Overview

• International Distribution Services bought a 49% stake in Collect+ for £43.9 million, with PayPoint indicating a £90 million valuation for the business.
• Nearly 8,000 convenience locations will operate as Royal Mail Shop, selling postage over the counter for the first time and offering evening and weekend hours.
• About 500 outlets have already been rebadged, with broader rollout beginning from October and self‑service kiosks slated for early 2026.
• Royal Mail will hire roughly 20,000 temporary workers and add four seasonal sorting centres in Atherstone, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Daventry to handle peak parcel volumes.
• The expansion comes as Royal Mail prepares to switch second‑class letter deliveries to every other weekday from 28 July next year in response to falling letter demand.