Tag: UK

FedEx Recognizes Diverse Staff in Honor of International Women’s Day

Posted by | Mar 6, 2008 | |

FedEx Express in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, underlines its commitment to foster a positive work environment in which all its employees have an opportunity to achieve their personal career aspirations.

FedEx is committed to supporting all their employees and has won recognition across the world for its ongoing drive to hire the right people for the right jobs irrespective of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or creed.

The logistics industry has traditionally been perceived as male-orientated. FedEx has implemented a number of schemes across Europe, the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Asia to hire and retain a diverse range of staff. FedEx employees play a central role in helping the company fulfil the needs of its diverse customer base.

FedEx Express in the UK caters for all its staff by offering flexible working arrangements beyond the statutory requirement which states that parents with children under the age of six must be offered flexible working opportunities. Additionally new mums receive a welcome bonus on returning to work from maternity leave.

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Last post for junk mail? Steep fall in letters you love to hate

Posted by | Mar 6, 2008 | |

The modern curse of junk mail may be lifting, as figures revealed direct marketing has slumped to its lowest level this century.

According to the Royal Mail, there are now 800,000 fewer items being delivered annually than at the industry peak in 2003. However, the industry watchdog warned that while this might be welcomed by householders, it could be bad news for the postal service.

Figures from the Royal Mail still showed 4.65 billion items of direct mail dropping through doors last year – down 7.4 per cent year on year.

Trisha Dow, director of Postwatch Scotland, said the drop was “worrying” as it would cost the postal service – but the figure could be an aberration due to industrial action by Royal Mail workers last year. Postal workers went on strike over pay and conditions, leading to a major backlog of mail.

Ms Dow said: “We would say it’s worrying because it’s an element of the mail that helps balance the books. If that drops substantially – and we know there seems to be a growth in electronic marketing – then it’s difficult to say we would be glad of that.

“It’s not great news if it’s anything other than a blip. I would be interested to see if it’s a pattern.”

According to the advertising industry, the figures mean firms are getting better at targeting direct mail so that householders only get the type of offers in which they are interested. New methods of getting the message out – such as texts and e-mails – are also taking away some of the direct-mail business.

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Direct mail figures in Scotland

Posted by | Mar 6, 2008 | |

The modern curse of junk mail may be lifting, as figures revealed direct marketing has slumped to its lowest level this century.

According to the Royal Mail, there are now 800,000 fewer items being delivered annually than at the industry peak in 2003. However, the industry watchdog warned that while this might be welcomed by householders, it could be bad news for the postal service.

Figures from the Royal Mail still showed 4.65 billion items of direct mail dropping through doors last year – down 7.4 per cent year on year.

Trisha Dow, director of Postwatch Scotland, said the drop was “worrying” as it would cost the postal service – but the figure could be an aberration due to industrial action by Royal Mail workers last year. Postal workers went on strike over pay and conditions, leading to a major backlog of mail.

Ms Dow said: “We would say it’s worrying because it’s an element of the mail that helps balance the books. If that drops substantially – and we know there seems to be a growth in electronic marketing – then it’s difficult to say we would be glad of that.

According to the advertising industry, the figures mean firms are getting better at targeting direct mail so that householders only get the type of offers in which they are interested. New methods of getting the message out – such as texts and e-mails – are also taking away some of the direct-mail business.

Robert Keich, a spokesman for industry body the Direct Marketing Agency, said: “There is a much greater use of targeting and precision and taking out ‘gone always’ – people who have left the household.

For its part, Royal Mail believes the internet is creating the biggest dent in its business. Fraser Chisholm, head of media, said: “The internet is a significant threat to direct mail in its current form but it’s a fantastic opportunity for direct mail to re-position itself.”

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Postcomm hosts 'Post Theatre' at The IDMF 08

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

Helping the environment, electronic substitution, the innovation of hybrid mail and the way that Postcomm, the regulator for postal services, sees the future of the postal market, will be discussed at a series of seminars in London.

The three days of seminars make up a ‘Post Theatre’ that Postcomm is hosting at this year’s International Direct Marketing Fair which opens from 29 April – 1 May at Earls Court 2, London.

The liberalisation of the UK postal market has brought about significant changes in the way business postal services are handled. But in parallel with liberalisation, other influences have developed, such as the rise in electronic communication and concerns about the environment.

In a Postcomm survey of business customers in 2007, one in five said they had explored alternatives to mail and had moved some of their mail to other media in the previous 12 months.

While electronic communication has led to substitution, digital technology provides further opportunities for innovation in the mails market. Consumer spending on online shopping grew 50 pct last year and all mail operators are seeking innovative ways to fulfil these orders. Hybrid mail is now available: this is an “electronic-to-physical” service which allows businesses and individuals to send letters electronically from personal computers directly to a print facility near its destination where it is printed, enveloped and delivered locally.

As well as reducing staff time and the need for paper, envelopes and franking machines for the sender, hybrid mail has a reduced carbon footprint compared with traditional delivery networks because it cuts out the need to carry mail over a long distance. Many of the major companies offering hybrid systems will have speakers at the seminar.

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Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for the Northern and Western Isles

Posted by | Mar 4, 2008 | |

Post Office Ltd today opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for the Northern and Western Isles.

In line with the criteria and factors set by the UK Government in its response document, DTI, The Post Office Network, Government Response to Public Consultation in May 2007 (www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page36024.html) – the Area Plan for the islands proposes future provision of Post Office® services through a total network of 113 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 19 existing branches.

Post Office Ltd proposes to close 13 branches in the Western isles, mainly on the island of Lewis and 6 branches in Orkney and Shetland.

Under the proposals, 97 pct of the area’s population will either see no change to their nearest branch, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The detailed Area Plan proposal for the Northern and Western Isles is now available.

The UK Government has already undertaken a 12 week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK wide network of Post Office® branches by up to 2500 from its current level of over 14000 while continuing to provide funding to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the UK Government.

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