Courier Magazine Summer 2024

CHANGING THE GAME

Nominate

University Bursary

Applications are now open until July

The University Bursary helps postal families support a young person at a university or equivalent institution in the UK. The bursary is there to help cover student expenses so that the student can focus on their education.

What is the University bursary worth?

£1,950 per year for a maximum of 3 years.

When can I apply?

Applications are now open for 2024. Scan the QR code for more information or visit postalfamilyfund.org

“The Postal Family Fund changed my life and I feel so lucky. The experience has been amazing and I’m really grateful. Without the grant I wouldn’t have been able to do extra courses and events, which really helped me learn more about the (paramedic) profession.’ - Chelsie studied paramedic Science.

Apprenticeship Bursary

Supporting young people in their dream careers.

The Apprenticeship bursary is intended primarily for apprentices earning minimum or low wages in order to help them with apprenticeship expenses. Discover more at postalfamilyfund.org

Thank you to the Post Office Remembrance Fellowship (PORF) and Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS) Charity Fund for their kind donations.

COURIER WELCOME

GET IN TOUCH

SUMMER 2024 COVER Young players from Derby’s Mickleover 95 Football Club celebrate Royal Mail’s support.

Share your feedback and stories.

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0800 183 0569

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courier@linney.com

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Courier, Linney Create, Adamsway, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 4FW

GO BIG FOR BHF!

12

NATIONAL WORKPLAN

We’re extending our Network Window – here’s how we’ll deliver the service our customers expect.

TEAM Paul Smith –Editor at Royal Mail

Ellie Piovesana –Editor at Linney Create

PRINTING

Acorn Web Offset Limited, Normanton WF6 1TW

MAILING

MAMS, 4 Middleton Grove, Leeds LS11 5BX

DISTRIBUTION

To notify HR of a change of address, employees should email HRSC.Personal.Data@royalmail.com or write to The HR Service Centre, Pond Street, Sheffield S98 6HR Pensioners should write to: Pensions Services Centre, PO Box 5863, HRSC, Pond Street, Sheffield S98 6AB

ADVERTISING

To advertise in the next edition of Courier, email royalmailadvertising@linney.com for details of availability, suitability and rates. Courier is delivered to c.145,000 homes four times a year.

Get involved with the Great Big Fundraising Challenge 2024. 20

IT’S MY ROUND

How Hythe postie, author and artist Steve’s drawing inspiration from his role. 21

Postie Mike embarks on an emotional journey. 24

BACK IN THE SADDLE

MyPerformance monthly awards

You have to be in it to win it! With the MyDoorstep App, posties hold their performance right in the palm of their hands, and we’re thrilled with the amazing progress in KPI improvements.

MyPerformance is all about celebrating fantastic work. Delivery offices are creating celebration walls to showcase achievements, and posties can now earn titles like Postie of the Month and Rising Star of the Month.

Nominees are entered into a prize draw for a chance to win iPads, restaurant vouchers, shopping vouchers, and the grand prize – a £5,000 holiday voucher. Check out MyPerformance under ‘Me at Work’ on myroyalmail.com for all the details.

Competing in parcels

Three of our mail centres are preparing for new parcel sortation machines (PSMs) that will give us the capability to automate an additional 21,000 parcels an hour. Leeds’ second PSM will go live in August with a first PSM for Plymouth in September and Exeter in October.

Over the last eight years, we’ve successfully deployed 36 PSMs in 28 plants around the UK. We currently sort more than 80% of our parcels automatically.

CHRISTMAS AWARD

Our We Are Christmas film landed the top prize in the Internal category of the Brand Film Awards 2024.

CHANGE FOR GOOD

Colleagues continue to share personal pledges to help create an inclusive culture at Royal Mail. Add yours on Workplace using #ImIn.

ROWLAND HILL FUND

Our in-house charity for postal people held a dedicated day focusing on fundraising and awareness. Learn more at rowlandhillfund.org

Delivering democracy

As the UK’s provider of the Universal Service Obligation (USO), Royal Mail plays a unique and valuable role in the UK’s democratic process.

In the run-up to the General Election, we’ll be delivering poll cards, ballot packs and candidates’ mail. Our role is bigger than that, as we also have to process and deliver the returned postal votes to the local authorities.

As ever, it’s crucial that we deliver this mail to our usual standards. Every postal vote matters.

Please ensure we deliver all mail impartially, accurately and swiftly. And let’s show the country what a great job we can do as we proudly deliver this historic moment in UK history.

Reducing diesel reliance

We’ve now used more than 10 million litres of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) across six locations, a significant milestone for our Steps to Zero journey. A seventh site is planned for later this year.

HVO reduces our carbon emissions without costly vehicle or infrastructure works, with a reduction of up to 90% in direct carbon emissions compared to diesel.

Royal Mail’s Head of Environment, Zebrina Hanly, said: “It’s important to us and our customers that we do everything we can to reduce our emissions as soon as possible.

Electric and hydrogen options for HGVs are still in their infancy, so while the technology and infrastructure are developing, our strategy is to keep emissions to a minimum by using HVO as a transitional fuel.”

We anticipate deploying an additional 17 million litres of HVO this year, bringing the total annual volume to 27 million litres.

COURIER CATCH-UP

Browse previous issues at myroyalmail.com/courier or by scanning the QR code. This edition will appear online around three weeks after it’s been delivered.

USING QR CODES

Use your smart device’s camera to scan codes throughout this edition of Courier for more features and interviews.

The Part We All Play in Parcelforce

More than 200 managers from across Parcelforce, Commercial and central functions attended the Parcelforce operational roadshow at the Midlands Super Hub.

A key theme of the event was the importance of getting it right for our customers to put Parcelforce above its competitors in a tough market.

The interactive sessions, hosted by Rob Fowler, Interim Managing and Operations Director, focused on improving quality, safety and efficiency for the customer through our Royal Mail approach, aligned to growth in a single

network, giving a clear direction for the next 12 months.

Rob said: “It was a great for managers to meet senior leaders from across the business, listen to their vision for the future, ask questions and understand the role we can all play in delivering on our key priorities.”

New Royal Mail Group CEO Emma Gilthorpe will take responsibility for Royal Mail Group this summer. Emma joins us from Heathrow Airport, where she was responsible for the running of one of the world’s busiest airports.

“One of the things that drives me is a core belief in service,” said Emma. “I can’t think of many other companies where dedication to service is so ingrained in the company’s brand, culture and history. I also understand that the last few years have been challenging and that the pride people have in working for Royal Mail and Parcelforce has been tested.

“In my experience, challenging times can also be turning points when teams pull together in adversity, enabling real progress to be made. I believe we are at that point. It is clear that, with everyone’s focus and hard work, Royal Mail is starting to turn a corner on quality of service. The investment in new hubs and technology is also beginning to pay off and with the prospect of Universal Service reform, there is a lot we can build on together.”

We’ve also welcomed Steve Potts, who has joined the Executive Board and is our Chief Information Officer.

Offer for IDS plc by EP Group

Details of the recommended Offer, key undertakings and commitments – and where to find out more.

In April EP Group made a possible offer for International Distribution Services plc of 320 pence per share. This was rejected by the IDS Board.

EP Group subsequently improved its possible offer and on 29 May the Board of IDS announced that it intends to recommend an offer to shareholders at a total value of 370 pence per IDS share.

