COURIE R SPRING2023

As the sun goes down, Edinburgh Mail Centre’s parcel sorting machine (PSM) powers up for the night shift. The PSM, installed in June, is typically operated by a team of 10 and processes 55,000 to 60,000 parcels each night. The business exceeded its target for 70% of all parcels being automated before Christmas – way ahead of the spring target it set. Now, attention has turned to getting to the industry-standard 90%.

“Every minute we lose is critical,” insists night shift manager Stuart Templeton.

As part of the push to maximise the PSM’s performance, there’s a team huddle every two hours during a shift. The performance data’s reviewed and gaps are identified to keep the shift on track.

PSM technology is helping make sure we get paid for the work we do and has been a big hit with engineer Iain Wightman, who joined Royal Mail as an apprentice in the 1990s.

“The machinery back then was pretty basic,” he recalls. “It’s evolved to allow us to scan barcodes, read handwriting and weigh parcels.” country you could think of – the most unusual was probably Vanuatu.”

Stuart, Iain, their colleagues and the new PSM are forging ahead with an operation that’s increasingly efficient and accurate. Alongside the delivery office and Parcelforce teams Courier encountered across Scotland’s capital, they’re dedicated to delivering on our 24/7 mission.

Typically, the service is used for urgent deliveries such as international paperwork, but it throws up the odd surprise too.

“I’ve sent parcels for actors, footballers and even the Pope. Once, there was a portrait painting being sent to Obama.”

Lady in red

Having swapped her role as a nurse to become a postie at the start of the pandemic, Anne Cameron’s highlight so far is being invited to London to be part of Royal Mail’s Young People’s Panel – where more than 100 colleagues under the age of 30 came together to share their experiences.

“It was great to be invited, and makes you feel a wee bit important,” says Anne. “I met people from so many different parts of the business and left with a really positive feeling having shared ideas about the future of the business.

“Monitoring our performance could be the difference between putting 45,000 items or 60,000 items through,” adds Stuart. “That has a direct impact on our customers because every parcel matters.”

NIGHT

Andy O’Meara delivering next-day parcels for FedEx