ALL SET FOR CHRISTMAS - myroyalmail · 2015/16 financial year covers the period from 29 June 2015...

THE ROYAL MAIL NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 2015

IT’S GOOD TO TALK

ALL SET FOR CHRISTMAS

KAM’S A LIFESAVER

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FESTIVE SHOPPING OFFERS

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03 November 2015

NEWS

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Our latest Quality of Service figures have been released.

In the first half of this financial year, we beat our regulatory second class target of 98.5%, with 98.9% of this mail delivered within three working days.

We delivered 92.9% of first class mail the next working day, against our regulatory target of 93.0%, over the six months to 27 September.

At an individual postcode level, 105 of 118 postcode areas met, or exceeded, their minimum delivered Quality of Service targets.

The second quarter of the 2015/16 financial year covers the period from 29 June 2015 to 27 September 2015 inclusive.

CONTINUING TO IMPROVE Our chief operations officer, Sue Whalley, says: ‘Our postmen and women work exceptionally hard to endeavour to deliver to these demanding targets, which are some of the highest in Europe.

‘We take our Quality of Service requirements extremely seriously. We are more focused than ever on improving and maintaining high standards of service.’

QUALITY SERVICE

New ‘With Your Neighbour‘ slips have been rolled out following a successful trial.

The bespoke slips, which are quicker and easier to fill out, will replace P739 ‘Something for You’ cards when an item has been successfully delivered to a neighbour – a Royal Mail standard.

It’s also a much clearer message for customers, and removes any confusion as to where their item is. The slip informs them which neighbour they can collect their item from, the number of items, and date and time of the delivery.

The ‘With Your Neighbour’ pads were trialled at four East delivery offices – Enfield, St Albans, Brentwood and Harlow. First-Time Delivery

(FTD) improved across all units during the 12-week trial, and customer complaints

in the targeted categories decreased significantly.

Enfield delivery office manager Matt King says the new slips are a welcome development, and they have had great feedback from

customers and staff. ‘The main benefit is that it can be filled out

far quicker, making it easier for staff following a delivery to neighbour, and less confusing for the customer receiving the card,’ he says.

‘We have already increased our FTD performance and seen fewer queues in our customer service point, as well as a reduction in redelivery requests and complaints. I’m sure these new slips will prove to be a valuable asset over the busy Christmas period.’

The slips come in a handy 50-sheet, tear-off pad and can be ordered in the usual way through Swindon stores.

SIMPLE, SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY SLIPS

02 November 2015

DISTRIBUTIONTo notify HR of a change of address, employees should email [email protected] or write to The HR Service Centre, Pond Street, Sheffield S98 6HR. Pensioners should write to Pensions Services Centre, PO Box 500, Chesterfield S49 1WX.

ADVERTISINGIf you are a business looking to advertise in Courier, please call 020 7922 5666 to discuss suitability, availability and rates.

Moya is keen to hear from you through the Just Say It channel. Moya will reply to all who take

part. To get in touch, email [email protected] or write to Just Say It,

Freepost

GET IN TOUCH WITH MOYA

KEIRA HAMMOND: EDITOR AT ROYAL MAIL [email protected]

PAUL SMITH: EDITOR AT AB

To change an address or for other mailing queries, please see distribution box on the right.

For story ideas, contact AB on 020 7922 5673 Email: [email protected]

Courier, Unit B, Gemini House, 180-182 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ

GOT A STORY? CONTACT US

CIARA O’CONNOR: DEPUTY EDITOR AT AB

[email protected]

MY VIEW

Moya GreeneWe’ve delivered a resilient performance in a tough trading environment.

CONTINUING TO GROW

Meet our team

hristmas is really underway for us now. Our temporary parcel sort centres are open, our seasonal workers are on board. This year, more than ever, the competition

for business is intense. Our rivals have also recruited extra people and boosted their sorting and delivery ability.

These coming weeks will be hard work for all of us. I really appreciate everything you are doing, and will do, to ensure that once again we deliver a great Christmas for everyone.

HALF YEAR RESULTSWe’ve just announced our half year results. We have delivered a resilient performance in a really tough trading environment. We have maintained Group operating profit. We have delivered parcels growth in the UK and Europe, and letter volume decline was at the better end of our forecast range.

We are winning customers. Companies such as ASOS and Waterstones have chosen us to deliver their parcels because we offer a quality service. We cover the whole of the UK and when seasonal peaks occur we can scale up to deal with them.

Our results mean that those of you, the vast majority of employees, who are Royal Mail shareholders, will receive an interim dividend of 7.0 pence per share. Eligible full-time employees with 832 Free Shares will receive an interim dividend payment of over £581. Read more about our half year results on page 3.

BUILDING TO CHRISTMASOur hugely popular Santa Mail service is now

in full swing. Thousands of children have already sent in their Christmas wishes and our dedicated team is busy sending out replies. If you know a child who hasn’t yet written to Father Christmas, do remind them they need to get their letter in by 6 December.

Nor is it just children who should be sending their festive messages soon. You’ve asked us to encourage customers to post early for Christmas – and we have. Champion TV baker Nadiya Hussain lent her support to our post-early campaign, delivering a striking red postbox cake to our Northampton mail centre to illustrate the message.

Our last posting dates have been widely reported and we will continue to remind customers.

The more people post early, the better we can manage the hundreds of millions of cards and parcels that will flood into our operation in the coming weeks.1Eligible part-time employees received a pro-rata allocation of Free Shares. Based on interim dividend payment of 7.0 pence per share, to be paid on 13 January 2016.

C

SAME DAY EXPANSIONWe’ve just agreed to buy eCourier, a leading same day delivery company with nationwide coverage.

The combination of eCourier with our existing courier business, Royal Mail Sameday™, significantly increases the size of our same day operation. It strengthens our customer offering and positions us for further growth in this premium sector of the parcels market.

HALF YEAR RESULTS 2015-16We maintained Group operating profit in a challenging environment. UKPIL operating costs are down 1% and growth in UK and European parcels offset decline in UK letter earnings.

1Eligible part-time employees received a pro-rata allocation of Free Shares. Based on interim dividend payment of 7.0 pence per share, to be paid on 13 January 2016.2Eligible full-time employees received around £96 on 31 July 2014; around £48 on 14 January 2015; around £104 on 31 July 2015, and will receive over £58 on 13 January 2016.

UK PARCELS UK LETTERS DIVIDENDMoney we

earn up 1% in a challenging environment

UK volumes up 4%

Parcelforce Worldwide

volumes up 17%

Total addressed letter volume decline of 4%

- better end of our forecast of

4-6% decline each year

Money earned from total letters down 3%

Money from marketing

mail up 3%

Eligible full-time

employees with 832

Free Shares to receive

interim dividend of

over £581 in January 2016

Total dividends of more than £306 since privatisation.2


04 November 2015

LETTERBOX YOUR MONTHLY UPDATE Each month’s star letter wins a £50 One4All gift card. We try to include as many published letters as possible, but we are unable to publish all of them. No anonymous correspondence will be considered for publication.

Email [email protected]. Make sure your letter is no more than 100 words on one clear topic and includes your home address. Text COURIER to 80800 (160 characters max).

05November 2015

During periods such as Christmas, our office needs to hire extra vans, which are always unmarked.

Why doesn’t Royal Mail source car magnets with Royal Mail branding? It would distinguish our drivers and keep our profile visible to the public. In many rural areas, the post van is a

welcome sight to most, but a white van is not so readily received and has caused some concern to some of my own customers when approaching their property. Kevin Marsden, OPG, Buckingham delivery office

Ben Rhodes, director of customer marketing, replies: Great suggestion Kevin, thank you.

We are currently reviewing our branding and we will certainly consider your idea for the future.

We’re always looking for ways to deliver our message, for example ‘wrapping’ some vehicles like parcels, as you’ll have seen.