Why the Board is recommending the Offer

The Board believes that the terms of the Offer from EP Group are fair and reasonable. The Offer represents a significant premium (72.7%) above the share price of 214 pence at the close of business on 16 April 2024, the last business day before the commencement of the offer period.

The Offer reflects the value of GLS’s current growth plans and the progress being made on change at Royal Mail, as well as the execution risks associated with delivering longer-term value for shareholders, for example Universal Service reform, delivery of the turnaround and the investment needed, for example on Out-of-home and network improvements.

Importantly, if the Offer completes, EP Group has agreed to offer the UK Government a series of legally binding undertakings and commitments that reflect Royal Mail’s unique role in society and protect the Universal Service and employee and wider stakeholder interests.

Next steps

EP Group will provide shareholders with an offer document within 28 days of this announcement (or later if the Takeover Panel permits) which will set out in full the terms of the offer and what

Key legally binding undertakings and commitments

EP Group has agreed with the IDS Board to offer a range of legally binding undertakings and commitments. These cover the following:

• The provision of the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service Obligation (including First Class letters still delivered six days a week)

• Maintaining the Royal Mail brand

• Royal Mail’s commitment to the United Kingdom

• The maintenance of employee benefits, including pensions, for the Group’s employees

• Union recognition

• Ensuring there is no change of control of Royal Mail and GLS

• Governance and transparency

• Financial safeguards for Royal Mail

For full details, including the duration of the relevant commitments, please see the 2.7 announcement, via the QR code elsewhere on this page.

steps shareholders need to take.

The Offer is conditional upon a number of regulatory processes, including by the UK Government.

The Acquisition is currently expected to complete during the first quarter of 2025.

The full details of the Offer are set out in the 2.7 announcement (the document containing the formal offer to acquire the business) which can be found by scanning the QR code (left).

For information about what it means for you, including a summary of the Offer and FAQs, visit the Royal Mail people site at myroyalmail.com or speak to your line manager.

Daniel Kretínský, EP Group

The EP Group has the utmost respect for Royal Mail’s history and tradition, and I know that owning this business will come with enormous responsibility – not just to the employees but to the citizens who rely on its services every day.

The scale of the commitments we are offering to the company and the UK government reflects how seriously we take this responsibility, to the benefit of IDS’s employees, union representatives and all other stakeholders.

LEARN MORE

Scan this QR code for the latest updates on the IDS website.

Martin Seidenberg, Group CEO of International Distribution Services

Whilst we know this news comes with uncertainty, there is also opportunity.

EP Group is a private, long-term investor with substantial access to capital and significant knowledge of the postal, logistics and distribution sectors.

EP Group’s main goal is to develop IDS into one of the leading postal logistics players in Europe. It recognises this will require successful transformation, including Universal Service reform, and investments in modernisation and Out-of-home solutions, such as lockers.

EP Group also recognises this can only be achieved as a team. To reach our potential though, we need to press on with delivering our plan for this year.

We’ve already come a long way thanks to you and your efforts. Let’s continue on this path together and make this year a real success!

WATCH Scan

Royal Mail financial results 2023-24

These key figures from our full year results, released in May, demonstrate the progress we made during 2023-24.

1 Excluding 53rd week.

2 Due to price increases.

Royal Mail returned to revenue growth during the second half

• Stabilised the business

• Substantially improved quality of service

• Regained the vast majority of customers we lost

• Improved our productivity and efficiency

• Made good progress on our transformation

The future of parcels is here

How we’re increasing convenience for our customers with Royal Mail parcel lockers and our partnership with the Collect+ network.

Royal Mail is enhancing customer convenience with plans to increase the number of parcel drop-off locations to 21,000 – a rise of more than 50%.

And we’re well on our way to reaching these numbers, largely thanks to the spring launch of our new partnership with Collect+ and the roll-out of the first ever Royal Mail parcel lockers.

This new ‘Out-of-home’ offering will include 5,000 new Collect+ locations for

customers to drop off parcels; a Royal Mail locker network, initially targeting 3,000 locations; and pilot Royal Mail parcelshops, with the potential to expand further.

Chief Commercial Officer Nick Landon said: “This helps us meet demand from the growing number of customers who pay for parcel postage online, and is one of the ways we’re continuing to make sending and receiving parcels as convenient as possible by giving customers greater choice.”

Anna Malley, Out of Home Director, added: “It’s really important we offer the most convenient options for our customers because that’s what keeps us in business.”

Expanding

Our most advanced new service so far is the Collect+ network, with around 5,000 locations in shops, including Londis and independent newsagents, now being used by customers.

Anna said: “By giving our customers access to the Collect+ network, we’re significantly increasing the number of locations where they can drop off parcels and giving them more options to do so during weekends and evenings.

“Our customers can purchase their postage online using our Click & Drop service or get their returns labels from retailers and then bring their items into a store. The store can even print off the label –we’ve made it really simple.”

Our customers can drop off parcels using First and Second Class and Tracked 24 and Tracked 48. This applies both to returns and when customers pay for postage online and print a label or generate a QR code.

In the future, the service will be expanded to enable customers to collect their online purchases.

“We’re giving customers more reasons to be sending their parcels with Royal Mail,” Anna added.

BIG PLUS

Martin Gilbey in Ely, Cambridgeshire – one of 5,000 new Collect+ locations

Parcelshop Kensington

We recently opened our very first Parcelshop so we can reach more customers on the high street.

Cambridgeshire saw some of the first stores go live and Cambridge Delivery Office Collections Customer Operations Manager Ed Howard-Bearder said it was a simple addition to his team’s daily activities.

“We started with three in our area and will eventually have 17 stores,” he explained. “To all intents and purposes, they are like collecting from a Post Office, so the process is very similar and there is very little training required in terms of going into the shop, scanning the barcode, getting the mail and coming out again.”

‘OUT OF HOME’ HELPS US MEET DEMAND FROM CUSTOMERS. IT’S ONE OF THE WAYS WE’RE GIVING THEM GREATER CHOICE.

Postman Martin Gilbey, from Ely Delivery Office, added: “For us, it’s easy. From a customer’s perspective, it’s a very good service – flexible and convenient.”

The store on Fulham Road, in Kensington, London, is bringing send-and-deliver ease with weekday and Saturday opening times. Local customers will also be able to have items delivered to this store for collection.

Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “This opportunity to provide our products and services directly to customers on the high street is a first for Royal Mail.

The Parcelshop is a one-stop shop for all postage needs, with dedicated staff on hand to support and advise on options.”

Our Out-of-home service is proudly growing and this Parcelshop will contribute to our end-of-year goal to provide more than 21,000 locations to customers to drop off parcels for delivery.

5,000 new Collect+ locations

Royal Mail locker network in 3,000+ locations

Pilot Royal Mail parcelshops

Royal Mail parcel lockers

The number of Royal Mail parcel lockers continues to increase after an initial pilot of 14 in the CV-postcode area was followed swiftly by a further 200 nationwide.

Now, we’re moving forward with plans for 1,500 to be in use by the end of the year, enabling our customers posting pre-paid items to drop them off in selected lockers operated by global parcel locker operator Quadient.

Anna said: “This makes for a convenient service for customers. The lockers are open at any time, you can go after work, they could be really close to your home – this is a great service, which further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing customers with more choice for how they use our services.”

