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| Royal Mail adds 1,000 jobs at Parcelforce in flotation move | Royal Mail adds 1,000 jobs at Parcelforce in flotation move |
| (5 months later) | |
| The Royal Mail is creating 1,000 jobs over the next four years through expansion of its Parcelforce business, as the group prepares to strengthen its appeal to investors ahead of a possible flotation in 2014. | The Royal Mail is creating 1,000 jobs over the next four years through expansion of its Parcelforce business, as the group prepares to strengthen its appeal to investors ahead of a possible flotation in 2014. |
| Parcelforce, which delivered 66m parcels last year on behalf of customers including Amazon, is building new depots and processing centres to cope with growth in online retailing, which is expected to account for a quarter of all retail spending by 2016. | Parcelforce, which delivered 66m parcels last year on behalf of customers including Amazon, is building new depots and processing centres to cope with growth in online retailing, which is expected to account for a quarter of all retail spending by 2016. |
| The Royal Mail said the "vast majority" of jobs will be full-time, representing a near-20% increase in its 5,300-strong workforce, with most roles related to delivering and collecting packages. | The Royal Mail said the "vast majority" of jobs will be full-time, representing a near-20% increase in its 5,300-strong workforce, with most roles related to delivering and collecting packages. |
| Moya Greene, chief executive of the government-owned group, said the £75m investment would help the Royal Mail become a more customer-focused company run on "commercial lines". | Moya Greene, chief executive of the government-owned group, said the £75m investment would help the Royal Mail become a more customer-focused company run on "commercial lines". |
| She added: "Our strategy is to convert the rise in parcel volumes into profitable growth." Parcelforce is in the division that runs the Royal Mail letters service, with the latter accounting for the majority of the unit's £7.2bn in annual revenues. Profits are marginal, however, and the unit posted a surplus of just £23m last year. | She added: "Our strategy is to convert the rise in parcel volumes into profitable growth." Parcelforce is in the division that runs the Royal Mail letters service, with the latter accounting for the majority of the unit's £7.2bn in annual revenues. Profits are marginal, however, and the unit posted a surplus of just £23m last year. |
| The Communication Workers Union, which represents 140,000 Royal Mail employees, claimed that 10 times more workers have left the Royal Mail over the past two years than will be taken on by Parcelforce. Nonetheless, the CWU said the announcement might help those whose jobs are under threat elsewhere in the company. | The Communication Workers Union, which represents 140,000 Royal Mail employees, claimed that 10 times more workers have left the Royal Mail over the past two years than will be taken on by Parcelforce. Nonetheless, the CWU said the announcement might help those whose jobs are under threat elsewhere in the company. |
| Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "These jobs will go some way to easing the impact of jobs lost elsewhere in the company as huge changes are brought in to address the altering profile of mail." The investment includes a new parcel processing centre in Chorley, Lancashire, and two new depots in Cornwall and Hampshire. | Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "These jobs will go some way to easing the impact of jobs lost elsewhere in the company as huge changes are brought in to address the altering profile of mail." The investment includes a new parcel processing centre in Chorley, Lancashire, and two new depots in Cornwall and Hampshire. |
| Royal Mail users gave a further glimpse of the company's future this month when they suggested replacing first and second class post with a single-class service that delivers mail over 48 hours. According to a consumer survey carried out by Ofcom, the postal regulator, nearly six out of seven households would prefer to have a single tier offering that is "less expensive than first class, but delivered in two days". | Royal Mail users gave a further glimpse of the company's future this month when they suggested replacing first and second class post with a single-class service that delivers mail over 48 hours. According to a consumer survey carried out by Ofcom, the postal regulator, nearly six out of seven households would prefer to have a single tier offering that is "less expensive than first class, but delivered in two days". |
| While Parcelforce is hoping to capitalise on growth in the express parcel market, Ofcom said its findings showed there is a "lesser need for speed in general". | While Parcelforce is hoping to capitalise on growth in the express parcel market, Ofcom said its findings showed there is a "lesser need for speed in general". |
| But parcels remain an important part of the Royal Mail business, accounting for nearly half of the group's £9.5bn turnover last year. | But parcels remain an important part of the Royal Mail business, accounting for nearly half of the group's £9.5bn turnover last year. |
| Alongside the Parcelforce announcement, the Royal Mail has also launched a short-term hiring spree, advertising for 18,000 part-time staff to handle the Christmas post. | Alongside the Parcelforce announcement, the Royal Mail has also launched a short-term hiring spree, advertising for 18,000 part-time staff to handle the Christmas post. |
| Last year 110,000 people applied for the same number of positions, underlining the pressure on the employment market. A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The recruitment programme began in September and there has already been strong interest. The 18,000 temporary positions will be helping to sort the festive mailbag at the busiest time of year for the Royal Mail and its customers." | Last year 110,000 people applied for the same number of positions, underlining the pressure on the employment market. A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The recruitment programme began in September and there has already been strong interest. The 18,000 temporary positions will be helping to sort the festive mailbag at the busiest time of year for the Royal Mail and its customers." |
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