We’ll look at our performance this year, and review our Christmas branding as part of our 2016 planning process.

BRAND AWARENESS

It is generally acknowledged that parcels are increasing while mail is slowly decreasing. If we wish

to secure or expand our share of the parcels market, why do we not ensure that they are delivered within a reasonable time?

Since the last revision over a year ago at Runcorn delivery office, the walks were made so big that on busy days parcels are either left in the delivery office or

returned at the end of the shift because there is insufficient time to deliver them.

Last autumn, many parcels were at the delivery office for several days before being delivered. When customers discover this they complain, not only to us but also to the companies sending the parcels.

Surely it is only a matter of time before these companies give the contracts to our competitors.Alan Graham, postman, Runcorn delivery office, Cheshire

Gail Nimmo, head of delivery change, replies: Thanks for your letter, Alan. You’re right, it is important that we deliver all our parcels on time and provide customers with the service

they pay for. All delivery offices have been asked to put together a detailed plan to ensure they are able to clear all mail during our busiest time of the year.

At Runcorn this year, there will be additional hire vehicles and employees dedicated to delivering parcels/loops to relieve existing duties to ensure all staff are able to clear their walks daily. The plan has been reviewed in detail. We want to be sure we have learnt from last year, when the revision had just been introduced and there were issues with service.

Your unit manager will share the plan with all employees at your office – I’m sure it will help us provide a better service this year.

PLANNED SUPPORT

Why do we keep parcels for 18 days at this busy time of the year when we need all the space we can get in the callers’ offices? Royal Mail is trying to get more people to use our Keepsafe service so surely it would help if people knew

that they have, for instance, a week to collect their items? We’re getting more and more parcels yet not enough

space to store them.Kevin Styles, OPG, Thatcham delivery office, Berkshire

Brian Thorley, policy & standards manager, replies: We keep undeliverable items for up to 18 days to offercustomers the opportunity to collect them beforethey are returned to sender.

One of our considerations is that many of our customers take two-week holidays. Should a P739 card be left, 18 days allows time for items to be collected once they have returned home. In the absence of Keepsafe, we must attempt to deliver items although the customer may be away.

To reduce workload and space issues, it is vital that we maximise our Delivery to Neighbour procedures; however, should you have any concerns regarding the space in your callers’ office, please raise it with your unit manager.

FLU ADVICE

I work a number of rounds and it saddens me to see how many elastic bands are left on doorsteps, in driveways

and on the streets.As a volunteer for a number

of wildlife charities in Scotland, I would like to raise the question, is Royal Mail doing enough to prevent this problem? I realise the majority of employees are good at bringing elastic bands back with them, and there shouldn’t be a problem with the number of pockets on our uniform and bags.

Perhaps I have missed something but I have never seen any formal communication on the matter. Darran Dixon, St Andrews delivery office, Fife

Ato Nimon-Brema, environment programmes, manager, replies: Thank you for your comments, Darran. We have highlighted the danger to wildlife of discarded rubber bands, and the cost to the business, through myroyalmail.com and on the group intranet.We are currently refreshing our

recycling posters, as an additional reminder.

Delivery office managers are required to conduct outdoor observations, which includes the discarding of rubber bands. As a result, last year, we cut the number of rubber bands in use by 6%.

We will continue our campaigns to raise awareness of the issue.

BAND BOTHERS

I work in deliveries and have noticed that I have had parcels from DHL, registered letters from Deutsche Post, and other items from foreign companies. However, there is no indication on the items that they have been charged by Royal Mail. Is there a system in place to show us if the postage has been paid to Royal Mail?Gary Scales, postman, E16 delivery office, London

Antony Harvey, head of commercial, parcels, replies: Thank you for your letter, Gary. Royal Mail is a member of the Universal Postal Union, a UN body responsible for managing the flow of postal volume internationally. All international posts (including Deutsche Post-DHL) are members of this body and declare the

volume of traffic to each other via international consignment notes.

Volumes arrive in our dedicated international offices of exchange (such as at Heathrow and Coventry for Royal Mail and Parcelforce), where there are revenue protection processes and payment can be processed. So you can be assured that Royal Mail has been paid for their delivery. Much the same process is used for our own exports to other nations.

POSTAGE PAIDSTAR

LETTERWINS £50 GIFT CARD

Courier LettersGroup CommunicationsRoyal Mail 100 Victoria EmbankmentLondon EC4Y 0HQ

Would Royal Mail consider providing the flu jab for staff?

Other major companies provide it

for their employees free of charge. Considering the length of time we spend outdoors in poor conditions, it would help reduce sick leave. The cost of providing it may be reduced if we got a major pharmacy on board.Peter Nordell, postman, Bishopbriggs delivery office, Glasgow

Judith Grant, group head of occupational health and wellbeing, replies: Thank you for your letter, Peter. The reason we don’t offer the flu jab is due to the limited clinical evidence of the benefits of full-scale flu vaccinations; the groups who benefit the most are at-risk groups, who already receive the flu jab free from the NHS.

The cost of providing a flu jab for one person is about £13, and multiplied across Royal Mail, the

cost would be huge but with no guaranteed benefit.

Some areas of the business choose to pay for flu jabs from local budgets, but this is a local and individual unit decision. At a national level, we must invest in looking after the holistic health of Royal Mail employees rather than singling out one illness. It is important to emphasise anyone who has been asked to visit a GP for a flu jab should do so as soon as possible.

CUSTOMERCOMES FIRSTCould Royal

Mail introduce a waterproof and stormproof orange

jacket? The current one lets water in within minutes, and they aren’t breathable, therefore colleagues end up perspiring on their walks. I would suggest we use a company like Gore-Tex to design a new one.John Hyde, postman, Bramhall delivery office, Greater Manchester

Shaun Buttress, asset supply chain manager, replies: Thank you for your letter, John. Our all-weather coat is manufactured to European standards, and is classified as the highest

level in terms of being waterproof and vapour permeable (the capacity to allow water vapour, sweat etc. to escape from the inside to the outside). It uses the latest material and manufacturing technology.

Our previous coat was made of Gore-Tex material but our employees felt this was heavy and very noisy when they moved. It also had breathability and waterproof issues.

If your coat is letting in water, please order another and return the old one to us, circling where the water is coming in and we will investigate it. This will help us to improve the coat in future.

All-weather uniforms

Prime Minister David Cameron has honoured Lichfield postman David Barley, who, with his border collie Red,

forms Staffordshire’s first search and rescue dog unit.David, a member of Staffordshire Search and Rescue, trained Red himself, after watching the work of volunteer mountain rescue dogs. He spent years researching how to train a rescue dog before carefully

selecting his canine partner, and they qualified as a team after 18 months.

David and Red were named a Point of Light by the Prime Minister. The scheme celebrates shining examples of volunteering. David is only the 303rd person in the UK to receive the award.

He says: ‘I am absolutely delighted to be awarded the Point of Light, and to say I was a little surprised is an understatement.

Training a search dog to find missing people is a team effort. It takes a lot of hard work,

commitment and dedication from many people to achieve success.’

RESCUING LIGHT

YOUR REGIONAL NEWS 09

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West

With a large multi-cultural workforce,

managers and frontline staff at Swindon mail centre have created a Diversity and Equality Group, to celebrate and understand diversity.

During October, they celebrated Black History Month, with various stands in the centre restaurant

highlighting the significance of black history in shaping the world.

Diversity group members, workplace coach Jackie Stewart and engineer Steve Pritchard developed a short quiz on prominent people in black history.

All the answers could be found on the display stands,

with a prize for the winner. Mail centre manager Mel

Peirson says: ‘With very little encouragement – in fact, one notice asking for volunteers – a fantastic group of frontline OPGs put themselves forward to promote understanding and knowledge of the many different cultures represented in the plant.’