In Coventry, Collections Driver Ricardo Da Silva was among the first colleagues to see how the parcel lockers operate.

The Coventry South postie sees the benefit of the lockers, saying: “I think it enables us to be available to our customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Training was easy, it’s a very simple process for us to add to our collections routes and they’re going to be a welcome addition.”

LOCKED IN Ricardo Da Silva at one of the first Royal Mail parcel lockers in Bedworth, Warwickshire

When I arrived at Royal Mail I was often asked, ‘which football club do you support?’ And then I met Dan Williams and he asked me whether we would support his son’s football club with some kits. His son and his team are now playing in a kit with the Royal Mail logo on it. I think it’s terrific.

MARTIN SEIDENBERG Chief Executive Officer

They’re really comfy and nice to wear and they represent our team

NOMINATE TODAY

Community funding for grassroots youth sports teams

Unwavering pride and passion, forging through all weathers out in the community – grassroots sport has a lot in common with Royal Mail. And now we have an exciting new initiative bringing the two together.

Our new Royal Mail Kits 4 Kids programme means that as a Royal Mail colleague you can apply for funding for a snazzy new kit for your local youth sports team to help young people get active.

Royal Mail and our 130,000 people are at the heart of communities across the UK and this new programme gives you the opportunity to show our support to helping children get active in your local area.

Whether you have a sporty child, grandchild, niece, or nephew, or you’re involved coaching or supporting a local youth sports team, you can apply for funding to support a local youth team close to you.

Nominations are open from now until the end of June. You can head to myroyalmail.com/rmkits4kids or scan the QR code to find out more and nominate your local youth sports team.

FIND OUT MORE

Scan the QR code for more information about Royal Mail Kits 4 Kids.

ROBIN

I like the kit because I get to have more of a personality from Dad who works for Royal Mail.

I’m very proud to have Royal Mail red tops emblazoned with the logo. Sport is good for their mental health and wellbeing. It’s good for their health and their cardio, and they continue to enjoy the beautiful game.

DAN WILLIAMS Birmingham Plant Manager and coach of under 10s team Mickelover ’95 Guardians

It’s nice to know that my son’s wearing the Royal Mail logo. The postman’s the heart of the community. It makes me feel very proud.

CHRIS O’LEARY Shift Supervisor, Nottingham Workshop

It would be extra special for me to see Royal Mail on the shirts, knowing that my work is supporting them.

ANNE MARIE POLLARD-VEARNALS 7.5 Tonne Driver, Stockport, and manager of Signol Panthers

THE PART WE ALL PLAY

On 17 June, our new National Workplan began in earnest in response to our extended Network Window. Here’s why it matters across all parts of our operational pipeline.

Over the last few months, across the whole of our operation, we’ve been putting in the preparations to extend our Network Window.

It’s about creating a network capacity for future parcel growth, reducing our carbon footprint and at a sustainable cost. We’re reducing our reliance on air transportation and instead using our existing nationwide road and rail network,

which is more environmentally friendly, efficient and reliable.

As road and rail are slower than air, this will lead to new start and finish times for some operational colleagues.

These changes to our Network Window mean that we need a new National Workplan. The new National Workplan is an agreed set of standards and a framework that brings together each part of the operational pipeline to help us consistently meet our customer service promises and deliver mail on time.

And everyone has a part to play.

Collections

Collections is the customer-facing access point for our products and services. Its role is crucial in making sure letters and parcels are connected with their due services. Here, it’s important that we clear collection points every day at the right time.

Parcel hubs

Our parcel hub teams are responsible for making sure they achieve their shift workplan targets to get despatches and

crossdocking done on time – every shift, every day.

This work really matters and affects colleagues further down in the pipeline, so our parcel hub colleagues must get it right by working together.

Their workplan means we will have a last acceptance time from our largest customers right up to 1.20am for delivery later that day, via Tracked 24.

Our two super hubs will process parcels directly to many of our delivery offices. This is more efficient and will be cross-docked at the inward mail centres.

We will despatch Tracked 48 and Second Class parcels earlier to get them into the network.

Outward process

In the new workplan, our First Class despatch time for mail centres will be 30 minutes earlier so that we can get the mail into the network earlier. Our warehouse colleagues are vital, as they ensure the trailers are loaded quickly and leave on time.

Getting at least 60% of letters and parcels onto the mains despatch is critical. If too much mail is put onto final despatch vehicles, it could be held up in the network. And we risk failing our customer service promise.

Engineering

We’re making sure that our machines are operating when we need them so that the rest of the pipeline can meet its targets and the National Workplan.

National linehaul

As mail centres, parcel hubs and super hubs start to despatch work earlier, we will start to transport this work sooner through the network.

More mail will be transported by road with us operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have secured extra capacity fleet and have additional doubledeck trailers.

For linehaul, it’s essential that vehicle departures and arrivals from outward

plants and hubs to the inward operation are on a move-to-time basis. This is crucial to the National Workplan.

Fleet workshop

Fleet’s making sure our vehicles are well maintained, safe and compliant so colleagues can deliver our service promises to our customers every day and meet the new National Workplan standards.

Inward process

At the inward operation, we’re making sure that we observe the wave one and wave two times and the volume split to the delivery offices is what delivery colleagues are expecting.

Our inward mail centres will receive later arrivals and each plant will have its own unique last arrival time.

Increasing automation will also reduce the inward cycle time.

Local distribution

As the inward mail centres start to process work later and process more onto wave one, great communication is vital to get vehicles loaded and away on time.

In local distribution we’ll see some changes to start and finish times to line up with despatches. Moving to time is very important as delivery teams will be expecting their work on time.

Walk bundling centre

In our walk bundling centres, we’re making sure that the Door to Door product – a critical revenue stream for our business – is reaching our delivery offices on time.

Delivery

Our posties know our customers better than anyone else. They’re the final mile of the operation and rely on colleagues further up the pipeline to do their tasks to plan so that they can do theirs and deliver the service our customers expect.

Mail centre arrivals to delivery offices will be up to 90 minutes later, with the majority receiving around 90% of letters and parcels on wave one. It’s important that we scan all items to the core route so our customers know when we’ll be delivering them, and scan everything at the doorstep.

Last letter time will be 4.30pm for town and rural duties and we’ll deliver parcels on dedicated parcel routes into the evening.

Thank you to everyone on every shift in every work area for your tremendous amount of hard work and effort. You all have a key part to play in this major change.

WATCH For the latest updates to Network Window, including our feature film demonstrating the pipeline approach, scan here to reach our microsite on myroyalmail.com

We have continued to strengthen our position as the UK’s greenest* delivery company.

Powered by posties

We’ve delivered another great performance on our environmental and social goals.

Royal Mail is the eighth largest economic contributor and provides one in every 200 jobs in the UK. But our impact goes far beyond that. Our scale and presence means we have a unique responsibility to make a difference to our planet, people and the communities we are part of.

This is not only the right thing to do – it’s what our customers expect too. That’s why Royal Mail has long-standing commitments to reduce its environmental impact and play a positive role in society.

“I’m hugely proud to share the great progress we’ve made in the year to reduce our environmental impact and increase our value to society,” said our Director of Corporate Affairs, Jenny Hall.

DISCOVER MORE

These accomplishments and many others are showcased in our new 2023-24 ESG Report, Powered by Posties, which is now available to read at royalmail.com/sustainability or by scanning this QR code.

