Tag: UK

Powergen has become the first major company to abandon the Royal Mail. The German-owned household energy company has moved contracts worth millions of pounds a year to Business Post, the monopoly-busting company that launched its alternative postal operations two months ago.

It is understood that a Vodafone subsidiary has also quit the Royal Mail for Business Post, which expects to sign another six customers soon.

Last post could be brought forward to 9am in some rural areas as part of a Royal Mail efficiency drive. A two-week review of postboxes across Devon and Cornwall may see final collection times brought forward, with fears it could cripple the growing number of small businesses which operate from remote rural barns and cottages.

A total of 9,500 postboxes have been classified as “rural” across the nation, because they are located more than 20 minutes away from a town and the review will assess how much and at what time of day these boxes are used. At present, last collection times are between 4pm and 6pm, but following the review this will be moved forward to between 9am and 4pm.