The group meets every month and has organised events including promotion of Royal Mail and legal policies on diversity, disability and inclusion in the workplace, Deaf Awareness Week, Crisis at Christmas, and supporting the Swindon Food Bank for World Food Day last month.

CELEBRATING OUR DIVERSITY

Customers in Cheshire and Merseyside are benefiting

from our doorstep scanning pilot, which launched in the area last month.

With tough competition in the parcels market, Royal Mail is introducing barcodes for more of the parcels we handle. We are working with our customers to introduce 2D barcodes that will be scanned at key points in our pipeline.

A 2D barcode contains a lot more information than a traditional 1D barcode, and scanning parcels on the doorstep will give us improved data on quality and services, as well as being able to track the item through

our network. Wigan postwoman Ronnella Burrows

says: ‘It’s great that we are keeping up with the competition, and our customers will be able to track more of their parcels.’

Delivery line manager David Wilkes adds: ‘This is a great opportunity for Wigan to be part of the pilot and demonstrate how good we are with 2D barcode scanning. It will be a massive improvement for our customers regarding quality and delivery visibility.’

POSTMAN MARTIN’S INSPIRATIONAL SERVICE

FIRST AID HEROMartin Wilkes is marking 30 years of helping those in need. The Birmingham

mail centre postman has racked up more than 250 first aid attendances.

He was inspired to become a first aider after seeing the help his father received when he suffered a heart attack.

‘My role as a first aider is having the ability to help people, just as someone helped my father when he was taken ill,’ says Martin. ‘You never know when someone will need your help.’

One of his proudest moments was delivering a baby girl when he was working as a St John Ambulance volunteer.

Ian Billingsley, early shift manager, says: ‘I’ve known Martin over 25 years and he’s so passionate about first aid. He took control of an incident recently and his quickthinking made a very difficult situation manageable.

‘The emergency services praised Martin for his actions. All the first aiders at the mail centre are our unsung heroes – they do such a great job.’

DOORSTEP SCANNING LAUNCH

Ronnella makes a delivery in Wigan.


We have agreed to purchase same day delivery company eCourier.

We are already a leading player in key segments of the UK parcels market, such as business-to-business and business-to-consumer.

Now the combination of eCourier and Royal Mail Sameday™, our existing courier business, will create a significant presence in the national same day delivery market.

This investment in same day delivery sits alongside other significant investments in

our operation – from rolling out new PDAs to expanding our Local Collect network.

Same day delivery is a premium segment of the parcels market. It has an estimated value of more than £500 million1 and is growing rapidly at around 4-5% per year2.

This purchase is part of our strategy to capture new growth opportunities by enhancing our parcel offering, expanding our network, and capturing more value in the fastest-growing segments of the UK parcels market.

We are already running a trial same day service in the London area, and this will continue.

Our CEO, Moya Greene, says: ‘This marks another milestone in our strategic objective of increasing our presence in growth areas of the parcels market. Same day deliveries are already one of the fastest growing segments of the UK parcels market.’1Sources: Triangle Management Services and RMG estimate 2013. This excludes the many thousands of sole traders. 2Source: Triangle Management Services estimate 2013.

We’ve won a new contract to deliver customer orders for ASOS, and are extending our capacity to handle the

online fashion retailer’s customer returns by 25%.These developments build on our 15-year relationship

with ASOS, and were driven by our ability to handle significant volume increases during peak periods. With the extension of the contract, we are increasing our capacity by 1 million items, so the network can carry up to 5 million customer return parcels per year.

Nick Landon says: ‘We’re committed to supporting the growth of e-commerce in the UK, by continually developing and improving the services we offer to retailers and their customers.’

ASOS offers free returns to all UK customers and is one of the first retailers to make full use of Royal Mail’s returns portal. Our Tracked returns service gives ASOS, and its customers, access to tracking, including confirmed delivery to the ASOS returns processing centre.

EVERYONE’S A WINNER

We have won a three-year contract with booksellers Waterstones to handle their UK

and International deliveries.Online purchases from Waterstones.com will be

delivered in the UK by our Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 and International services.

The company selected Royal Mail for our quality of service and capacity, particularly during the Christmas season. Erwyn Rentzenbrink, head of stock operations for Waterstones, says: ‘We believe Royal Mail is a perfect fit for us, offering a reliable, professional and efficient service.’

Sales of print books are rising, up almost 5% in the first nine months of this year. Waterstones is the only national chain of booksellers in the UK.

Nick Landon, managing director of parcels, says: ‘We are proud to be supporting Waterstones in realising its ambition to be a passionate, knowledgeable, national bookseller, with a uniquely local approach to its customers.’

NEWSPLAYING TO OUR STRENGTHS TO DEVELOP NEW BUSINESS

November 2015

Our relationship with Alibaba Group has been extended to launch new services, linking Chinese

sellers directly with UK online shoppers. Alibaba Group is a Chinese online and mobile

marketing organisation. Its global retail marketplace for consumers, AliExpress, will offer Chinese exporters new Royal Mail shipping options for a high-quality, secure UK delivery within two weeks.

This is much faster than standard International postage, because it directly links international

airfreight with our UK network. Goods will be airfreighted to the UK to enter Royal

Mail’s network through our Tracked 48 or first class services. We will supply 2D barcode labels for AliExpress shipments which, in the future, will give customers access to tracking information on their parcels.

Royal Mail international director Richard Snowden says: ‘China is Royal Mail’s largest import country partner and our new service for AliExpress further complements this important strategic partnership.’

BOOST FOR SAME DAY SERVICE

Steve Pritchard and Jackie Stewart.

OUR PEOPLEYOUR REGIONAL NEWS

It started as just another day in the Buckie delivery office for colleagues Martyn McCullogh and Mike Selbie, but just before

leaving on his walk, postman Martyn suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed.

Acting manager Mike is a trained first aider, so he was able to perform CPR on Martyn when his heart stopped and he swallowed his tongue.

Once the ambulance arrived and paramedics took over, Mike’s actions didn’t stop – he then went out and covered Martyn’s walk.

After a stay in hospital in Aberdeen, Martyn is home, recovering well and extremely grateful to Mike for his swift, life-saving actions. ‘I may not be here today were it not for Mike,’ he says.

Mike says: ‘I just did what anyone would do under the circumstances. First aid training is a skill everyone should have, as you just never know when you might need it.’

The workplace coaches at Tyneside mail centre are

going out of their way to welcome this year’s intake of Christmas casuals.

Keith Weelands, Marina Blakely and Rob Grainge (pictured left to right) have all spearheaded aspects of the recruitment, registration and induction process, along with Jill Campbell, for more than 500

casuals this year, and are working hard to ensure they are all

equipped with optimum safety training and are made to feel welcome by the rest of the mail centre team.

Marina says: ‘Christmas is my favourite time of year at the mail centre. It’s so great to meet people from all over the world.’

Last year, the team placed such a high priority on manual handling training, that the plant experienced zero accidents. This year they have colour-coded the training room equipment so it can’t be accidentally reabsorbed into the plant’s operation. Keith is proud to be part of the plant’s Christmas

effort. He says: ‘The mail centre is such a big building

with lots of people – it’s great to be a friendly face

for the casuals.’

MIKE’S LIFESAVING ACTION

CELEBRATING OUR SAFE DRIVERS

North

Christmas casualsTyneside welcomes

More than 200 drivers in the north have been

recognised recently for their exemplary safe driving behaviour, with more nominations coming in every day.

Our recognised drivers are nominated by their managers. They include those who coach colleagues, others who take pride in keeping their vans clean and in good working order, and colleagues with long accident-free driving records.

Beverley-based Ron Langley hasn’t had an accident in the last three years. He conducts regular vehicle checks and fills his log

book in every day.In Sheffield, Bijoy Andrews was

commended by the workshop for having the best condition van they had ever worked on, while in Scunthorpe David Shipman hasn’t had a single accident in 15 years of driving for Royal Mail.