27% LESS WASTE CREATED COMPARED TO 2020-21 8%lower total carbon footprint compared to 2020-21

Royal Mail’s average emissions per parcel

200 gCO2e

10 MILLION LITRES of biofuel deployed in our trucks

5,000 ELECTRIC VANS DEPLOYED AROUND industry lowest*

100 % renewable electricity in our buildings

SOCIAL

We remain at the centre of communities and are uniquely placed to have a positive sustainable impact.

£5 MILLION in community investments

£463,000

200,000 VISITS TO OUR NEW WELLBEING HUB

7,251 raised for British Heart Foundation colleagues trained in life-saving CPR

261

Apprenticeships completed with 142 Postal Apprentices progressing into postie roles.

Your USO questions

Following our Universal Service proposal to Ofcom, we address some of your key queries.

Earlier this year we submitted a proposal to Ofcom, outlining how we might deliver a Universal Service that offers efficiency and financial sustainability.

Proposal summary

• All non-First Class letter deliveries, including Second Class, delivered every other weekday

• Align standard bulk business mail (used by large shippers for bulk mailings like bills and statements) to Second Class, so it arrives within three weekdays instead of two

Answering your key questions

Why don’t we have more detailed plans and different models for different delivery types?

The proposal is a starting point, not a full operational plan. Changes to Universal Service are a matter for Ofcom and the

government. Once that decision is made, we can start detailed planning. This is why full deployment would take 18-24 months.

What about rurals and deep rurals?

The plan, once operationalised, will be adapted for rurals and the density of each population we serve. Every unit will need a specific plan. The aim would be to talk to people who know the routes, then create an achievable structure that ensures we can hit quality and reliability targets.

How do we manage Door to Door items?

We’ve considered specific mail solutions for products such as election materials and Door to Door. The model is to continue with a single preparation frame per walk, in line with our efforts to create more space for parcel prep and sorting. Once we reach the point of detailed operational planning, we can further develop bespoke solutions for different mail types.

How many Saturdays will I have to work?

As all non-First Class letters would be delivered every other weekday (Monday to Friday), there would be fewer routes on a Saturday while we focus on First Class and parcels. This means opportunities for more Saturdays off, depending on attendance patterns. The exact number of Saturdays required

ANSWERED

will depend on your office, because the difference in delivery time between ‘all products’ and ‘parcels and First Class only’ will vary locally.

How will this plan affect non-drivers? Will they only work Monday to Friday?

The proposed model is for fewer routes on a Saturday, which will mean more opportunities for Saturdays off. It will be important to share this benefit fairly between all colleagues, so the exact pattern would be determined locally once we commence operational planning.

Keep sending your questions in to: rmcommunications@royalmail.com

FIND OUT MORE

Scan the QR code to see all the FAQs

WATCH Our animated video on how the proposed changes could work for two urban routes.

Head to the Universal Service page for the latest developments, as we await Ofcom’s response to its public consultation.

At your service

Royal Navy reservist Robert Rowatt introduces MilNet, the new Employee Resource Group for veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, their family members and friends.

I studied chemistry with a University Royal Naval Unit. The travel and adventure appealed to me, so I joined and before long I was onboard HMS Smiter sailing to Europe during the holidays.

When I finished my degree, I was keen to continue with the Royal Navy while exploring a civilian career, so I applied to be a reservist. This means committing to a minimum of 24 days a year, primarily for training and exercises. I can also be mobilised if I’m needed full time.

Connections

Royal Mail has always been popular with service people. I guess there’s something familiar about serving the public, braving the elements, and wearing the uniform.

One of the main reasons I considered joining Royal Mail was because it’s a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge which demonstrates support to defence and the armed forces community. There are also HR policies to help people

How we’re supporting servicepeople

• All Royal Mail job adverts carry a forces-friendly logo

• We raise awareness of our policies and MilNet during the induction process

• Our Time Off Work policy includes two weeks’ paid leave for reservists to participate in the Annual Active Service Commitment

• We’ve created a factsheet for managers

• There’s a section for veterans in the Wellbeing Hub

• We’re creating a self-identification process on our HR systems to allow veterans, reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and spouses/partners to voluntarily declare their status

• And we continue to support the British Forces Post Office – a 210-year military and commercial alliance allowing serving military personnel and their families to exchange letters and parcels at a reduced postage rate

like me take time off from their role – in my case, as a Product Specification Design Manager – for required service.

Since the launch of the Employee Resource Groups last year, there’s been a lot of passion internally to introduce one for serving and ex-serving colleagues.

MilNet gives our current veterans and reservists a space to connect, a voice within the business, and an opportunity to help shape the future of the business so we can continue to be a great place for veterans and reservists to work.

FIND OUT MORE Email MilNet@royalmail.com, search MilNet on Workplace, or jump straight to the group by scanning the QR code.

Celebrating those who make

Nominate your colleagues who go above and beyond in our new quarterly recognition programme.

Our people are what makes Royal Mail special. From our posties to our cleaners, from sales teams to engineers, drivers to call centre colleagues and everyone in between. A collective heartbeat that keeps the nation’s mail moving.

Everyone can play their part and make a difference to our customers, our communities, and each other, and we want to recognise those that do it best.

That’s why we’re introducing the Heart of Royal Mail awards – our new companywide recognition programme, shining a light on the individuals who go above and beyond and truly embody our core values.

Who is eligible?

Everyone across Royal Mail, Parcelforce and PSFL.

How does it work?

The Heart of Royal Mail Awards will run quarterly, with four categories designed to recognise excellence across the whole organisation. Whether that’s serving the community, delighting our customers, going the extra mile to support each other, or getting involved in transforming our business, there is so much to be proud of.

You can nominate a colleague at any time by scanning the QR code and completing a short nomination form.

Each quarter nominees will be shortlisted and then voted on by a rotating judging panel of senior leaders from across the organisation.

When will the awards happen?

The first round of quarterly winners will be announced mid-late September, with the deadline for first-quarter nominations being 31 August.

FIND OUT MORE Scan the QR code to access our Awards Hub for more information (including FAQs and T&Cs) and to make a nomination.

the most difference Community Hero

Outstanding Contribution

What are the award categories?

First Class Service

So many of our people provide service that is First Class, whether that’s ensuring excellent services for our customers, or by playing their own unique part in helping Royal Mail deliver for the UK. Taking ownership of the service they provide to others and doing it with passion and pride – this is what makes us stand out from the competition. These are our colleagues who are First Class

Game Changer

At more than 500 years old, our company has undergone constant change to keep growing and evolving to best serve our customers. As we write our next chapter, it’s the people who get involved, share new ideas, and champion positive change who are driving our progress and success. These are our Game Changers

Outstanding Contribution

There are those in our business who just shine. We all have a role model we look up to – the people who are brilliant at what they do, live our values and bring their best every day. These are our Outstanding Contributors

Community Hero

Our people have a lot of heart. This is more than a day job for many, and going the extra mile to make a difference is what makes them tick, whether that’s fundraising for a good cause, giving up their time for volunteering, stepping up in times of need, or with simple acts of kindness. These are our Community Heroes.

Go BIG for BHF!

Be inspired, get creative and start fundraising for the charity that’s close to our hearts.

