Royal Mail has issued a significant warning to customers across 25 locations, alerting them to expect substantial delays in their postal deliveries.
Affected Postcode Areas
The national postal service confirmed that local issues are causing disruptions to mail services in several key regions. The affected postcode areas are AL, EN, HP, LU, SG, WD, DE, and NG.
The DE and NG postcodes, covering the East Midlands areas of Derby and Nottingham respectively, are specifically highlighted as experiencing notable delays.
Service Response and Apology
Royal Mail has formally apologised to residents and businesses in these areas. A company spokesperson stated: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”
The service has assured affected customers that teams are working to minimise disruption and provide targeted support to restore normal service levels as quickly as possible.
Context: The Rise of Side Hustles
This delay notice comes alongside revealing research from Royal Mail about the growing 'side hustle' economy in the UK. The study found that millennials are reportedly earning an average of £577 per month from additional ventures, totalling approximately £6,923 annually.
Further statistics from the research include:
- More than three in ten (31%) take home an extra £400 every four weeks
- For 37%, their side income sometimes exceeds their main salary
- This figure rises to 54% among Generation Z
- Most side hustlers dedicate around 10 hours per week to their projects
Popular items sold include old clothing (44%), books (35%), accessories (31%), tech products (26%), and handcrafted items (22%).
This research forms part of Royal Mail's Means Business campaign, which supports small businesses and side hustlers through its dedicated Small Business Hub.
Saadi Al-Soudani, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, commented: “There’s serious money to be made even if you only have a few hours a week. Whether it’s selling items you no longer need or creating your own products, online marketplaces have made it easier than ever to start.”
He added that using parcel shops, lockers, or home collection services provides convenient shipping options for entrepreneurs.