The north’s road safety campaign encouraged drivers to think about their actions behind the wheel and correct driving habits. Recently awarded driver of the week, Graham Brown from South Preston delivery office says: ‘Good drivers know they make mistakes but work hard not to repeat them.’

Royal Mail bids farewell to the UK’s oldest serving postwoman At the sprightly age of 83, Eve Burton is to retire her status

as the oldest serving postwoman in the UK this month.

Infectious Eve completes her 3½-hour delivery duty twice a week in Chinley, a village in the Peak District.

The former mountaineer was no stranger to unpleasant walking

conditions when she joined Royal Mail 11 years ago.

She says: ‘I joined as a summer casual as I’ve always been a very outdoorsy person.

‘I’ve always walked in cold and bad weather for pleasure, so getting paid for it was a bonus.’

Eve also lives in Chinley and says working as a postwoman there has

enabled her to explore parts of the area she never knew about.

‘I like the companionship of living in a close community and working with great colleagues,’ she says.

Eve will continue to keep fit by walking around Chinley with her dog for company.

She adds: ‘I will really miss being a postwoman, I’ve loved it.’

EVE TAKES HER LEAVE

Eve meets young customer George during her round.

Recovery...Martyn (left) with Mike.

Award... Graham Brown.

09 July 2015


PURLEY POSTMAN SAVES CUSTOMER’S LIFE

Jubilee mail centre recently received a WCM Bronze award for the improvements it has

implemented across the unit.Better planning and a change in the floor

layout has improved efficiency.‘It’s been all about planning and strategy,’ says

logistics pillar lead Dave Solman. ‘We’ve made changes that have led to more efficiency and improved safety in the unit’

Plant manager Tim Mayes adds: ‘We couldn’t have done it without everyone. Working together, we’ve uncovered some great talent within the mail centre.’

As a result of the improvements, the unit increased its audit points from 48 to 51, earning it the Bronze award.

London colleagues pounded the pavements to raise £2,000 for the Rowland Hill Fund.

Led by delivery manager Pat McKenna, Eltham postmen Metin Gurdag, Jason Hackett and Billy Hudd were joined by Iain Love from Blackheath for the Great South Run in Portsmouth.

They successfully completed the 10-mile course in aid of our in-house charity, which supports Royal Mail colleagues when life takes an unexpected turn.

Pat says: ‘I’m a Rowland Hill Fund ambassador because it’s a great cause. When I found out there were places at the run I thought I’d put a team together and enter.’

In addition to £1,200 in sponsorship, the team also received around £800 from the Charities Trust to go towards their cause.

The Rowland Hill Fund helps colleagues, Royal Mail pensioners and their families with financial and practical support. Call 0800 688 877 or visit rowlandhillfund.org for more information.

YOUR REGIONAL NEWS

East

In 2014, colleagues at Erith delivery office in south-east London recorded an engagement

index score of 12. Fast forward one year, and the team has improved this by an impressive 32 points.

Colleagues credit their success to working together, with management listening to postmen and women to find out what issues were affecting them most.

Postman Jason Steele says that delivery office manager Rob Nightingale and office manager Steve Lambton have been ‘visionary’.

‘Instead of battling every day, Rob and Steve worked with us to try and create an atmosphere where we all work together,’ Jason says.

‘We feel respected and appreciated, which means we are happy to go the extra mile.’

Two issues that Rob was keen to tackle following last year’s survey were sick absence, and Tracked scoring. Progress has been made on both, with sick absences falling from 8.3% in 2014, to 1.3% in 2015.

On Tracked scoring, Rob says: ‘To get people interested, I gave the team something to aim for. I asked them if they could hit green levels for a week. They did it for nine consecutive days, which was a fantastic achievement.’

Rob and Steve make use of their daily huddles to find out what issues are affecting colleagues, and how they can help.

Rob says: ‘This year we reached an engagement score of 44. Last year it was 12 – that’s a great improvement. I want to keep getting better.’

Working together...colleagues at Erith.

From left, Iain, Metin, Pat, Billy and Jason

IMPROVING ENGAGEMENT AT ERITH

When postman Rob Foronda (left) found a customer semi-conscious on her

doorstep, his quick thinking saved her life.Rob, who works at Purley delivery office

in London, discovered Susan Wills when he was out on delivery. He immediately called

an ambulance and contacted her husband, John Wills.

Rob says: ‘The steps to the house are very steep and aren’t visible to the street, so it was lucky I spotted Mrs Wills when I did.

‘I could tell she was badly injured and suffering from shock. I knew not to move her, but grabbed a blanket to keep

her warm and kept talking to her until the paramedics arrived.’

Mrs Wills was taken to hospital with a fractured arm and pelvis. She was beginning to suffer from hypothermia

and had internal bleeding from a damaged artery.

Rob’s courage and commonsense approach saved her life, and helped her to avoid any permanent injuries.

GOING SOUTH FOR ROWLAND HILL

JUBILATION AT JUBILEE

Improving operations..the Jubilee team.

09 November 2015


Christmas camaraderie is one of the reasons seasonal worker Arthur Maguire has returned for his seventh festive period with Royal Mail.

Arthur, based at Warrington mail centre, is one of 19,000 Christmas temporary workers helping out during our busiest period.

He says: ‘I really enjoy it. There’s something about joining a busy team at

this time of year – a real buzz and camaraderie.

‘I’ve met doctors, teachers and paramedics doing it – there are so many people from different walks of life in the mail centre. It’s a really interesting environment.’

Arthur attended a recruitment event after receiving a Royal Mail postcard telling him of the vacancies. He says it’s an excellent way to make extra cash at

Christmas and has other added benefits.‘Why pay for a gym membership? You

can get fit and earn money at the same time,’ he says.

‘Time flies because you’re doing a variety of work, and it’s a real bonus being paid weekly. I’d recommend it to anyone.’

Jordan Hall has joined Royal Mail for the first time at Nottingham mail centre after being referred by a friend.

‘My friend knew I was looking for a job, so put me forward via the friends and family scheme,’ he says.

‘The recruitment process was really simple. What attracted me to Royal Mail is the fact everyone knows it’s a great company to work for. I think it’s amazing that it’s 500 years old!’

19,000 TEMPORARY STAFF

10 TEMPORARY SORT CENTRES

4 TRUCKS WRAPPED UP

We have opened 10 temporary parcel sort centres across the UK for the festive period.

They are in Bathgate in West Lothian, Bradford, Leyland in Lancashire, Newport in Gwent, Swindon, Greenford, Peterborough, Wolverhampton, Bletchley in Milton Keynes, and Heathrow.

Around 3,000 seasonal workers will be based in the centres, supporting our 123,000 permanent postmen and women.

Aiden Fitzgerald joined the Greenford team on 9 November to help cover our busiest period. He says: ‘It’s my fourth year helping out at Greenford. It’s near where I live and I hope to return.

‘The parcel sort centre is a huge operation.

It’s busy in November and the amount of mail coming through continues to ramp up towards Christmas.

‘There’s a good atmosphere - you get a lot of the same people coming back each year, and the same managers. It’s enjoyable.’

This is the fifth year that we have opened a dedicated network of parcel sort centres, where a significant proportion of our parcels are sorted before being distributed across the country.

Aiden says: ‘The scale of the operation is amazing. When you go into a Post Office with your parcel, you don’t think about what goes on behind the scenes to get it where it needs to go, on time.’

