UK Mail

UK Mail, a trading name of DHL Parcel UK Limited and formerly known as Business Post, is a postal service company operating in the United Kingdom,[1] which has competed with 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.

DHL Parcel UK Limited
Trading name
Founded1971 
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsPostal services
ParentDeutsche Post DHL Group
Websitewww.ukmail.com

UK Mail competes primarily with Royal Mail and Whistl.[3] Since December 2016, the company has been owned by Deutsche Post AG.[4] The company name was changed from UK Mail Limited to DHL Parcel UK Limited in July 2018, and its parcel service rebranded, although the name UK Mail will continue to be used for mail and packet services.[5]

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 then listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1993. UK Mail was granted one seven year licence by Postcomm in June 2003, to provide postal services for business customers.[6]

It began trading in May 2004, with Powergen as its first customer, and delivered its one billionth item of mail in October 2006.[7][8] In July 2009, its parent company, Business Post Group, became UK Mail Group to "reflect the growing importance of the mail arm".[9] In November 2015, problems caused by a new automated sorting hub had resulted in a loss in profit, and a share price drop.[10]

In September 2016, UK Mail announced that it would be acquired by Deutsche Post DHL Group.[11] 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.[12][13] 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".[14]

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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. "UK Mail to adopt global DHL brand". UK Mail. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. "Business Post's UK Mail granted long-term licence by Postcomm". Postandparcel.info. 12 June 2003. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. "Business Post clinches Powergen from Royal Mail". campaignlive.co.uk. 15 July 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  8. "UK Mail makes a one-in-a-billion delivery". Logisticsmanager.com. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  9. "Business Post to become UK Mail". Sharecast.com. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  10. "UK Mail profits hit by HQ move". Bbc.co.uk. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  11. "Deutsche Post DHL übernimmt UK Mail". Logistik-watchblog.de (in German). 28 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  12. "Deutsche Post DHL Group completes UK Mail acquisition".
  13. "Deutsche Post DHL Group completes UK Mail acquisition". 3 January 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  14. Robert Booth (19 March 2017). "UK Mail driver who was unable to work after car accident charged £800 | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
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