4 Companies That Food Delivery Couriers Should Know About in London
Here at OttoScooter, we are always trying to keep our customers up to date with the latest insight on PHV employment options.
That’s why we put together a list of our favorite food delivery operators in the UK, to review their similarities and differences, and show you how to sign up!
Who are they:
Founded in Denmark in 2001, Just Eat is a world leader in online and mobile food ordering. Providing a range of over 100 varieties of cuisine types and partnered with over 29,000 restaurants in the UK alone, Just Eat is a top 100 FTSE listed company.
Some of the Perks:
- With over 3,600 global employees, a whopping 80% have reported that they enjoy working with Just Eat.
- Drivers have the ability to adjust their working schedule based on their personal availability.
- Although Just Eat drivers would be getting paid weekly, you are under no obligation to provide any services to Just Eat and you are also free to work for other businesses.
Negatives:
- Some delivery couriers have reported that they would like to work for Just Eat but they were not accepted due to living too far from city centres.
The Vehicles:
Your car, motorbike, or scooter must be registered and insured.
The Users:
Just Eat gains new customers practically every minute, with 4.8 million net new customers in 2018. Currently, there are approximately 26 million users globally.
Driver Rates:
As an independent Just Eat courier you earn money through your delivery fee which is based on distance and driving time.
How to Sign-up:
As long as you’re at least 18 years old and have the required documentation below, you can provide courier services for Just Eat. By providing an up-to-date driver’s license and a certificate showing your car is insured and registered, you are free to start working as soon as you get the right equipment! Delivery couriers can sign up here.
Who Are They:
Headquartered in London, Deliveroo is a British start-up success story that directly employs over 300 people. Deliveroo offers fast and reliable delivery, which a customer can track on their phone, to bring the best local restaurants direct to people’s doors.
Some of the Perks:
- Deliveroo offers well-paid flexible work.
- They are the first on-demand company to call for an end to the trade-off between flexibility and security that currently exists in employment law.
- This year Deliveroo was the first platform in the on-demand economy to offer riders free accident insurance to protect themselves and their earnings.
- Couriers have access to high-quality gear such as protective clothing and helmets.
- Riders receive 100% of all tips.
Some Negatives:
- Based on reviews from job sites, some delivery couriers have reported communication issues with management
The Vehicles:
As long as you have a scooter, motorbike or bicycle with the necessary safety equipment, you’re good to go! Whichever vehicle you choose, they’re committed to offering you fair access to the flexible, well-paid work you want.
Here at Otto Scooter, we’ve found that the Askoll ES3 Scooter works perfectly for Deliveroo Riders in London.
The Users:
Deliveroo caters to roughly 45,000 users daily which adds up to approximately six million customers per year, and growing.
Driver Rates:
Deliveroo pays its riders in the UK a wage of £6-7 per hour and an additional £1 per delivery.
“With riders earning over £10 per hour on average across the UK and regularly over £15 per hour at busy times” -Deliveroo
How to Sign-up:
Interested Deliveroo riders can apply on the Deliveroo website. You will have to fully complete a personal questionnaire for the application and prove your right to work in the UK.
Once you’ve selected your desired location, you will meet with an experienced Rider who will help you through the onboarding process. Your orientation process will also consist of watching safety videos and ordering your Deliveroo kit. Once you’ve received your kit in the mail, you will officially be a Deliveroo Rider!
Who are they:
UberEats is a US-based company that teams up with delivery partners and food couriers from popular local restaurants, who deliver directly to the customer’s door.
Working through the same app that practically everyone uses for their commuting needs, UberEats has hundreds of restaurant options that customers can choose from and get delivered right to their door.
Some of the Perks:
- More and more UberEats customers are beginning to use UberEats. This means that the customer base is growing and there is a more consistent stream of work.
- Customers can tip within the UberEats app, or in cash, and UberEats drivers get to keep 100% of tips.
Some Negatives:
- UberEats drivers are paid a pickup fee, a drop off fee, and a mileage fee, however, UberEats takes a 25% cut
The Vehicles:
If you choose to drive a car for deliveries, you must have a driver’s license, insurance, and proof of vehicle registration.
If you prefer to ride your bike or electric scooter, you must be 18 years or older.
The Users:
Of the 91 million regular Uber users monthly, 15 million of those users order off of UberEats.
According to projections from its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, UberEats is on track to deliver $10 billion worth of food worldwide this year, up from an estimated $6 billion-plus last year.
Driver Rates: UberEats drivers earn £3.30 per delivery or less during off-peak hours and around £6.30 to £7.30 per delivery during peak hours
How to Sign-up:
There are a few simple requirements to apply:
- You must be 19 years or older and have one year of license history.
- You do not have to be an experienced Uber driver to apply to work at UberEats, however, if you are already an Uber driver you can opt into receiving EATS request at partners.uber.com.
- Delivery couriers can sign up here.
Who are they:
Stuart is Europe’s leading on-demand logistics platform which connects businesses to a fleet of independent couriers. Their platform allows businesses of any kind of industry to deliver their customers with “never-seen-before speed & efficiency.” Stuart was founded in 2015 and in March 2019 they launched Ocado Zoom, offering groceries delivered in under an hour.
Some of the Perks:
- Within the next five years, the number of packages delivered are projected to double
- Stuart operates in 3 countries (France, United Kingdom, and Spain) and a total of 80 cities
- Stuart advertise themselves as offering all-day earnings, 7 days a week, and weekly payments, This model could provide a flexible and competitive alternative to delivery couriers in London.
Some Negatives:
- As a growing business, their technology is still in the growing phase, and some drivers have reported trouble receiving orders, even on busy days.
- Some employees have found challenges with receiving payment.
- Some customers report issues with communication in general.
The Vehicles:
On the website, there didn’t seem to be any specific information regarding terms of transportation, however we know from personal experience that the Askoll ES3 Scooter is perfect for Stuart drivers.
The Users:
It’s unclear how many total users they have in the UK, but they have been expanding to partner with popular retailers this year so business is probably quite good.
Driver Rates:
For Cars and Motorcyclists, the minimum hourly wage is £8, whereas for bicycles it is only £7.50. Depending on the total miles traveled for the deliveries, you can earn an additional £4.
How to Sign-up:
If you’re 18 years or older with a smartphone and a working permit, you can apply on their website and start right away!