1 MILLION TRAYS

OUR LOGISTICS TEAM WILL COVER 16 MILLION MILES 50 FIRST CLASS

STAMPS

GIVEN TO ALL

ROYAL MAIL GROUP

EMPLOYEES

LETTERS TO SANTA REVEAL THE TOP 10 MOST-WANTED PRESENTS 120 MILLION PARCELS

HANDLED LAST CHRISTMAS

Christmas by numbers

There’s still time to buy Christmas cards from our Charity of the Year, the Stroke Association. Visit shop.royalmail.com and select the Gift Shop tab

6 NEW STAMPS

878 MILLION CHRISTMAS

CARDS SENT LAST YEAR12 GOLDEN RULES OF

CHRISTMAS

80,000 EXTRA YORKS

Our york stockpile at Polebrook Airfield, Northamptonshire.

Across the country, some of our large single-deck trailers have been branded like festive parcels, reminding customers that delivering their Christmas is all in a day’s work for Royal Mail. Above, the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland provides a fitting backdrop, and on our front page, driver Andy Burnett parks up outside the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Arthur is supporting Warrington mail

centre colleagues.

13 12 November 2015


November 2015

OUR PEOPLENEWS NEWS

Pic caption xxx xxxx xxxxx x xxxx xxxxxxxxx

l ToYou at AsdaAsda is to allow customers to collect and return orders from third-party retailers in its stores. Customers using the new ToYou service will be able to track their order in real time and collect it in any Asda store. Returns labels can also be printed in-store.l Service centres expansion at YodelYodel has expanded its service centres, taken on 7,000 extra staff and is bringing in 200 more lorries and 500 trailers to move parcels. l Failed project costs Deutsche PostDeutsche Post AG’s third-quarter profit plunged 71% after the German delivery company booked 345 million euros (£245 million) in costs from a failed software project in its freight forwarding division. The company has cut its 2015 profit forecast for the second time.l PostNL braced for earnings fallPostNL issued a warning on its mid-term 2016 earnings. CEO Herna Verhagen said this was due to high restructuring and regulatory costs.l Amazon extends Prime serviceAmazon has launched free same day delivery to its Prime customers in Greater London, parts of Berkshire and Hertfordshire. It is planning to expand into a number of other areas in the UK in the coming months.

MARKET UPDATE

BULLYING & HARASSMENT HELPLINE 0800 587 4777

SPEAK UP (WHISTLEBLOWING) Report a breach of our licence or legal obligations to a confidential external hotline. Call 0800 097 1131 or visit www.intouchfeedback.com/royalmail

DISABILITY HELPLINE 0800 028 6142 or email [email protected]

PENSIONS HELPLINE Postline 5456 4545 or 0114 241 4545

HUMAN RESOURCES Royal Mail business units: Postline 5456 7100 or 0845 606 0603/0114 241 8890

FIRST CLASS SUPPORT Employee assistance service for free advice. Call 0800 688 8777 Visit www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk

SECURITY HELPDESK Tel 020 7239 6655 or email [email protected]

ROYAL MAIL UNIFORMS HELPLINE 0800 731 5137 Email royalmail@dimensions- corporatewear.co.uk

QUESTIONS/IDEAS TO MOYA GREENE Email [email protected] Or write to Freepost

Just Say It

WATCH&WIN PO Box 613, Barnsley S73 3BB Freephone 08000 32 1144 Email watch&[email protected]

CHARITY FUNDING SUPPORT Email [email protected] Tel 0151 284 1221

PROPERTY & FACILITIES HELPDESK (reporting building faults) 0844 800 9191

SPRINGBOARD Development programme for women in non-management grades. Call Louise Baker on 01452 333469 or email [email protected]

FEELING FIRST CLASS www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk passcode: FFC1

Royal Mail on site gyms www.royalmailfitness.co.uk

ROWLAND HILL FUND Ready to help financially Phone: 0800 6 888 777 Option 1 and 4 Email rowland.hill.fund royalmail.com

INTERNAL VACANCIES www.royalmailgroup.com/myjob

POOBI Help with childrens’ hardship, university and special training costs www.poobi.org

CONTACTS

Caring customers asked to say farewell to their

former postman after he was medically retired following a stroke.

Tommy Evans, from Rhyl delivery office, had the stroke in January and spent three months in hospital. Sadly, he was unable to return to work.

His colleague David Tunnicliff arranged for Tommy to join him on his old delivery route, to say

goodbye to customers who’d been asking after him.

David says: ‘Tommy and I both joined the company on the same day 33 years ago. It’s a close-knit, rural community so you become quite close to your customers.

‘When I was doing my round, everyone wanted to know how Tommy was and whether they’d see him again, so I arranged for him to join me one day.

‘I’m really glad we were able to give Tommy a proper farewell.’

Tommy is recovering from his stroke and was delighted to go back on his old walk for the day.

‘I’ve known many of these people so long I’ve seen their children grow up,’ he says.

‘They gave me cards, chocolates and cake – I felt spoilt rotten.’

GROWING TOGETHER

Colleagues who took part in the Together for Growth (TfG)

programme say it has worked wonders in improving communication.

TfG was designed to foster better relationships between management and CWU reps.

More than 83% of those who completed TfG said it has improved office relations.

That is true at Glasgow Baird Street delivery office, where delivery office manager Graham Ralston, line manager Lee Bannerman and CWU rep Mark Doherty all took part.

Colleagues are now invited to regular meetings to discuss performance, and Quality of Service figures are showing great improvement.

Graham says: ‘We introduced a different approach to tackling quality issues.

‘The most important part is talking to staff, letting them know the issues we had, and working on how to address them together.

‘It has worked because our delivery loss has reduced. In period five, it was zero.’

‘We now hear things on a daily basis,’ adds Mark. ‘We’re providing more feedback to management too.’

For Lee, regular communication with Mark, in particular, is vital to improving performance.

‘Previously we spoke if something went

wrong – now we have a conversation up front and that allows us to solve things before they become a problem,’ he says.

Both Royal Mail and our union partners feel TfG has been a success.

Chief operations officer Sue Whalley says: ‘Now formal TfG training has finished, I look on this as the beginning. More than 6,000 managers and union representatives took part in the three modules. With their improved skills and understanding, we can explore issues and work together to find solutions and help make decisions faster.’

CWU deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger added: ‘I look forward to the CWU being part of a journey where we work together in a culture based on mutual interest, fairness, dignity and respect. Our relationships should motivate the workforce and strengthen Royal Mail.’

Unite/CMA officer Brian Scott believes colleagues should support each other.

He says: ‘I want to encourage, and see in practice, participants taking the opportunity to continue with their development.

‘They should work with their peers to strengthen relationships, support each other, and make decisions together. This is important for the future – both theirs and for the business.’

Glasgow Baird Street postman Robert Brady: ‘We now have a team talk every morning, which has given us a better perspective of what is happening in the office, and how we’re performing. Communication has improved a lot since Together for Growth. The management team is more accessible and I feel I have more of a voice.’

ASPIRING FOR BETTER

Christmas planning never stops at the National Distribution Centre (NDC) in

Crick, Northamptonshire.Months of work forecasting volume and

arranging resources is completed with precision to ensure people and equipment are in the right place for our busiest period.

Around half of the country’s mail flows through the centre’s huge cross-docking operation every day. Cross-docking is where pre-sorted mail arrives from various parts of the country and is then loaded onto vehicles for specific destinations.

Plant manager Natalie Frow, who arrived at the NDC in April, says: ‘We’re expecting it to be very busy this year,’ she says. ‘On spring bank holiday, we cross-docked only 100 fewer yorks than Cyber Monday in 2014.

‘Over the Christmas period there will also be direct runs from the NDC to mail centres, to keep traffic out of cross-docking.

‘At Christmas, parcels tend to be bigger because people consolidate their spending. They’re likely to order more things from one retailer, and bigger parcels mean more yorks.

‘Yorks are our currency here. We have to make sure we have enough, and that they’re in

the right place so we don’t get bottle necks. We have sophisticated modelling tools for this.’

To help with the NDC’s Tracked operation, three new sets of powered conveyors have been installed. Acceptance times for Tracked items have been extended to midnight to support continued growth in parcel volumes.

