Royal Mail unveils modern and stylish new uniform

Royal Mail has unveiled a stylish and up to date new uniform to take the company proudly into its next phase of modernisation.

Designed in collaboration with postmen and women, the uniform is practical and contemporary. Not only will it allow postmen and women to carry out their duties in comfort, its practical qualities will also benefit customers with a specific aspect of the design tailored for Royal Mail’s new customer-focussed technology.

The new uniform design reflects a wide range of roles within Royal Mail. Items in the range include polo shirts, fleece tops, and summer hats, as well as cycle helmets. Also included are light-weight cagoules and all-weather jackets to protect Royal Mail delivery staff both from the elements and the challenges of the modern delivery round.

And the new trousers have specially designed pockets to hold new handheld computers – this week being rolled out to 33,000 postmen and women to provide customers with real time proof of delivery of tracked products, including Royal Mail’s Special Delivery services.

The changes have proved popular with Royal Mail employees; 81 per cent of postmen and women who trialled the new uniforms said they felt proud wearing them.

Royal Mail’s National Uniforms Manager, Bob Taylor, said: “The distances our postmen and women cover on their delivery rounds means they need something that stands up to the demands of the job and which keeps them warm and dry whatever the weather. The palmtop computer technology that comes with it makes their lives easier and customers have been really positive as they now find it quicker and easier to sign for and trace sent items. These developments play a critical role in the modernisation of the postal delivery service.”

Post men and women in Brighton and Redhill are currently trialling the new uniforms. They will be introduced more widely across the organisation during 2009.