Last year there were epic personal challenges, adrenaline-pumping skydives, and even events inspired by reality TV. From Dundee to Dover, 30 teams competed in the Great Big Fundraising Challenge 2023, raising an outstanding £230,000 for our charity partner, British Heart Foundation.

In what was a highly competitive and close contest, it was Team North-East who emerged victorious, raising the most money per head. Their heart-warming and creative combination of bike rides, walks, a Women’s World Cup raffle, and much more, brought in more than £25,000.

“The Great Big Fundraising Challenge meant so much to the North-East Operational Team,” said Anne O’Connor, Special Events Business Partner and BHF Champion. “We were incredibly proud to raise the most money during the campaign.

“We loved supporting BHF and seeing the positive buzz it brought to our teams. We’re very proud of what we achieved together.”

Your impact

Thanks to the support and competitive spirit of every team, the cash raised last year has already been put to good use, funding more than 140 community

defibrillators, training 3,800 young people in CPR, enabling more than 12,565 calls to the BHF Heart Helpline, and helping develop accessible heart health content, including BHF’s first braille booklet.

Fundraising challenge 2024

Now hearts across the UK are counting on us again. It’s time for you and your team to join forces, dig deep, and get ready for the Great Big Fundraising Challenge 2024.

From July 1 to September 30, we’re asking you to raise a minimum of £2 per head to help us achieve our mission.

Just £2 per head could:

• help BHF train 250,000 young people in CPR

• equip communities with lifesaving defibrillators

• provide help and hope to vulnerable patients and families across the country

FIND OUT MORE Scan the QR code for fundraising inspiration and all the information you need

COME ON YOU REDS! It’s time to take the lead on your next creative fundraising idea for BHF.

HEART AND SOUL Team North-East raised more than £25,000 in 2023.

Hythe postie Steve Boyce traces his journey from aspiring cartoonist to published children’s author.

INSPIRING A NEW CHAPTER

At 64, Steve Boyce still feels like a kid at heart.

“It’s the secret to seeing the funny side of life,” declares this Hythe postie, whose cheerful charm and quick wit have won the hearts of countless customers and colleagues during his 20-year tenure with Royal Mail.

Indeed, the old adage that ‘laughter is the best medicine’ is no joke to Steve, who, just last year, wrote and illustrated his third children’s book, the latest in a series of funny fables inspired by the people and places he encounters on his round.

On the write track

Growing up, Steve dreamt of becoming a professional cartoonist. He loved how the form allowed him to blend a passion for storytelling with his knack for illustration.

When he was just 15 years old, he visited the editor of his local newspaper, the Daily Echo, in a lucky bid to get his work published.

“I’d just received a letter from Carl Giles, a bit of a personal hero, who was known back then as one of the biggest names in cartooning,” Steve recalls. “I asked for his advice on how to be successful in the industry, and he sent back a really encouraging reply.

“It was the motivation I needed to start taking my work seriously. And surprisingly, it didn’t take much convincing to get the Echo to feature me.”

Steve’s cartoons were published in a comic strip for more than a year, until he left school and found work at the nearby Southampton docks.

“I had all sorts of jobs over the years

before becoming a postie,” Steve says. “I worked in computing as a systems analyst, in factories. I even studied graphic design at university in Salisbury in my 30s.

“But no matter the day job, I’ve never lost the drive to keep creating art. Whether it’s building, writing or drawing, I’ve always had a passion project on the go.”

Getting into character

Becoming a postie helped Steve connect and familiarise himself with the people and places that would later feature in his books.

And it was 15 years into his career with Royal Mail when he had an idea for the character who would eventually inspire him to start writing his most ambitious project yet.

“I was driving down the M27 and I saw a sign that said, ‘Cone helpline’. Strange, I thought; is that the number lost traffic cones call when they’re looking for help?

“As funny as it sounds, I was suddenly

full of ideas about stories of human-like cones: Cone Alone, Cone and Doyle, Sherlock Cones.

“I eventually settled on the name Cornelius, and the idea for a whole family of characters – a whole world, really –came to life.”

Cornelius Cone and Friends, selfpublished in 2019, was the result of months of effort balanced alongside the daily demands of Steve’s work as a postie.

Set in the New Forest – the idyllic National Park that borders Hythe – and full of Steve’s trademark tongue-in-cheek humour, the story is a touching tale intended to entertain and educate kids about important issues like recycling, road safety and caring for the countryside.

“I’m lucky to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world,” says Steve. “I wanted to be a champion for the New Forest’s protection in a fun, lighthearted way.”

Encouraged by the response to the first book, Steve’s since written two more, expanding the Cornelius Cone universe to feature new characters including Postman Pete, Ella Copter and Will Clamp – all inspired by a real-life colleague and his two young children.

“Pete’s a good friend and a real hoot. He was a staunch supporter of the first book, and after sharing it with his kids I knew they’d be over the moon to see themselves in print.”

And Pete’s not the only colleague who’s joined Steve’s fictional family. His third book, Cornelius Cone and the Earth’s Crust, features and is dedicated to muchloved Hythe postie Gloria, who passed away in 2023.

“Gloria exemplified the postie spirit,” says Steve. “She was a happy and hard-working people person. It was a no-brainer to include her in the book.

“I’m interested in everyday people who work everyday jobs. They’ll always be the inspiration for my characters. Different types of traffic cones too, of course.”

The next chapter

Despite having already sold his books in countries as far away as Japan, the fun has only just begun for this determined postie.

“The big idea is to get Cornelius animated and put a series up on YouTube. There’ll be more stories too, so if you fancy a laugh, watch this space.”

What’s your round?

If you work in a special or unusual part of the country, or the work you do has inspired you or influenced other areas of your life, send a few details to courier@linney.com

WHETHER IT’S BUILDING, WRITING OR DRAWING, I’VE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION PROJECT ON THE GO

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Steve often passes the New Forest’s native ponies on his round

Back in the saddle

Meet Mike Miller, the postie riding out grief by cycling the length of France.

Last summer, Hadfield postie Mike Miller got the type of phone call everyone dreads. His dad – a proud Royal Mail worker for more than 45 years –had been diagnosed with lung cancer and his condition was going downhill.

Mike took the week off work and drove from Hadfield to Suffolk, to be with his dad one last time. Sadly, less than 48 hours into his trip, there was another emergency much closer to home. Mike’s son Joe had collapsed.

“I got a call from a neighbour who found him in the back garden,” Mike remembers. “I managed to get hold of my daughter. She went to the house and called an ambulance, but there was a mix-up with

the address, so paramedics took an hour and 40 minutes.

“Joe was in and out of consciousness. I drove through the night to get home. By the time I got there he was in hospital and in a coma.”

Father and son

Mike says his son Joe, a window cleaner, had been suffering with his mental health for a while.

“We lived together, the two of us, and I became like his carer really.

Despite his mental health struggles, Joe had appeared to be in decent physical health. But his collapse on 3 June 2023 turned out to be a heart attack. He died in hospital, aged just 25. Then barely two months later, Mike’s dad, aged 82, passed away too.

“It was a lot to deal with,” Mike remembers. “I decided the best thing was to take some time off work. I needed space to come to terms with what was happening.”

Fighting fit

“He suffered with psychosis and severe paranoia, thinking people were out to get him. He was hospitalised a couple of times and on medication. It was hard, but I did my best for him.

“We liked going for a pint, watching football and having a kickabout – the usual stuff, really.”

