Holly Williams

Royal Mail delivered 85% of first-class mail the next day and 91.4% of second-class mail within three working days during the first quarter, falling short of Ofcom targets of 90% and 95% respectively. Performance improved from the previous year, and the company says it remains on track to meet the targets by May 2027 after investing £500 million over five years. The reforms allow second-class letters to be delivered on alternate weekdays, including the planned removal of Saturday second-class deliveries, with the new model expected to reach all 1,200 delivery offices by Christmas. Ofcom is investigating Royal Mail for missing its targets for a second consecutive year.