Parcel delivery service Evri is set to hire 9,000 additional workers to compete with Royal Mail, amid soaring demand for online shopping.

This announcement comes shortly after Evri agreed to a £2.7 billion acquisition by the US private equity giant Apollo.

Evri plans to recruit 8,000 more delivery drivers and 1,000 additional staff to meet the growing demand for parcel deliveries, which now surpasses the peak levels seen during the pandemic. This surge is driven by the increase in online shopping, particularly from smaller merchants, fast-growing Asian sellers like Shein and Temu, and second-hand sales platforms such as Vinted.

The expansion will bring Evri’s total number of couriers to 28,000, with the company delivering approximately 4 million parcels daily. Evri’s delivery drivers, who are self-employed, typically earn £16.50 per hour. The 8,000 new drivers will be crucial for Evri’s busiest period, Christmas, though the company consistently seeks new couriers year-round.

In its bid to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035, Evri is also building the UK’s largest fleet of parcel delivery e-bikes. Apollo’s acquisition of Evri from Advent is expected to finalise later this year, with other bidders including DHL and Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com.

Evri’s expansion will heighten competition with Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech billionaire aiming to take over Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services. Kretinsky plans to invest heavily in Royal Mail’s parcel business, cutting prices and expanding a network of delivery lockers.

While parcels are Royal Mail’s most profitable segment, the company faces stiff competition from Evri, DPD, and InPost. Despite Evri’s claim that 99% of its parcels are delivered on time, the company has faced criticism over its customer service and working conditions, with Labour MP Carolyn Harris calling for an investigation last year.

Martijn De Lange, Evri’s chief executive, stated, “New client wins and increased parcel volumes are proof of the trust customers have in our service, and [Evri’s] biggest-ever recruitment drive promises to deliver another record year.” The company will focus its hiring efforts in Scotland, Bury St Edmunds, Plymouth, and Gatwick.

Read more:
Evri to create 9,000 jobs in competition with Royal Mail