• As in previous years, seasonal workers are being sought by Royal Mail to help sort the Christmas post, as well as the increasing amount of online Christmas shopping. 
• They will support Royal Mail’s 120,000 permanent postmen and women who sort and deliver the mail all year round.
• Around 19,000 seasonal roles are available across the UK in Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide, primarily to help sort the additional Christmas volumes of mail. Positions are available from November   through until  early January 2016
• Royal Mail will recruit over 14,900 workers across its core network in England.
• There are also around 1,300 posts in Scotland, around 700 posts in Wales and 500 posts in Northern Ireland on offer. Royal Mail Group’s express parcels business, Parcelforce Worldwide, is also recruiting 1,850 extra people, including 830 drivers.

The recruitment programme is part of Royal Mail’s substantial financial investment in additional resources at Christmas to help ensure we provide the best possible postal service to our customers throughout the UK.

Royal Mail has launched a drive to recruit around 19,000 temporary workers to help sort the Christmas post as well as the increasing amount of online Christmas shopping.

Temporary positions across a variety of shifts will be available between mid-November through to early January 2017. The peak of the additional temporary work will be in the busiest month of December. The majority of seasonal positions will support Royal Mail’s 120,000 permanent postmen and women, who sort and deliver the mail all year round. Parcelforce Worldwide is also looking for drivers and indoor workers as the whole organisation gears up to deliver at Christmas.

Helping to sort the post

Around 14,900 people are needed to work in mail centres, distribution centres and data centres across England. There are also around 1,300 posts in Scotland, around 700 jobs in Wales and 500 roles in Northern Ireland. The temporary recruits will help to sort Christmas cards and parcels and online shopping orders before they are taken to around 1,400 Delivery Offices for postmen and women to take out on their rounds. Royal Mail Group’s express parcels business, Parcelforce Worldwide, is also recruiting around 1,850 extra sorting staff including 830 drivers throughout the UK.

Dedicated website

Royal Mail has set up a dedicated website for people to apply for the Christmas positions – www.royalmailgroup.com/xmasjobs or by calling the helpline on 0345 600 1785.

Royal Mail’s chief operations officer, Sue Whalley, said: “Christmas is our busiest time of year. We plan all year round to help ensure we deliver the best possible service for consumers and businesses in the UK at Christmas. We make a substantial commitment in additional resources including the recruitment of thousands of temporary workers to handle the festive mailbag and the growing market of online Christmas shopping.”

Royal Mail also has a year-round recruitment drive where it recruits postmen and women into its Delivery Offices around the UK. There are a range of permanent and temporarydelivery roles in sites across England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland. More information is available at www.royalmail.com/jobs.