More jobs in pipepline as TNT plans to increase market share

Nick Wells, chief executive of TNT Post in the UK, said he believed the firm could contine to grow market share despite the faltering economic recovery.

The Dutch-owned firm, which is a major rival to Royal Mail, collects about 3.3bn items a year in Britain, made up of transaction mail, such as bills and statements, and direct marketing material.

Its Leeds depot handles 550m mail items a year, about half of which are delivered in Yorkshire.

Asked about TNT Post's long-term plans for the UK, which represents the business's largest overseas market, Mr Wells said: "We will continue to employ more people in the depots.

"We want to produce a good service to businesses looking to save money, and that is incredibly important to firms in the recession.

"Yorkshire is very important to us. The connurbations of Leeds and Bradford and South Yorkshire mean there are lots of businesses there within a high density of population."

TNT Post said in July that it planned to expand its workforce by a fifth and bolster its regional presence. It is also planning to invest 3m in sorting and processing technology and to create 33 jobs in Leeds.

Mr Wells admitted that the industry was in "structural decline" because of digitilisation but said he was confident TNT could grow its UK business further.

"There is always going to be a role for mail for the forseeable future. Direct mail is a highly effective advertising solution."

TNT has 2,700 customers across the north of England, including a strong base of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Its customes include BT and Centrica.