‘I think the new conveyors will help us be more efficient,’ says work area manager and logistics graduate trainee Fran High. ‘We’re also trialling a new alpha numeric sortation code on non-Tracked items, which makes manual sorting easier by showing us where the parcel needs to go.’

Outside in the yard, head of distribution Gary Hayes (pictured right) is also ramping up the logistics side of the operation, where an extra 25 trucks and 45 trailers are supplementing the usual 310-strong fleet.

He says: ‘We have around 195 drivers and will bring in an extra 150 temporary drivers for Christmas. Each needs to be trained – safety is our top priority here.’

LGV driver Anil Mistry loves working the festive period. ‘The buzz is fantastic and it’s all hands to the pump,’ he says.

PRECISION PLANNING

1,000TfG events

17,239 training days

people have taken part in Together

for Growth

6,196

Improved communication.... From left, Mark, Lee, Graham and Robert.

A FOND FAREWELL

CONGRATULATIONSColleagues marking 40 or 50 years’ service in recent months...

Russell Hawkins, Royal Mail FarringdonColin Toal, Belfast delivery officeTerry Solesbury, Mount Pleasant mail centreGeoff Budden, Alder Hills delivery officeJohn Franklin, Bristol East delivery officeAlan Merrill, Dorset mail centreDerek Peters, Torquay delivery officeGraham Smith, Cambridge MPUMalcolm Poole, Ashford delivery officeJames Bradbury, Cardiff delivery officeRobert Grist, Stroud delivery officeDavid Arrol, Paisley delivery officeAlfie Kendall, Lairg delivery officeBrendan Costello, High Wycombe North delivery officeJohn Bunyan, Home Counties North mail centreRobert Taylor, Mold delivery officeStephen Atkinson, SW1 delivery officeRon Crumpler, Royal Mail BroadgateChristopher Harrison, Swindon mail centreGerard Small, Upminster delivery officeKen Latteman, Yorkshire distribution centre Peter Page, vehicle services, PeterboroughLeslie Smith, vehicle operations centre, GatwickBrian Hancock, Logistcs, PrestonJohn Worsley, PFW Welwyn Gardens City Steve McSorley, PFW National Hub, CoventryTony Hartnell, Taunton delivery officeAndrew Wilson, Taunton delivery officeIvor Patrick, Weston Super Mare delivery officeMartin Dickinson, Dorset mail centrePaul Slater, Weston Park delivery office,

PlymouthIrvin Flaherty, Ipswich mail centreDavid Faulkner, Bishops Stortford delivery officeStephen Rooney, Cambridge delivery officeNick Shaw, Heathrow Worldwide distribution centreRobert Milton, Bristol mail centreTimothy Gurden, East Oxford delivery officeGraham Hall, Ruislip delivery officeBarry Hodson, Harrow delivery officeBrian Webster, Warrington mail centreGraham Blakeborough, Leeds mail centreAlan Hopkins, Hartlepool delivery officeJamie Douglas, Tyneside mail centreIan Prince, St Albans delivery officeKeith Taylor, Fareham delivery officeKim Ollett, Shirley delivery officeRodney Cox, Reading delivery officeRobert Austin, Portsmouth mail centreBhagwanji Vaja, Hounslow delivery officeSuresh Gohil, Heathrow Worldwide distribution centrePeter Moore, Jubilee mail centreBarry Bolton, SW1 delivery officeRobert Allen, Putney sub delivery officePaul Bunyan, Eltham delivery officeMichael Meerloo, Blackheath sub delivery officeDavid Wenn, Dulwich sub delivery officePeter Christmas, Palace of WestminsterDavid Tillett, North Finchley sub delivery officeJeffrey Smith, Mount Pleasant mail centrePaul Wilson, Leeds mail centreJames Hansford, Birmingham mail centre

Tommy, second left, says goodbye to his customers.

Prepared...Driver Anil.

On the move... the NDC in operation.

Fran (left) and Natalie.

15 14 November 2015


November 2015

OUR PEOPLENEWS

l OPG Peter Charles JACKSON, of Birch Park delivery office, was given a 13-week sentence after pleading guilty to three charges of theft, and two charges of interfering with postal packets. He must pay £675 compensation, £3,652 towards prosecution costs, and a victim surcharge of £80.

l George Emmanuel FAYOMI, an OPG at Wandsworth delivery office, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of theft of postal packets. He was also ordered to pay £3,043.27 towards prosecution costs.

l Paul Anthony REID, a worker at London Central Parcelforce depot, pleaded guilty to eight charges of theft and was jailed for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.

COURT IN THE ACTHERE’S OUR REGULAR ROUND-UP

OF RECENT CONVICTIONS

If you have information about a crime relating to Royal Mail, or you need advice on a security

matter, contact the confidential Security Helpdesk on 020 7239 6655, or email

[email protected]

ADDED EXTRAS

NEWS

Cybercrime is back in the headlines, after TalkTalk customers were advised to change

their passwords and check their bank accounts following a breach of security.

Royal Mail goes to great lengths to safeguard our customer records. There are security mechanisms embedded in our computer systems to protect customer information.

For instance, when people use our website to buy Royal Mail products, whether for redirections, commemorative stamps, or international postage, we protect their details with encryption.

Our people’s high standards of conduct and vigilance also make an important contribution.

We can all play our part in protecting customer information. The Think Secure section on myroyalmail.com explains how you can help safeguard customer information, Royal Mail’s computer networks and yourself, from cybercrime.

The simple rules include: look out for suspicious emails or phone calls; don’t share your RMG account password; and report anything suspicious as soon as you can.

PAGE 20: BODYBUILDER MAKING HIS MARK

FIRST PROSECUTIONPostman Stephen Oxtoby has been awarded £750

compensation after Royal Mail brought a court case against the dog owner whose pet attacked him.

It was the first private prosecution by Royal Mail for a dog attack. The police had issued a caution.

Stephanie Brice, 51, pleaded guilty to owning a dog that was dangerously out of control.

Stephen was left with a six-inch wound on his arm in May, when Brice’s mastiff cross ran from her house and jumped the garden fence.

Tony Marsh, group security director, says: ‘This is about marking the seriousness of what has happened and raising awareness to prevent this happening in the first place.

‘Royal Mail takes the view that it is wholly appropriate in serious cases for courts to decide whether, and to what extent, to punish the owners of dogs responsible.

‘We felt that a caution did not reflect the severity of

this incident. The physical injury was bad, but the psychological effects can be worse.

‘Stephen will be understandably wary when he’s out on his round and sees a dog.’

Brice was placed on a seven-week night-time curfew and also ordered

to pay prosecution costs of £500, a surcharge of £60, and criminal

courts charge of £180. She was banned from keeping

dogs for 18 months.Royal Mail hopes this

prosecution will raise awareness of the issue of dog attacks and reduce future risks.

Did you see delivery sector manager David Foster playing

the Last Post for Remembrance? David, pictured, played the lament

with Bugler Nick Davey of the Royal Armoured Corps. View the film on the news pages of myroyalmail.com

Did you know one of our delivery colleagues helped a woman who had gone into labour on a Somerset pavement? Or that graduate trainee Jack Benzie wants to raise funds for the Stroke Association – our Charity of the Year – after seeing the effect a severe stroke had on his nan.

And former England footballer Jimmy Armfield-CBE, opened the new Poulton-Le-Fylde and Blackpool delivery office.

All these stories, and more, in full on myroyalmail.com

Prosecuted... Stephanie Brice.First response...

Kam acted quickly.

HEROIC RESPONSE Learn first aid – it could save someone’s life.

That’s the message from Romford mail centre, after work area manager Kam Randhawa gave a colleague CPR, using knowledge gained at a first aid course just one week previously.

