Addison Lee trains staff in AI to boost London logistics

Addison Lee has launched an internal training scheme with Multiverse focused on artificial intelligence and data skills, as the London private hire and courier operator shifts how it manages demand and day-to-day logistics.

The programme enrols 20 employees on Multiverse courses covering data analysis, predictive modelling and machine learning. The work is expected to influence scheduling, routing and forecasting across Addison Lee's transport and delivery operations.

The move reflects broader efforts across the transport and logistics sector to use data more consistently in dispatch and capacity planning, particularly in dense cities where congestion, shifting travel patterns and cost pressures make fleet efficiency harder to maintain.

Training Programme

The scheme includes Multiverse's Level 3 Data & Insights for Business Decisions and Level 4 Data Fellowship, covering data handling and analysis alongside modelling techniques for operational reporting and planning.

Addison Lee is also enrolling staff on the Level 4 AI for Business Value and Level 6 AI & Machine Learning Fellowship. The courses cover identifying ethical AI opportunities within a business, as well as approaches to wider adoption.

Multiverse provides on-the-job learning programmes for employers. It says it has trained more than 20,000 apprentices in AI, data and digital skills since 2016, and that more than 1,500 companies use its programmes.

Operational Focus

Addison Lee's plan centres on using data more actively in dispatch and resource planning. One target is "dead mileage", when vehicles travel without passengers or parcels. Cutting those miles can reduce fuel use and improve driver utilisation and fleet capacity.

Another focus is demand forecasting. Predictive models can shift a business from reacting to bookings and delivery requests to anticipating them, using historic patterns and real-time signals. Fleet operators often use this approach to position vehicles where demand is expected to rise, rather than waiting for orders.

The company also wants to apply analytics to rota scheduling. Trained staff can assess how shifts and vehicle availability match booking demand across the day and week, improving service levels during peak periods and reducing idle time during quieter hours.

Skills Push

Patrick Gallagher of Addison Lee linked the programme to business growth and workforce development during National Apprenticeship Week.

"As we mark National Apprenticeship Week at Addison Lee, we're taking a fresh approach to how we grow our business and prioritise the development of our teams. By integrating data and AI we can more easily predict when and where customers need us and continue to deliver a reliable service across London. On top of that, we will be able to support our drivers more effectively and have the resources and knowledge to drive internal efficiencies across our business."

Addison Lee operates private hire, courier and chauffeur services in London. The company has traded for more than 50 years and serves business and consumer customers. It runs a mix of passenger transport and delivery operations, which share planning challenges around vehicle allocation and routing.

Multiverse Chief Learning Officer Gary Eimerman described the partnership as part of a strategy that puts greater emphasis on internal skills development as a route to performance improvements.

"Addison Lee is a household name, but their vision for the future is what makes this partnership so compelling. They are recognising that the clearest path to growth lies in the potential of their people. By mastering AI and data, their team is proactively shaping the next era of London logistics and ensuring the business remains a leader in a rapidly evolving market."

The programme follows a wider pattern of companies using apprenticeship frameworks and structured training to address shortages in data and AI skills. Employers in operational sectors such as transport and warehousing often report gaps in analytics capability outside specialist IT functions. Training schemes increasingly place those skills within operations teams that manage scheduling, dispatch and performance reporting.

Addison Lee's goal is to turn the course content into practical changes in daily operations, with use cases ranging from demand forecasting to routing decisions and shift planning as it develops a more data-led approach to fleet and courier management.