In the months after his devastating double loss, Mike found solace in exercise –swimming, walking, and getting back on a bike for the first time in years. So, when his GP suggested finding a goal to work towards, the idea of a big bike challenge began to gather pace.

“I sat down with a mate of mine,” Mike recalls, “and together we came up with the idea of riding the length of France.

“I wanted to do it in memory of Joe and for charity. And because Joe had struggled so much with his mental health, MIND felt like the obvious choice.”

IT WAS A LOT TO DEAL WITH. I NEEDED SPACE TO COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING

Setting off on the first anniversary of Joe’s death, the four-man team will be cycling from Caen in northern France to Nice in the south. The route is more than 1,000km – the equivalent of 870miles –which means covering a gruelling 60 miles a day for up to three weeks.

“I’m 58 and this is definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever done,” Mike says. “But the doctor was right – the training helps get me up in the morning as well as keeping me fit.”

two local firms to help cover the cost of all the kit and the accommodation they’ll need along the route.

“It’s turned out to be quite the operation,” Mike laughs. “My two sisters are coming too. They’ll be following us in a car as our support vehicle.”

Now back at work and training as often as possible, Mike has reached £7,000 and counting so far for MIND.

Mike’s story has touched everyone around him, prompting sponsorship from

WELLBEING WORKSHOPS

Learn how to take care of yourself and those around you with our virtual wellbeing workshops, covering Financial Wellbeing, Burnout, Lifestyle, Neurodiversity and Suicide Awareness.

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

“I know times are tough for a lot of people,” he said, “but if you can spare a couple of quid, it would really mean a lot.”

DONATE

To show your support for Mike and his challenge, scan here.

If you’re going through tricky times or supporting someone else who is, our Moments That Matter guides will help you spot signs and symptoms and learn how to start healthy and helpful conversations.

WELLBEING AMBASSADORS

Could you be our next Wellbeing Ambassador? We need colleagues to help raise awareness, signpost co-workers, and improve wellbeing culture in the workplace.

‘Help@hand’ in the App Store or Google Play or scan the QR code. Enter the Royal Mail PIN: 164003 to register.

The art of Royal Mail

Terry Charles of Post Office and BT Art

Club is encouraging other art-loving Royal Mail people to brush up on their skills and exhibit their work.

Our club was founded in 1906, with its first exhibition at Mount Pleasant that same year. Our 117th exhibition takes place this September – that’s quite an achievement.

Over the years, these events have been opened by the likes of The Queen Mother and Vera Lynn.

Our oldest member and chairman, Ron McGill, began working life as a telegram boy. I’m the deputy chairman and spent 32 years with Royal Mail, before retiring in 2006.

I’ve drawn and painted for as long as I can remember. I attended Epsom Art College in the 1960s and was a winner of the Royal Mail National Christmas Card Competition five times between 1995 and 2006.

Post Office and BT Art Club has a proud past. But equally significant is our future – and that relies on having sufficient members and artworks to continue exhibiting.

We’re encouraging current and retired Royal Mail people and their relatives to join us. All that’s required is some degree of artistic ability.

On this page, we’re showcasing artwork created by retired Royal Mail people – members of Post Office and BT Art Club.

This year’s exhibition takes place between 3-13 September at Holy Sepulchre, Holborn Viaduct, in London.

GET INVOLVED

To discover how to become a member and have your work exhibited by Post Office BT Art Club visit pobtartclub.wordpress.com

Tommy Cooper by Leslie Owen Davis

Hastings Fishing Boats by Terry Charles

Boats at Topsham by Ron McGill

Hollyhock Splendour by Terry Charles

Street of Gold by Philip Moore

Pedal to the medal

Postie

Amanda Gailite on keeping a full-time job and a world-class BMX star on track.

If you’re a working parent bringing up a child who loves competitive sport, postie Amanda Gailite is right there with you, cheering from the sidelines.

Amanda’s son, Adrian, is 11 years old and already one of the best junior BMX riders in the world. So, when she’s not delivering her round in New Addington, South London, she’s delivering Adrian to training and events.

This season alone, the family will be covering close to 5,000 miles, so Adrian can compete up and down the country and get closer to his goal of one day making the Olympic team.

“Working at Royal Mail helps me a lot,” Amanda says. “I love my job and working in the mornings means I can always get Adrian to training.”

Balancing act

Adrian’s talent was clear from a very young age. As a toddler, his parents bought

him a balance bike, which he took to at lightning speed.

“He was up and down hills with his arms in the air,” Amanda remembers. “My mum said, ‘he’s so talented – you have to do something with this.’ So, all this was her fault, really!”

Amanda, who is from Latvia and joined Royal Mail in 2018, took Adrian to their local BMX track when he was just four. Things ramped up quickly, with his first competition aged five – a nailbiting experience Amanda will never forget.

“I was very nervous watching that first race. He was still so small. And then I had to watch as he fell and another rider rode right over him.”

To Amanda’s relief, her determined little boy got back on his bike and finished the race – a display of the competitive spirit that’s seen him go on to scoop awards right up to international level.

After rain derailed his performance at the World Championships in South Carolina in May, Adrian –currently ranked 60 in the world – is now gearing up for next year’s event in Copenhagen, and the Euros in Latvia.

With Adrian on track for Olympic stardom, the family are looking for sponsorship to help cover the thousands they need for travel and equipment.

And Adrian’s not the only star in the family. Amanda’s 17-year-old daughter is into performing arts and gearing up to appear in a West End show.

“I’m just so proud of both of them,” Amanda beams.

A relaxing two-night boutique hotel break

Treat yourself and the one you love to a perfect two-night boutique hotel escape. Choose from a host of locations across the UK. And, with breakfast included, you’ll be all set to explore your chosen destination’s delights. Whether it’s actionpacked attractions, a little lazy luxury or long walks through nature – there’s a location you’ll love.

For the chance to win, just tell us in less than 30 words which story you’ve enjoyed most in this issue of Courier – and why. Email couriercomp@linney.com using ‘Boutique’ in the subject line. Or post your entry to Courier Competition,

KEYWORD CROSSWORD

Linney Create, Adamsway, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 4FW. Include your name and address – along with your job role and location. Entries must reach us by Friday 19 July and may be published in a future edition.

When you’ve found the keyword, post your entry to Courier Crossword, Linney Create, Adamsway, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 4FW or take a photo and email it to couriercomp@linney.com by Friday 19 July.

ACROSS

1. Animal providing a safe, stripy crossing (5)

4. Olympic host city for 2024 (5)

6. Twirl cool tache for sweet treat (9)

8. Tell fibs (3)

9. Lancashire town famed for its sweetened pastry cake filled with currants (6)

12. Midlands football team resides in large, luxurious country house (5,5)

14. Written or printed proof of payment (7)

15. Weep (3)

16. Often tucked away inside cloth shelter (4)

17. Tool for gardening or plastering (6) DOWN

1. German inventor who experimented with sending mail by rocket (6)

2. The wild horses of Denver’s NFL team (6)

3. At a higher level than (5)

4. Headed back to the high mountain peak from the north despite detailed proposal (4)

5. Gaze lasciviously over shoulder at storage cylinder for thread (4)

7. Euro 2024 host nation (7)

10. Shallow garden play box for children. Dig in! (7)

Profoundly immoral and wicked (4)

English singer-songwriter with numerical albums entitled 19, 21, 25 and 30 (5)

Midlands river, third longest in the

(5)

Stamps featuring dinosaurs, dogs and a plucky piglet

Fierce prehistoric predators, a popular pink pig and the UK’s favourite four-legged friends are the stars of new stamps and collectibles.