The colleague, who does not wish to be named, was working on the sorting machine at the end of a late shift when he collapsed.

‘I saw him fall backwards and managed to catch him and lay him on the floor,’ says Kam. ‘He was losing colour quickly so I gave him CPR.’

Kam was joined by work area manager Mark Dovey, followed by first aiders Sean Meyers, Sadik Patel

and Lourdes Idos, who fought to save their colleague – who wasn’t breathing – while waiting for paramedics.

‘We put him in the recovery position and his colour and breathing returned,’ says Sean. ‘You have to be ready for that one time when something like this happens.’

Their colleague is still having health tests, but has recovered and returned to work.

Kam says: ‘I took a one-day course and helped save a life. Everyone should do it; you never know when you’ll be needed.’

Mark adds: ‘Our first aid-trained colleagues are integral to every shift.’

From left, Sadik, Lourdes, Kam, Sean and Mark.

WATCH OUT FOR

CYBERCRIME

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Huge success... Katie-Lily with the team from Farnham delivery office.

HITTING THE TARGET

16 November 2015 17 November 2015


CHARITYCHARITYBETTER TOGETHERInspired by her own recovery from cancer, postwoman Laura Valentine climbed the O2 for cancer-support

charity, Look Good, Feel Better.

Joined by Long Stratton delivery office, Norfolk, colleague Phil Leach, she raised more than £700 with matched funding.

‘I’m recovering from treatment and this charity

really helped me,’ says Laura.

WHITE-WATER CHALLENGE

Braving the rapids, members of the attendance team from pay services in Sheffield white-water rafted along Nottingham’s River Trent.

The team raised £1,300 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, including matched funding.

Craig Fox, from attendance management, says: ‘This was our second year taking on the challenge. We had a great time seeing each other tumble over.’

AIR SUPPORTCycling from the London Eye to the Eiffel Tower, Camelford postman Geoff Morris raised £4,000, including matched funding.

The London to Paris cycle was part of the Cornwall Air Ambulance Challenge.

‘There were 19 of us, cycling 285 miles,’ says Geoff. ‘It was one of the most challenging and rewarding things that I’ve done, but I had great support.’

Country-hopping Ian Bogoria from Edinburgh’s special services team took

to two wheels for Médecins Sans Frontières.He raised £500 for the charity, which

translates to Doctors without Borders, by crossing 14 countries on his scooter.

Ian says: ‘This was my third scooter ride across Europe for charity, The first one even got me and 147 other BMW C1 riders a mention in the Guinness World Records.’

Ian crossed the Channel, before riding through Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Finally it was back to the UK, via Switzerland and France. ‘It was a great experience to pass so many borders raising money for MSF,’ says Ian.

BORDER CROSSING

HOPE’S ITALIAN JOB

Flanked by red, white and blue minis, four Royal Mail

colleagues joined 73 cyclists for their very own Italian job for charity.

Tim Hughes, from the transport office at the National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Crick, Northamptonshire, helped organise the 365-mile cycle from Geneva to Milan. He was joined

by NDC drivers Adie Hancox, Sam Puntrello and John Peacock.

However, unlike in the classic British film The Italian Job, there was an altogether more moral incentive for the cyclists, who are expecting to raise more than £100,000 for Hope Against Cancer.

‘It was a truly spectacular and challenging route for everyone

taking part,’ says Tim, who won a Best of the Best award at this year’s logistics team awards for his charity fundraising efforts.

Tim is a volunteer for Hope Against Cancer, which funds pioneering cancer research in university hospitals throughout Leicestershire.

The cyclists climbed more than 17,000ft during the ride.

As a reward, a lap of honour around the Monza Grand Prix track, used in Formula 1 by the likes of Lewis Hamilton, was organised by Tim, who says: ‘For some, that was the highlight of the challenge.’

The Royal Mail four contributed more than £4,000 to the final total, which includes matched funding.

Colleagues from Farnham delivery office hit the bullseye in more ways

than one by raising around £20,000 following a darts marathon.

The funds donated will help teenage cancer patient Katie-Lily Bryant, whose stepfather Paul Howes is a postman.

‘We had six teams of four rotating around six boards,’ says delivery office manager Tracey Birthwright. ‘They played continuously for 12 hours and with

sponsorship, a raffle and an auction, we were delighted to raise so much.’

Delivery sector manager Dominic Ellis and delivery director Kam McKinley raised more than £300. They covered two walks after all the postmen pledged £5 each for a draw for their walks to be covered.

Tracey says: ‘Half is going to give Katie-Lily a holiday after her chemotherapy, with the rest going to the Piam Brown Ward at Southampton General Hospital.’

Team effort... From left, Adie, Sam, Tim and John outside Duomo di Milano.

HOW TO HELPSign up to child rescue alerts on your mobile. You won’t receive any other messages from the charity.

To sign up:• Visit www.childrescuealert.org.uk• Click on register and provide your details• When asked ‘where did you hear about child rescue alerts’, select ‘work for Royal Mail’.

MATCHED GIVING BOOSTIn July, Royal Mail extended matching giving to pensioners – and in just five months our retired colleagues have raised almost £18,000 for 31 different charities.

Those benefiting include the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, hospices, Cancer Research and newborn babies.

JOIN THE SEARCHROYAL MAIL PROVIDES FUNDING BOOST FOR MISSING PEOPLE CHARITY

This month marks the first anniversary of our partnership with Missing People

– the charity dedicated to reuniting missing people with their families.

For the last 12 months, we have sent out rescue alerts for high-risk missing people and children through our PDA network on behalf of Missing People. So far, more than 50 alerts have been sent to our people in various locations across the country, including alerts for vulnerable children, young people and elderly people with dementia.

Kate McCann, Missing People ambassador, says: ‘It’s such a desperate situation to find yourself in. You feel helpless and Missing People is a charity you can turn to. It’s fantastic to have the support of Royal Mail. It’s such a big organisation and its best asset is its reach. Every area is covered.’

CHILD RESCUE ALERTSNext year, as part of our commitment to the partnership, Royal Mail is providing £50,000 to become the main funder of the child rescue

alert service. This service is designed to issue immediate and urgent appeals for children who have been abducted, or when their life is believed to be at immediate risk.

Funding from Royal Mail means the charity can cover the direct costs to provide a 24/7 response to child rescue alert in 2016.

Royal Mail PDAs are already set up to receive child rescue alerts. To extend our support even further, we’re encouraging colleagues to sign up with their personal mobile numbers. Only a few alerts are sent out each year but the more people that sign up, the greater the chance of the child’s safe return.

Ross Miller from Missing People says: ‘Child rescue alert has been a fantastic success already with 300,000 people signing up to receive it. Now everyone at Royal Mail can play their own part by signing up.’

Visit myroyalmail.com/missingpeople to find out more about our partnership with Missing People.

Vincent Micallef, who sparked Royal Mail’s

involvement with Missing People.

FREEPOST MISSING PEOPLEWe are also creating a Freepost address for missing people to write to the charity. We hope this new service will bring comfort to missing people and their families and start many on the road to positive reconnections.

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18 November 2015

STAMPS19November 2015

COMPETITIONS

6 And 5 Down. 6,196 people have taken part in this Royal Mail programme (8,3,6)

7 ‘American _____’, the 2014 war movie directed by Clint Eastwood (6)

8 Large bird with glossy plumage (4)

9 Device used to transmit or receive television signals (7)

10 Powdery residue left after burning something (3)

12 Kylie Minogue’s country (9)14 And 2 Down. This month

marks the first anniversary of our relationship with this charity (7,6)

15 Norway’s capital city (4)

l We have 10 £10 gift cards up for grabs. Once again, the crossword will be easier to solve once you’ve read your Courier. Post your entry to November crossword, Unit B, Gemini House, 180-182 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ to arrive by Friday 18 December 2015.

