PETE Lloyd used to earn his living moving planes around - now he is keeping parcels on the go.

He lost his job as operations controller at Thomas Cook in September when the airline collapsed.

Pete soon found work with a courier business, until that too went out of business within weeks of his arrival.

His luck was out, forcing him to renew his search for work to support his family.

However, that brief taste of the delivery world tempted him to use his redundancy pay from the holiday firm to set up Assured Same Day Couriers in January.

Now his fledgling firm is thriving, especially during lockdown when demand for online deliveries has soared.

Pete said: "Thankfully business has just gone through the roof and we're already thinking of expanding.

"We offer the kind of bespoke delivery service the big companies wouldn't provide.

“We guarantee to get your parcel there today, and are only collecting your goods. It's an urgent service and clients want it doing right."

Similar skills were employed during 20 years at Manchester Airport where his team ensured the 50 aircraft in the airline's UK fleet were in the correct locations.

Pete said: "I was thinking what transferable skills I've got and it's logistics and moving things around like a big jigsaw puzzle.

"It doesn't matter what you're moving - I'm now moving boxes instead of planes. The principle is the same, although it's a lot simpler getting something down a road than through the sky.

"I took a big drop in wage when I joined the courier firm and when that folded I decided to give it a crack myself. I'd not applied for a job in 20 years and had suddenly lost two in a month.

"Losing my job at Thomas Cook was one of the most horrendous days I've ever had. The liquidation company read out the names of people they wanted to stay and close up the business, and I wasn't on the list and they said the rest of us could go home.

"I walked out of the door and didn't even have the chance to say goodbye to colleagues. I was in disbelief. It was heart-wrenching and I wouldn't wish it on anyone."

Pete's client base is varied with sectors such as utilities, legal, medical and entertainment all relying on his ability to tap into a vast transport resource ranging from motorbikes to articulated lorries.

Pete's website is assuredsamedaycouriers.com