UK Mail

UK Mail Ltd
Subsidiary
Area served
 United Kingdom
Products Postal services
Parent Deutsche Post DHL Group
Website www.ukmail.com

UK Mail, formerly known as Business Post, is a postal service company operating 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 and Whistl.[3] Since December 2016, the company has been owned by Deutsche Post AG.[4]

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 then 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.[5]

It began trading in 2004, with Powergen as its first customer, and delivered its one billionth item of mail in October 2006.[6] In 2009, its parent company, Business Post Group, became UK Mail Group to "reflect the growing importance of the mail arm".[7] In 2015, problems caused by a new automated sorting hub had resulted in a loss in profit, and a share price drop. [8]

In September 2016, UK Mail announced that it would be acquired by Deutsche Post DHL Group.[9] By this time, the news media reported that the company had established "one of the largest integrated parcels and mail operations in the United Kingdom" The sale was concluded in December 2016, for US$315.5 (£243 million).

The former company became a division of the Deutsche Post European parcel network although its web site acknowledges only the relationship with DHL Express.[10][11] In March 2017, UK Mail was criticised for charging a sick self employed courier £216 a day as the cost of hiring a replacement. In reply, the company stated that "UK Mail only ever passes on the actual costs incurred, which is in line with the contract with the driver and with company policy".[12]

References

  1. ↑ "UK Mail Group PLC (UKM.L) Company Profile". Reuters. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Post service opens to competition". BBC.co.uk. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Privatised mail: a second-class delivery". The Guardian. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Deutsche Post DHL Group completes UK Mail acquisition". 3 January 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Business Post's UK Mail granted long-term licence by Postcomm". Postandparcel.info. 12 June 2003. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "UK Mail makes a one-in-a-billion delivery". Logisticsmanager.com. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Business Post to become UK Mail". Sharecast.com. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "UK Mail profits hit by HQ move". Bbc.co.uk. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Deutsche Post DHL übernimmt UK Mail". Logistik-watchblog.de (in German). 28 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Deutsche Post DHL Group completes UK Mail acquisition". 3 January 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  12. ↑ Robert Booth (19 March 2017). "UK Mail driver who was unable to work after car accident charged £800 | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
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