Royal Mail has once again missed its delivery targets for first and second class post, and the situation isn’t looking too rosy. Between March and June, the postal service delivered 85% of first class deliveries the next day, a slight uptick from 76% during the same period in 2025. But hold on, folks! That’s still way below the regulator Ofcom’s lofty 95% target. So, what’s going on here? Well, Royal Mail claims it’s making some progress as part of its turnaround plan.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. The company, which operates under International Distribution Services (IDS), has been wrestling with fierce competition in the delivery market. Fewer folks are sending letters these days, and to add to the misery, they’ve faced hefty fines from the regulator for failing to meet targets in recent years. But here’s the kicker: compared to the same time last year, the portion of first class mail delivered the next day has seen a significant rise. The second class mail, mind you, has also improved a tad, with more deliveries hitting the doorsteps within three days. “First Class performance is well ahead of where we expected to be at this stage of our Improvement Plan,” said Chief Operating Officer Jamie Stephenson. But don’t get too excited just yet; there’s “more to do” before they hit their delivery targets by May 2027.
The postal service has been under fire for its snail-like delivery speed from both politicians and the public. This year marks the second time Ofcom is investigating them for their failure to meet delivery targets. Last October, they slapped Royal Mail with a jaw-dropping £21 million fine for missing targets in 2024-25. In a shocking turn of events, postal workers from across the UK shared with the BBC that they were instructed to move or even hide mail from higher-ups to create the illusion that delivery targets were being met. How crazy is that?
Let’s not forget Gloucester, where residents have been left fuming over delays that sometimes stretched for months. The firm even admitted that their service there was “totally unacceptable.” They’re on a mission to improve, with a turnaround plan costing around £500 million over the next five years. “We know there is more to do,” Stephenson noted in a statement. It’s a hefty price tag, but it seems they’re willing to invest to get back on track.
In a twist of fate, IDS was snapped up in 2025 by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. So, what’s next for Royal Mail? Can they rise from the ashes and get their delivery game back on point? Only time will tell, but the clock is ticking…
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber