Bicycle courier

Bicycle couriers deliver a variety of items to homes and businesses. The deliveries could be anything from legal documents to medical supplies. They work in large cities where traffic is an issue for motorised vehicles.

Also known as:

• Bike messenger
• Cycle courier

Work activities

Bicycle couriers carry and deliver items around towns and cities. They work in areas where traffic congestion is an issue for motorised vehicles, such as larger towns and cities. Bicycle couriers deliver a wide variety of small items to homes and businesses. Some of the things they might deliver include:

• Documents.
• Food.
• Medical supplies.

Bicycle couriers keep in contact with their despatch company via a two-way radio, or mobile phone. Some may use a pager which tells them where the next pick-up is. The courier is responsible for the speedy and safe delivery of the items. All deliveries must be signed for. After delivery, the courier uses a phone or radio to find out details of the next job. Sometimes, couriers have to wait for a package to take away with them. Bicycle couriers work outdoors in all weather conditions. They wear protective clothing and must be aware of road safety issues. Some companies may ask you to wear a uniform.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need to be:

• Physically fit and a good cyclist.
• Good at fixing any repairs your bike might need.
• Friendly and polite to customers.
• Good at finding your way around places.
• Happy working alone.
• Able to work well under pressure.

Maths skills will be useful if you are self-employed. Some companies will provide you with a cycle but having your own could be an advantage.

Pay and opportunities

Bicycle couriers tend to earn the National Minimum Wage. The total amount you earn will depend on the number of deliveries you make. Therefore, your take home pay could fluctuate. However, if your company is going through a quiet period, you may not be able to work many hours and your pay will fall accordingly.

Many companies employ couriers on a self-employed basis. This means they provide you with the work but you have to sort out things like your tax and National Insurance. In this situation, you’ll need to talk to an accountant to make sure you are paying the correct amounts.

Working hours may be irregular and include early starts, late finishes, public holidays and weekend work. As many couriers are self-employed and are paid per delivery, it is common to work long hours when your company requires it. A good despatch agency will have plenty of work, so earnings can depend entirely on how quickly and how well riders can find their way around.

Demand for couriers is rising.

Employers are private despatch companies. Opportunities for couriers occur with courier services in towns and cities throughout the UK. Most opportunities are in large cities and particularly in the London area.

Most couriers are self-employed, either setting up their own courier service or working through an agency.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service. It is often a good idea to approach companies directly to enquire about vacancies. This is an industry with high staff turnover so vacancies may appear quickly and may not even get to the advertised stage.  Run a search for bicycle courier companies in your local area, then ring or visit the company in person to ask about vacancies.

Entry routes and training

Training will be on-the-job. You are unlikely to need qualifications, but you may be asked about your cycling abilities, and your proficiency will determine how much money you earn.

Qualifications

As with all jobs, it can help to have GCSEs in English and maths but these are unlikely to be essential.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some companies ask that people have 12 months’ experience in this role. Experience gained from any other type of courier work would be very useful.

Related careers

• Motorcycle courier
• Van delivery assistant
• Van driver