TNT Post goes forth into Northern Ireland

TNT Post has officially commenced operations in Northern Ireland. The move see jobs created, as TNT aims to challenge Royal Mail in the country.

The UK postal market was liberalised in 2004 allowing competition for the collection and sortation of mail, before it is handed over to Royal Mail for final mile delivery to consumer and business letterboxes.

The addition of TNT Post’s Northern Ireland operation boosts the company’s network to seven mail centres, extending its full postal coverage of mainland UK where it currently handles 3bn mail items a year and employs over 1,200 people.

Based in Newtonabbey, Belfast, TNT Post has already begun to work with over 100 local businesses and will have handled over 60m mail items by the end of this year.

Nick Wells, chief executive, TNT Post UK, said: “TNT Post will offer the capability, expertise and resources to handle millions of mail items in Northern Ireland, bringing true postal cost savings and innovative postal solutions to Northern Ireland.”

Into 2011, the Northern Ireland operation predicts it will handle mail volumes in excess 72m mail items, the impact of which will allow TNT Post to extend its recruitment drive in the country to expand mail account teams, increase depot and operations staff and collection and delivery drivers. The company also plans to expand into the Republic of Ireland at some point in the future.

Wells added: “At the core of our business model is our local service and dedicated account management teams; this is why we have been committed to developing a regional network of local offices throughout mainland UK and now an on-the-ground service for the Northern Ireland market.

“As TNT Post grows in Northern Ireland, we look forward to expanding our local employee base, extending our services to the Republic of Ireland and rewarding customers and the local economy through costs savings.”

One of TNT Post’s first customers in Northern Ireland, Colin McEvoy, director of Northern Ireland, Open + Direct Insurance, said: “At Open + Direct we pride ourselves on excellent customer service provided through our strong network of high street branches. Our partnership with TNT Post for the collection, sorting and delivery of mail to our customers country-wide cements this proposition, allowing us to communicate in a fast, efficient and cost-effective way – a saving that we ultimately are able to pass on to the customer.”

“TNT Post understands the need for the timely delivery to customers of important, time-sensitive information. Through a dedicated account manager who understands our needs, we have a mailing solution tailored to our requirements and flexible around us.”

TNT Post services in Northern Ireland include next day delivery post, FirstSort, as well as sorted and unsorted two and three day definite delivery services, which are complemented by a range of addressed and unaddressed direct mail, carbon-free and PC-to-letterbox mail options.