The Age of the Dinosaurs issue features the captivating creatures who dominated the land, sea and air up to 250 million years ago. Beloved animated character Peppa Pig’s 20th anniversary is celebrated with a charming and colourful collection of stamps and souvenirs. And we honour our cute and curious canine companions in our Dogs issue.

We’re giving away 10 sets of stamps from each issue. Email couriercomp@linney.com with your name, address and contact number – and use ‘Stamps’ in the subject line. Or post your entry to Courier Stamps, Linney Create, Adamsway, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 4FW. Entries must reach us by Friday 19 July Discover more stamps, souvenirs and gifts by visiting royalmail.com/shop or scanning the QR code.

CONGRATULATIONS to Exeter Mail Centre MGV driver Melvyn Tattersall, the spring 2024 edition fitness bundle winner.

Readers share tales of Royal Mail life and reflect on stories from the previous edition of Courier.

Plate days a week

While changing postbox time plates in Solihull, I unearthed a hand-written time plate from 1965 – the year The Beatles released their sixth studio album, Rubber Soul, and The Rolling Stones had their first number one with (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Jason Good CCOM, Redditch Delivery Office

Have you discovered any postbox time plates from the past? Share your story with courier@linney.com or on the Courier Workplace page.

Facing a bright future

Hatfield postal apprentice Erin’s story strongly resonated with me. As a fellow young person, her journey is inspiring and excites me for my own future in Royal Mail.

Loris Smyth

Mail sorter, Northern Ireland Hub, Mallusk

Your health in your hands

Having personal connections to mental health concerns, it was great to read about the Help@hand support network app and also the launch of the new Mental Health programme.

Shelagh Parrish

Postie, Devizes Delivery Office

Peace in the Pennines

Halifax postie Toby Dawtrey’s tale touched my heart as I also lost my best friend to cancer. Working on the streets he used to walk down makes me feel close to him.

Eva Radvanyi

Postie, Torquay Delivery Office

Women of the First World War

I was fascinated to learn about the important role women played in the GPO during the war. As someone interested in women’s history, it was something I’d never read about before.

Louise Gourley

Customer service advisor, Doxford

Steps to success

The pull-out poster in the spring edition of Courier was a great guide to some really easy wins that could save Royal Mail millions of pounds.

Glen Bannister

Postie, Maldon Delivery Office

Help for hard times

I loved learning about how Rowland Hill Fund supported postie Kirsty Allman after her accident. I had to face a similar situation when my wife had a health issue recently. I realised how important it is to work in a company that is supportive in times of need.

Georgios Gkioulekas

Postie, Acton Delivery Office

Fit for a King

It impressed me that Debbie King felt strongly enough to work in areas beneficial to vulnerable people and brave enough to change careers later in her working life.

Very inspirational.

Geoff Green

OPG, Swindon Mail Centre

SHARE YOUR STORY

There’s a £20 Amazon gift card for the writer of every letter we publish. Email courier@linney.com or write to us at Courier Letters, Linney Create, Adamsway, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 4FW. Also share your own news and views on the Courier Workplace page.

“Once you’ve been bitten, you’re more anxious”

Ahead of this year’s Dog Awareness Week, 1-7 July, Courier spoke to Paula Anderson, a Gainsborough postie for nine years, who has suffered five dog attacks.

Every summer, the national media spotlight shines on Dog Awareness Week, giving us an opportunity to highlight the dangers our posties face, the impact on victims, and the steps

customers can take to help keep our people safe all year round.

It’s a subject postie Paula Anderson feels strongly about. In the nine years she’s been at Royal Mail, she’s experienced five dog attacks and still bears a scar from the worst.

“I’ve always been careful,” Paula says. “You get to know the dogs on your route, and to take extra care on unfamiliar rounds. I have dogs myself, so I’m certainly not scared of them.”

The first time Paula got bitten, a dog leapt over a gate. She put her arm up to protect her face and it bit her elbow. The second time, Paula entered the garden of a block of flats and spotted a man with a dog but couldn’t see a lead.

“I stepped back and asked if I was safe,” she remembers. “The man reassured me and appeared to take hold of the animal, but as I got to my first door, the dog came hurtling towards me, running up my leg and biting me on the arm.”

Scarred

The wound was deep. Paula had to go to A&E for a tetanus jab and antibiotics. It took more than three weeks to heal, and she was left with a three-inch scar.

Some months later – despite police speaking to the owner – the same dog escaped through an open door and went for Paula again. This time, she managed to fight it off with her foot and get to safety.

Since then, Paula has been bitten on the finger twice: handing a parcel over at the door, and by a dog that appeared suddenly from around the back of a house.

“I’m resilient,” Paula says, “but once you’ve been bitten, you’re more anxious.

“At home, I don’t let my dogs anywhere near the front door. If customers could commit to this, we’d be a lot safer.”

Taking the lead

A staggering 1,916 dog attacks were reported by Royal Mail colleagues in 2022-2023, an increase of 15% on the previous year.

Most attacks happen when a door is opened and the dog escapes. Injuries can range from scratches, bites, and minor lacerations to serious injuries that have led to permanent disabilities. Victims can experience posttraumatic stress, fear, and anxiety. In some cases, colleagues are unable to return to work.

AVOID

AVOID interaction with all dogs. Never pet or feed them. Never enter a garden where a dog is present. Never take assurances from a customer that a dog won’t bite.

VALUE yourself. Never take any unnecessary risks. Always shout to the customer to restrain the dog before opening the door, and stand well back. Never put fingers through the letterbox. Always use a posting peg, open-palm approach, folded bundle, or pen to push through the mail.

OBSERVE hazards on your round and check your PDA or Hazard Card regularly for recorded hazards. Mark letters with a “D” as a prompt for when you arrive at the address.

INFORM your manager and colleagues of new hazards. Carry blank Hazard Cards with you to note details. Ask your manager if you need some.

DEFEND yourself, if required, using your delivery equipment, such as your pouch or trolley, to create a physical barrier between you and the dog. Most bites occur on the limbs, so long trousers and sleeves can help protect from serious injury.

Many attacks could be avoided if the owners took some simple steps. Here’s how we’re encouraging the public to take the lead and help protect our postal workers.

Webinar for dog owners

We’re working with Blue Cross charity to provide a free webinar for dog owners. Protecting your Postie will focus on the risks postal workers face and provide essential advice on how to prevent an attack. Anyone can register for the webinar at www.bluecross.org.uk/protecting-your-postie or by scanning the QR code above.

Royal Mail App

The Royal Mail App is going to be updated so when customers book a Redelivery or track an item they’ll get a message asking them to secure their dog before a postal worker arrives. This message will also include a link to more dog awareness information.

Email

Customers who use our Special Delivery and Tracked 24 services now receive an instruction to secure their dog before a postal worker arrives. An average of 4.8 million emails are now sent to customers every week.

