Royal Mail has confirmed it is taking on 22,000 staff ahead of the festive season. The postal operator says there is potential for a number of the roles to become permanent.
Christmas is a busy time for Royal Mail as people send gifts and cards across the country. The company says on its website: "Every year, we go the extra mile to deliver festive cheer to the communities we serve. But we can't do it without people like you. The festive period is our busiest time of year, and it's our incredible seasonal team that makes it all possible. Whether it's the Christmas card from a loved one or a long-awaited gift, we deliver more than mail - we deliver joy."
What jobs are on offer?
Job roles include seasonal mail sorter, customer service, parcel delivery driver, and Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) and Manually Guided Vehicle (MGV) driver roles. The Independent reports that mail sorting accounts for 12,500 jobs in England, 1,243 in Scotland, 485 in Northern Ireland and 355 in Wales.
An additional 5,000 delivery and collection vacancies are open nationwide, alongside 2,100 temporary posts for drivers.
Royal Mail's website describes the Seasonal Mail Sorter role: "In this fast-paced, hands-on role, you'll sort mail and parcels, keep items moving through the network, and help deliver Christmas to the nation. You'll be on your feet, working as part of a supportive team where every shift makes a real difference."
Why join us?
- Earn extra money ahead of Christmas
- Be part of a friendly team
- Gain valuable work experience
- Play an important role during our busiest time of year
Applications are now open. For customer service roles, the website says: "You'll be the friendly voice (or helpful reply) that supports our customers, offering solutions with empathy, patience and a can-do attitude." Angard Staffing are recruiting for these vacancies in 2026.
Parcel Delivery Driver roles require "a full, manual UK driving licence and the ability to work independently and stay organised on the move." Angard Staffing are exclusively recruiting for these vacancies in 2026. Temporary and seasonal LGV and MGV Driver vacancies are managed by partners Pertemps and Manpower.
Busiest and most important time of the year
Royal Mail's chief operating officer, Jamie Stephenson, said: "Christmas is the busiest and most important time of the year for our customers, and we're working hard across every part of our operation to deliver for them. While many people start thinking about Christmas as the festive season approaches, we've been planning for it since January. From recruiting thousands of seasonal colleagues to strengthening capacity across our network, we're making significant investments to help ensure every card, gift and parcel arrives in time for Christmas."
'Unacceptable' performance
The recruitment drive comes after Royal Mail was criticised for its performance over Christmas in 2025. Citizens Advice found that it failed to deliver cards and parcels on time to around 16 million people. The consumer watchdog said it was a 50-per-cent increase on 2024, and the highest in five years.
Anne Pardoe, the head of policy at Citizens Advice, said: "We're afraid there's no light at the end of the tunnel for consumers struggling with Royal Mail's persistent delivery failures. When people have no other postal provider to choose from, the sheer volume of delays is simply unacceptable."
The research was based on a survey of almost 2,100 adults conducted by Yonder. It calculated that 5.7 million of the 16 million who experienced delivery delays missed out on receiving important information, including benefits decisions and medical appointments.
