Camelot Training MD, Carl Lomas was listed in the Golden Jubilee Queens Birthday Honours list for an MBE recognising services to Training in the Courier Industry.

Carl  was involved in the motorcycle courier industry from the late eighties, passing his motorcycle test at the age of seventeen he moved to London as an undergraduate in Computer Studies but found weekends taken up with motorcycle teaching and qualified with ROSPA as an examiner instructor at the age of nineteen. Raced motorcycles with BEMSE and after graduating a Masters Degree in Computer Science became involved in his own courier company, Excalibur Couriers. He was soon involved in recognition of standards and quality becoming vice chairman of the Despatch Association. Helping others make the same steps saw the formation of Camelot Training to become the number one courier school. Carl was fundamental to the first courier skills NVQ bringing together both worlds of training and education with the job environment of the courier companies and received an MBE in the Golden Jubilee Honours List.

Gaining more recognition for individuals in the courier industry Carl launched the National Courier Awards, the tenth year celebrations in 2005 saw a decade of work reach its greatest celebration so far. Courier companies from across the UK, large and small celebrated excellence for individuals who had represented the industry at its highest level. Minister for Transport, Dr Stephen Ladyman helped launch the 2006 panel of judges.

Not standing still Carl championed the formation of the Institute of Couriers, IOC with a launch of founding fellows at the House of Lords in 2006, The IOC will recognise the skills, competence and abilities of individuals in the courier industry. Carl has affectionately become Mr Courier and is warmly received by the industry for his work in bringing recognition to individuals across the UK at every level in logistics, an industry that has itself gained and grown in professionalism with his actions.

An extract by Lord Falkland

Carl  has brought clear change and a tremendous improvement in professional standards across the motorcycle courier industry with the development of work based training, which has raised safety levels. He has personally championed the creation of the industries first formal NVQ qualification. He then brought government support through the Training Enterprise Councils to successfully deliver qualifications for motorcycle couriers. Along the way Carl has won a National Training Award, led his company to achieve Investors in People and gained recognition for excellence with the governments training audit body, the Training Standards Council.

Carl has dedicated his career to improving the standards of the courier industry and has left no stone unturned in his tireless endeavours to achieve access, support and education for all.

This has been achieved through innovation and far reaching original solutions of training and education to the courier industry. He has been instrumental in solving skill shortages and providing employment for individuals who have previously been long term unemployed and now hold professional jobs in the same day courier industry. His efforts alone have bridged this gap.

Whilst Carl’s company has successfully delivered the training it is his individual vision and efforts through many voluntary positions from the National Motorcycle Council to the Road Haulage Association which has made the delivery of training available free of charge to so many people.

The voluntary positions Carl holds and has held are dedicated to improving all aspects of the transport industry. His attitude and dedication to ensuring the sameday courier industry raises standards, encourages and nurtures its employee’s reflects the selflessness in the pursuit of achieving excellence for his industry. Carl is a highly respected ambassador of the transport industry and a leader of the sameday courier industry.

Carl graduated in computer studies and worked as a motorcycle courier during his summer holidays. This lead to his formation of Excalibur couriers which grew through acquisition. Carl through his own experiences identified a clear need for training in the same day courier industry. As his courier company matured into a stable business it was sold to make way for a new activity focused directly on the training of newcomers to the industry.

Camelot Training was born. Carl then worked closely with the Government TECs to secure funding which made the training available free of charge to the unemployed. Then working further with industry Carl orchestrated and lead the development of the first qualification for couriers. An NVQ level 2 which brought great respect and further professionalism helping support the industry shortage of couriers.

The NVQ was a great success and found high achievement levels gaining Camelot Training a Government National Training Award. Carl continued to champion the cause for training and qualifications bringing Investors in People awards to Camelot and an outstanding grade one excellence score at audit from the Training standards Council.

Over the years of development Carl provided his time freely to a wide range of industry boards. Many of which he still sits on today and he is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen. A strong direction to bring industry to training and qualifications has made him a well-known figure in the industry.

In 2005 Carl was awarded the Herbert Crow Award at Mansion House by the Lord Mayor of London for significantly furthering knowledge and development of transport and logistics.