Police

powers: “Everyone

deserves to be safe at work”

“If your dog is out of control and a postal worker is attacked, the police will investigate you. Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 includes private properties, and the dog will be regarded as dangerously out of control when there are reasonable grounds to believe that it will injure a person. The local authority also has powers, like Community Protection Warnings, which ensure the property is made secure, the dog wears a muzzle, and the owner attends a Responsible Dog Owner course. In severe cases, police will seize the dog and launch a criminal investigation, which could result in a fine for the owner and the dog being destroyed. Everyone deserves to be safe at work. Postal workers are no different.”

Police Officer Paul Croft, Chippenham Neighbourhood Policing Team, Wiltshire

Danny’s naval rescue mission

On the 110th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, Medway postie Danny Broom shares the story of his quest to save the Navy’s last surviving U-boat-hunting ‘dazzle’ ship.

On Monday 25 March 1918, HMS Saxifrage embarked on its maiden mission to seek out and sink German U-boats.

One hundred and six years later, Medway Mail Centre postie Danny Broom’s on his own maritime mission: to restore this last surviving First World War submarine-hunting Q-ship to her former gleaming glory.

Danny and his partner Toni are among a small but dedicated crew determined to transform this neglected national treasure – berthed and abandoned at Chatham Dockyard – into shipshape condition for the local community.

Although Danny’s spent time on board carrying out minor restoration projects, access is restricted.

To donate

You can support the Q-Ship Society’s campaign with a GoFundMe donation or with Easyfundraising, where purchases you make through Amazon, eBay, TUI, Sainsbury’s and other brands result in a direct donation from the retailer with no extra cost to you.

“I often walk alongside the dock, by the Medway River and across the water from the ship,” says Danny. “It’s frustrating to be so close and yet so powerless.”

Danny’s on a quest to highlight the plight of the ship and raise funds to tow her to nearby Anchor Wharf. Here’s where the team plans to refurbish and relaunch the 263ft craft as a floating facility for local groups, such as charities and Sea Cadet units, as well as an Armed Forces memorial.

“Q-Ships were known as ‘dazzle ships’,” explains Danny. “They were disguised as merchant vessels with jagged camouflage livery that would confuse U-boat captains. As the enemy submarines approached, her crew would appear to panic and flee.

Meanwhile, a small team of naval officers would remain on board, revealing 12-pounder naval guns and opening fire.”

HMS Saxifrage had nine wartime U-boat encounters before being renamed RNVR President and redeployed to Thames Embankment. She spent the next 65 years as a training ship before becoming a party venue – a sad chapter in the proud history of a vessel hailed as ‘the great

grandmother of submarine chasers’.

Moored at Chatham since 2016, she’s cared for, from afar for now, by Danny and the Q-Ship Society. Although he’s enjoyed the support of his fellow Medway Mail Centre colleagues and other Royal Mail people, Danny knows he needs to make waves to raise the funds required to relocate and restore this historic nautical artefact. Otherwise, it could be destined for the scrapyard.

“We need volunteer craftspeople and fundraisers to help us save, restore and preserve her,” he says. “Our dream is to bring her back to life for the people of Medway and to keep alive the memories of those who served in the First World War.”

To find out more about Danny’s project, and to get involved, visit q-shiptrust.co.uk

NAVAL GAZING

Danny can only view the ship from afar in Chatham dockyard.

Blast from the past

In 1934,

a

German inventor set out to deliver mail by missile. Was he a postal pioneer or a self-promoting prankster?

Almost 90 years before Royal Mail trialled drone deliveries for residents of remote Scottish islands, German scientist Gerhard Zucker travelled to the Outer Hebrides on a mission to prove that rockets could provide a communication link to the mainland. It was one of five attempts at a pie-in-the-sky endeavour that would come crashing down to earth.

After his experiments with rocket mail failed to impress Nazi officials, Zucker emigrated to England in May 1934, where he met German stamp dealer CH Dombrowski. The pair formed the British Rocket Syndicate. Their first experiment involved firing a rocket from a launching rack on the outskirts of London. A journalist reported: “When the

HERR-BRAINED SCHEME

rocket had exhausted its energy, a parachute floated the mail bag down to earth.”

Days later, on 6 June, Zucker loaded around 1,000 letters into a rocket on the Sussex coast. It was launched from a 15-ft rig lubricated with butter. A Daily Express correspondent reported: “We watched it soar then turn and glide earthwards.” The mail items were retrieved and delivered by Brighton posties.

A determined Zucker headed to the Outer Hebrides and attempted to fire a rocket between the islands of Scarp and Harris. It blew up and crash landed on launch. Undeterred, he headed to Harris on 31 July 1934 for another shot at the stars. The rocket exploded, scattering mail “like confetti”, according to The Daily Record, which also reported that Zucker fainted following the disaster.

His next foolhardy flight of fancy was his most ambitious: firing mail from the mainland to the Isle of Wight – in defiance of a Home Office directive to halt his experiments. The rocket travelled 1.5 miles in the wrong direction, landing in Pennington Marshes, Hampshire.

Even before his Isle of Wight flight , Zucker was promoting the future expansion of his venture, touting a Dover to Calais route followed by Holland,

Switzerland and America. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions warned Zucker and Dombrowski of potential criminal proceedings if they persevered with their philatelic follies.

Zucker was eventually deported to Germany, where he served with the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. He persevered with his reckless rocket experiments and was reportedly jailed for manslaughter after the deaths of three spectators at a demonstration in Lower Saxony in 1964.

ROYAL MAIL OPEN DAY

The Postal Museum’s next Royal Mail open day takes place on Sunday 7 July. Admission for Royal Mail colleagues, family members and friends is just £1 and includes all exhibitions, activities and a ride on Mail Rail

Email bookings@postalmuseum.org to reserve your place and visit postalmuseum.org for more details.

Gerhard Zucker showcases one of his mail rockets.

FAIL MAIL Zucker’s unsuccessful Isle of Wight flight

Our teams are working hard up and down the country to keep us connected to what’s going on right across the business, to bring us all the information we need on the biggest initiatives and to make sure we have all the right resources and support at our fingertips.

NEWS

Keep up with the latest from across Royal Mail and Parcelforce. Access digital copies of every issue of Courier in just a few taps. Catch up on all the latest episodes of RMtv – your weekly Royal Mail and Parcelforce news programme.

TRANSFORMATION

For all the resources you need in relation to changes we’re making under the Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement with the CWU, visit the Transformation page.

UNIVERSAL SERVICE

As we seek to modernise the Universal Service, this dedicated page is kept up to date with all the latest information, as we call on Ofcom to support reform.

ME AT WORK

Alongside the People App, Me at Work is the place to go to read our People policies, for information on pensions, benefits and much, much more.

That’s how much in financial assistance goes unclaimed each year.

As the cost of living continues to rise, it’s crucial to know that there is support for you and your family. However, when considering financial support from the government or in the form of benefits there can be a stigma that can lead to us overlooking what we might be entitled to.

Here at Salary Finance, we have created a resource debunking common myths about who is eligible for financial support.

In July we’ll be launching our new Better Off Calculator, powered by Policy in Practice, the experts in state financial support. It’s easy, free to use and in a matter of minutes you can figure out if you’re missing out on free money.

We’ll also be hosting an online Livestream event. It’s a great opportunity to learn how government financial support works and get guidance on how to claim what you can.

Scan one of the QR codes above to sign up to the Livestream and to view the blog, simply search for “Don’t let free money slip through your fingers!” on our learn platform: learn.salaryfinance.com/royalmail/uk