Royal Mail pilots 'Not in Home' scheme

The Royal Mail has chosen Nottingham to pilot the ‘Not in Home’ scheme.

It aims to help people who, because they are at work, miss home deliveries. The move will also allow staff at some Nottingham companies to receive personal mail at work. Businesses will have secure lockers where parcels can be delivered. Text messages and e-mails can be used to tell workers that an item has arrived.

Post Office bosses said Nottingham had been chosen to pilot the scheme
because it had the right mix of residential and business addresses.

The Queen’s Medical Centre is the first place to try out the new system.Workers sign up to the scheme and are given their own secure access code to the company locker.

The scheme’s project manager Ric Barker said: “We have all had occasions when we have missed parcel deliveries while out at work.

“When a customer signs up to the scheme they receive a welcome letter which contains address information, their registration code and guidance for use.

“Then when a parcel is delivered they are automatically sent a text message or e-mailed to let them know it has arrived.”

Over the next couple of weeks Royal Mail also plans to launch secure lockers in public places such as supermarkets, petrol stations, and outside delivery offices.

Mail bosses believe this will make picking up delivered parcels much more convenient.

Mr Barker said: “The scheme will first be extended to 36,500 residents in the NG5 (north Nottingham) postcode area.

“Apart from the convenience factor, there is also the environmental consideration, which is of vital interest to us and the council.

“This will reduce vehicle movements by eradicating the need for collection by customer or redelivery, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions and traffic congestion.”

The next large employer to sign up for ‘Not in Home’ will be Nottingham City Council.

Experian, Nottingham Trent University and Capital One have also expressed interest.

A spokesman for the QMC said: “A number of staff have signed up.”

Brian Parbutt, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “We’re always looking at new ways to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads, so we’re pleased to be involved with and support this project.”