UK Mail

UK Mail Group plc
Public limited company
Traded as LSE: UKM
Area served
United Kingdom
Products Postal services
Website www.ukmail.com

UK Mail, formerly known as Business Post, is a private postal service company in the United Kingdom,[1] which has competed with the Royal Mail in collection and distribution of mail since the deregulation of the postal service in January 2006.[2] Its distribution network delivers mail to local Royal Mail sorting offices for last-mile delivery through downstream access.

UK Mail competes primarily with Royal Mail, along with Deutsche Post and Whistl.[3]

History

UK Mail originated as a taxi firm in Harrow in 1971. In just a few years, the company evolved into a national business offering same day courier and overnight parcel delivery. By 1986, the now much larger company became Business Post and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1993. UK Mail was granted a seven-year licence by Postcomm in 2003 to provide postal services for business customers.[4] It began trading in 2004, with Powergen as its first customer, and delivered its one billionth item of mail in October 2006.[5] In 2009, its parent company, Business Post Group, became UK Mail Group to "reflect the growing importance of the mail arm".[6] In 2015, problems caused by a new automated sorting hub resulted in a loss in profit and a share price drop. [7]

In September 2016 UK Mail was bought by Deutsche Post DHL.[8]

Additional Services

ipostparcels is part of the UK Mail Group. Offering next day collection and delivery parcel services, UK Mail introduced this service in September 2011 offering consumers a pay as you go service without the need for contracts.

imail is also part of the UK Mail Group. It is a hybrid mail service that allows customers to create, proof and send business and personal communications online from their computer. Items are received electronically and then printed out to be sent utilising UK Mails distribution network. imail also won the Growth award at the World Mail Awards 2013.

UK Mail is seeing an increase in parcel volumes from internet shopping year on year.

References

  1. "UK Mail Group PLC (UKM.L) Company Profile". Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. "Post service opens to competition". 1 January 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  3. "Privatised mail: a second-class delivery". 29 April 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  4. "Business Post's UK Mail granted long-term licence by Postcomm". 12 June 2003. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  5. "UK Mail makes a one-in-a-billion delivery". 17 October 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  6. "Business Post to become UK Mail". 15 July 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. "UK Mail profits hit by HQ move". 18 November 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  8. "Deutsche Post DHL übernimmt UK Mail" (in German). 28 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
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