On 4^th July 1776, the United States declared its independence from Great Britain and the date has remained as a big day of celebration for Americans…

If you have family or friends in the States, more than likely they’ll be celebrating 4th July with backyard BBQs and explosive fireworks. DHL helps families and friends celebrate special events, like Independence Day, regardless of the distance between them.

We make it easy to send gifts to your friends this Independence Day. With over 1,300 Service Points nationwide, we’re sure to be on a high street near you. So, once you’ve found the perfect present, just take it to your local Service Point and we’ll send it on its way!

Why not impress them with some of our favourite 4^th July facts?

• On 4^th July 1776, America declared its independence from Britain. It was the separation of 13 colonies from Great Britain.
• Each year on 4^th July, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics and family gatherings.
• The estimated population on 4^th July 2013 is 316.2 million
• Three of America’s first five presidents died on 4^th July.
• 150 million hotdogs are consumed on 4^th July every year
• 700 million lbs of chicken is purchased in the week leading up to 4^th July
• 190 million lbs of red meat/pork is purchased in the week leading up to 4^th July
• 25 million lbs of fireworks is sold to cities for public celebrations
• 11: number of places in the US with “Independence” in their name

Sources: (CNN, The Herald Tribune, US Census Bureau as of 7.3.2012)

Whilst we can’t deliver sizzling BBQs or explosive fireworks, we can help you join your American buddies in spirit by celebrating Independence Day with a hamper full of American goodies. Click here to find out more about our new competition. But hurry, it closes tomorrow!

Here at DHL Servicepoint HQ, we’re egg-cited to announce the launch of our latest Twitter competition.

This is one not to miss as, in celebration of Easter, we’re giving away two eggs-tra special prizes.

Ok, that’s enough of the egg puns now (we’re eggs-hausted!) All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is tell us your best egg joke.

We’ll help kick things off:

Q: What do chickens call a school test?

A: An eggs-amination.

How to enter:

Now we’re sure you can do much better than us in coming up with some cracking jokes. Just tweet us your entries at @dhlservicepoint by Tuesday 10^th April for your chance to win.

We’ll be shelling out £100 in high street vouchers to the winner, and the runner-up will get their hands on £20 worth of cinema vouchers.

Our panel of egg-sperts will announce the winner on Twitter on Wednesday 11^th April.

Good luck!

We’re open for business during Easter!

You can drop your parcels off at DHL Servicepoints across the UK, as outlets will be trading with bank holiday hours on Good Friday 6^th April, Easter Sunday 8^th April and Easter Monday 9^th April.

Terms and conditions

1. The Prize: £100 in High Street vouchers for the winner and £20 in cinema vouchers for the runner-up.
2. The draw is open to all @dhlservicepoint Twitter followers and DHL Servicepoint blog users.
3. All entrants must be over 16 years of age.
4. Only one entry per person is allowed.
5. Only one winner will be picked.
6. The competition is open to UK residents only.
7. No cash or other alternative is available.
8. No purchase necessary.
9. The competition will be closed at noon on Tuesday 10^th April. The winner will be notified by email or by Twitter by Wednesday 11^th April.
10. Prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternative will be given.
11. Rude or offensive entries will not be accepted.
12. The judges’ decision is final.
13. DHL employees are not eligible to enter the competition.
14. Prizes will be dispatched by the 10^th working day of the date of the draw.
15. Details of the winner can be requested by writing to the promoter at: Marketing Department, DHL International (UK) Limited, 178-188 Great South-West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW4 6JS

A recent survey conducted by the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA), has revealed that most defined contribution pension schemes run by smaller firms are attracting combined employer and employee contributions of less than 8% of earnings.

There is also little evidence they are keeping pace with the increasing cost of building a sufficient pension as lifespans extend.

The ACA survey gathered responses from 404 smaller employers with 250 or fewer employees.  According to the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, there are over 1.2 million of these smaller firms which employ over half of the UK’s private sector employees (60%) and generate a half of all private sector turnover (49%), amounting to £1,589 billion per year.

Food for thought.

Equally worrying is the fact that at present, two thirds of the UK’s smaller firms offer no pension scheme at all despite the fact they will be required to auto-enrol their employees into a ‘qualifying workplace pension scheme’ between 2014 and early 2016 under government pension reforms.

Of the firms in the ACA survey without pension schemes, almost all (96%) said cost was the main reason they did not currently provide them.  And of those that do, they stated the reason employees did not join their schemes is also mainly because of cost (84%).

Commenting on the survey results, ACA chairman Stuart Southall said:

“Our survey has found savings by both employers and employees into defined contribution schemes generally have failed to keep pace with the cost of building a sufficient pension.  Pension contributions into most schemes reporting to this survey need to double on average to at least 15% of earnings if reasonable retirement incomes are to be achieved.”

For information on how DHL Servicepoint can help small businesses visit: www.dhlservicepoint.co.uk

Startups 100 from www.startups.co.uk is the definitive countdown to the UK’s most innovative, inspiring and ground-breaking new companies.

The list is their own concoction of who they think are the best, most exciting and promising new businesses and entrepreneurs shaping the start-up market right now.

Some brands are instantly recognisable – Zoopla.co.uk, HearingDirect.com – and others are less familiar – Girl Meets Dress, Rent Your Rocks, Crunch – but all make for captivating reading.  If you’re looking for inspiration this is your list!

And at number one? Huddle, which provides packages of project management and online collaboration software and according to Startups is “…without doubt one of the most successful tech companies to come out of the UK in years…”

So if you’re running your own start-up business, DHL Servicepoint is here to help with all your deliveries. We handle each and every item from when it leaves your company to when it arrives safely with your customer; wherever in the world they might be. And once the parcel’s journey begins you can access a free online tracking service with regular updates alongside the assurance that it will be signed for on delivery.

Our simple three step process couldn’t be easier: pick your nearest DHL Servicepoint, pack your parcel for free when you get there, pay and then leave the rest to us:  www.dhlservicepoint.co.uk/howto.htm

A recent survey from insurance specialist Hiscox revealed that due to the current economic climate around a third of UK graduates (30%) are considering working for themselves, with over a quarter (28%) intending to run their own business by the age of 25 and 34% expecting to be their own boss by the age of 30.

Food for thought in today’s highly active online business world where such ambitious tendencies are very often allowed to become a reality.

Setting up and running an internet company from scratch is no walk in the virtual park however.  Without an established brand or plush high street shop front to lean on, the whole process has to be well thought through and brilliantly executed from start to finish.  A slick and funky user-friendly website which is easily found on Google is of no use if the goods the customer has ordered arrive late, damaged or not at all.

Enter DHL Servicepoint which handles each and every parcel from when it leaves your hands to when it arrives safely in your customer’s.  Simply pick your nearest DHL Servicepoint, pack the parcel when you get there and pay: https://dhlservicepoint.co.uk/howto.htm

DHL recognises that today’s young, free and ambitious entrepreneurs are tomorrow’s business leaders.  Which is why DHL Servicepoint is designed to ensure customer service remains king enabling new born companies to take their first steps, grow and flourish.