real dangers of changing the law and focus on fixing the UK's broken palliative and social care systems'. The committee is expected to start line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill on February 11. No date has been given yet for the Bill to return to the Commons for further debate by all MPs at report stage but it is likely to be towards the end of April. It will face further scrutiny and votes in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until later this year at the earliest. After that, it would likely be at least another two years before an assisted dying service was in place.
