11-11-2016

Last year, 77% of UK internet users made an online purchase and it was estimated by retail body Imrg that 860million parcels were sent to British homes. So, as online shopping goes from strength to strength, it would not take a large jump to assume that the courier industry will boom too.

Christmas Online Spending in the UK

The UK population spends billions of pounds on online shopping during the run up to Christmas each year. With 2016 set to be the biggest year for ecommerce yet, let's take a closer look at a few statistics from yesteryear.

• On Boxing Day 2013, 17% of all UK internet visits were for online shopping.
• In 2014, shoppers spent nearly £22billion in the eight week run up to Christmas.
• Black Friday sales in 2015 saw average daily sales soar by 224%.
• 18% of shoppers spent more money on Christmas shopping online than they had planned.
• In 2014, around half of online shopping traffic from the UK came from mobile devices.
• In 2017, it is predicted that online sales will account for 15% of the total UK economy.

A Growing Number of UK Couriers

Courier companies are the solution for many businesses who experience a large surge of deliveries during the festive period and the new year sales. Dwain McDonald, Chief Executive of distribution company DPD UK, told The Guardian last year he expected the company would deliver 700,000 over Black Friday weekend - nearly three times more than on a typical weekend.

And it's not just DPD that feels the Christmas pressure. Yodel became overwhelmed by Black Friday deliveries in 2014, so last year it recruited 7,000 extra drivers in order to manage the growing loads.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in 2015, the number of vans on UK roads increased by 17%. There are now 3.5million vans registered in Britain; two thirds more than in 1994. Experts predict around 40,000 of these vans are driven by delivery drivers.

Christmas Courier Insurance

With the UK delivery industry now worth a whopping £4.5billion and the increasing need for delivery vans and drivers, we have also seen an increase in the number of people seeking courier insurance - especially as we near Christmas.

If you require courier insurance, compare tailor-made protection policies online with us here. We provide options to cover the following:

• Public and employer's liability insurance
• Goods in transit
• Breakdown cover
• European cover
• Hire and reward
• Legal expenses
• Courtesy vehicle
• New ventures and previous claims accepted

Learn more about courier insurance by speaking to one of our trained advisors on 0800 470 4648 or 0333 202 6240.