Five key dates in history of Royal Mail


Here are five major stories that reflect these challenging times.
GOING...GOING...GONE
Today, the Government sold its final stake in the Royal Mail for just over £591m.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said the sale represented “the right step for the Royal Mail, its customers and the taxpayer”.
CHALLENGING CONDITIONS
In July, Royal Mail revealed that it failed to grow sales in the first three months of its financial year as “challenging” trading continued to see letter revenues fall.
It said the number of letters delivered fell 5% and sales dropped 4% in the quarter to June 28 in a tough environment that continues to see email eat in to the traditional letter market. This figure excludes the impact of election mailings.


PART AND PARCEL
But its parcels unit saw sales by volume lift 3% and revenues rise 2% in the period, as recent cost cutting and other new initiatives took effect.
HUGE LOSS TO TAXPAYERS
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn 2014, a damning report claimed that taxpayers lost £1 billion when Ministers botched the sale of Royal Mail.
The Government underestimated the value of the business and was more worried about the sell-off failing than securing the best possible price, MPs found.
Their report was also critical of the advice given to Ministers by the Shareholder Executive - a government agency - and city firms.
SUNDAY SERVICE
Last year, Royal Mail also revealed that it would start delivering parcels and opening delivery offices on Sundays as part of a trial.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn June this year, a review was launched by the communications watchdog after the collapse of a rival letters service left the Royal Mail with no competitors in that market.
Tweet us your thoughts @YPBiz