Name

Home address

Postcode

The One4all Crossword

ACROSS DOWN

CLUESSEPTEMBER’S ANSWERSACROSS6 Pirabakaran7 Calendar 9 Peter Long13 Han Solo 16 Orwell 17 Acne18 Rowland

DOWN 1 Discrepancy 2 Talc 3 Fall4 Warning 5 Karan 8 Air10 Easter 11 Lilo 12 Hill14 Oral 15 Bean

1 Steve, the Bristol postman and successful bodybuilder (7)

2 See 14 Across3 Her movies include

‘Total Recall’, ‘Basic Instinct’ and ‘Casino’ (6,5)

4 National Distribution Centre is located here (5)

5 See 6 Across10 Peter, the veteran

golf commentator (6)11 Ten-cent coin

in the USA (4)12 Recess in a church which

contains the altar (4)13 Highest adult male

singing voice (4)

Royal Mail has launched its Stamp Image Store, giving customers the opportunity to feature their favourite stamps on a range of products.

From mugs to magnets, customers can personalise a range of products with images from an extensive portfolio celebrating British passions.

For more information, visit www.royalmail.com/stampimagestore. Royal Mail colleagues get a 10% discount by entering the code 15EMP.

l Stewart Churchyard takes time to read Courier on his balcony during a recent holiday in Turkeyl Natalie Osowiecki, from the customer services centre in Stoke-on-Trent, gave Courier a tour of the USA and Canada. Here she is in Central Park, New Yorkl Keith Nattan, of the reconciliation and forecasting team, takes a break outside a post office in the Dominican Republicl Postman John Doyle, from Rothesay delivery office on the Isle of Bute, found Jaws keen to share his Courier at Universal Studios in Florida.

PERFECT PICTURE

Mike Parkinson looks like being the man to

beat in the Courier Fantasy Football League, as he continues to lead the way.

The goalscoring form of England strikers Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane helped him maintain top spot throughout November.

Phil Morse is running him close, an inspired selection of goalscoring defender Scott Dann helping him move up to second.

More than 1,500 are competing to win a trip to Barcelona.

visit royalmail.com/christmas2015

It’s time to put yourself in the picture by joining your

favourite Star Wars characters on a sheet of Special Stamps.

Smilers are personalised stamps featuring your photo, printed on labels attached to Royal Mail stamps.

Royal Mail staff receive a 10% discount on orders made online, or by phone, so it’s time to pledge your allegiance – join forces with Han Solo or Yoda, or join the Dark Side alongside Darth Vader or a Stormtrooper!

JOIN FORCES WITH HAN SOLO

Each Smilers sheet features 10 stamps and label combinations. Visit www.royalmail.com/smilers or phone 0345 074 2000 and use discount code 15EMP for your 10% discount.

THE BIRTH OF CHRISTMAS

Get snapping and an Olympus VG-170 could be yours. Send your photos to [email protected] or post to Courier photo competition, Unit B, Gemini House, 180-182 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ.

OUR WINNER!

Love shopping? This month, we’re giving away two deluxe personal

shopper experiences for department store House of Fraser.

You’ll receive invaluable style tips from an expert personal shopper, and a £450 gift card to spend in store on anything you like. If that’s not enough, you’ll also get a mini makeover and a beauty goodie bag.

For your chance to win, answer the following question: How did postman Gary Shortland meet Rosie? You’ll find the answer at myroyalmail.com

Send your answer, along with your name, home address and contact number, to [email protected] or post to Makeover competition, Unit B, Gemini House, 180-182 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ. Entries must be in by Wednesday 16 December 2015.

MAKEOVER MAGIC

Get personal with your favourite stamps

The traditional Nativity story is told through a set of six Christmas Special Stamps.

The stamps depict scenes from the Bible, starting with the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, through to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Illustrated by art director and designer David Holmes, the collection was released at the start of the month.

Mary and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem and the three wise men also feature in the set of stamps, which are available in 8,000 Post Office branches across the UK.

Postwoman Elizabeth Rogers, of Roy Bridge delivery office, is one

of five winners of £200 Marks & Spencer shopping vouchers. She says: ‘I’m really surprised! I’ll use the vouchers for Christmas and birthday presents for the family.’

OCTOBER’S WINNER

WIN A PERSONAL SHOPPER

EXPERIENCE

FANTASY FOOTBALL

20 November 2015

BRISTOL POSTMAN AND BODYBUILDER STEVE DOWNING IS CELEBRATING A MOMENTOUS 12 MONTHS

MUSCLING IN ON SUCCESS

Songwriting postman Darren Haines has Eurovision glory in

mind as he closes in on success in a national competition.

Darren, from Twyford delivery office in Hampshire, has made it through to the semi-finals of The UK Songwriting Contest, with a track called Move Your Body.

He’s also hoping to take the continent by storm, having written a song for the Eurovision Song Contest that is being considered by a number of countries.

A passion for poetry turned into writing pop songs for Darren, who has been offered a publishing contract by a company in France.

He says: ‘It’s only recently that I’ve really had the confidence to push ahead with songwriting.

‘I actually collaborated with a casual at Royal Mail. He was looking for someone to write lyrics, and I guess it was just fate.’

Darren recorded and produced Move Your Body professionally. He hopes he’ll be one of the lucky ones when the nominees for next year’s final are announced in December.

By then, he is confident he will have a taker for his top-secret Eurovision lyrics.

‘Eurovision offers a good chance for unknown songwriters because you can send songs to any country.’


In tune.... Darren has songwriting ambitions.

S teve’s first year as a competitive bodybuilder has seen him eclipse his own expectations with success

at home and abroad.Having made his mark on

the men’s physique category, by winning the South Coast Championships for the first time earlier this year, he went on to win the English Grand Prix.Victory there earned Steve a

trip to Madrid and a place at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic event.

‘I’ve been passionate about keeping in shape since I was young, but the progress I’ve made this year is more than I could’ve dreamed of,’ says Steve.

‘I set myself a goal of competing abroad, but it’s all happened so quickly. Going up against world-class athletes was a steep learning curve but it was an absolutely amazing experience.’

Steve returned from Madrid to a place in the top 10 at the British finals in October, and has been overwhelmed by support from his friends, family and colleagues, who are backing him all the way.

He says: ‘My manager was very supportive and colleagues are genuinely interested in my progress, which is really humbling.’

Steve now plans a break from competing until next year. He harbours ambitions to one day turn professional.

In shape... Steve impresses

at a recent competition.

Cricket is a family affair for Preston driver Roger Garlick,

who is following in his father’s footsteps with an eminent career in the sport.

Roger’s night shifts with Royal Mail give him plenty of time to step up to the crease at Norcross Cricket Club, where he has captained the first and second XI and is now a highly-respected coach.

‘My father R G Garlick played for Lancashire and Northamptonshire, so cricket was something I just grew up with,’ he says.

‘My daughters both play for Norcross CC and my wife is the registrations secretary, so it plays a big part in our lives.

‘Since passing my level 2 badge, I coach our seniors and juniors as well as going into local schools promoting the sport and coaching stars of the future.’

Roger has been honoured with numerous awards for his hard work. Last year he was named Blackpool Evening Gazette’s unsung sporting hero and in July 2015 was runner-up in the coach of the year category at Lancashire Cricket Board’s Outstanding Service to Cricket awards.

In August he won Wyre District sports coach of the year and goes forward to represent the area at the Lancashire Sports Awards next month.

He adds: ‘I’m really honoured by the awards but it’s

giving something back to the

community that really matters to me.’

HOWZAT FOR A HOBBY?

PEOPLE

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES

Roger with his family.

ALL SET FOR CHRISTMAS - myroyalmail · 2015/16 financial year covers the period from 29 June 2015...

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Transcript of ALL SET FOR CHRISTMAS - myroyalmail · 2015/16 financial year covers the period from 29 June 2015...