Royal Mail - Skills for Life at the National Distribution Centre

Every day Royal Mail collects, processes and delivers 75 million items to 28 million UK addresses, employs 176,000 people, at 1,800 locations and has a turnover of £9.5 billion.

The organisation relies on efficiency to ensure high levels of quality of service. With a highly diverse mix of employees, the development of literacy, numeracy and communication skills is paramount to improving performance and enhancing communications.

A key focus of the organisation’s Skills for Life programme is the National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Daventry, employing 700 people in distribution and processing across a 24/7 shift system.

The pilot programme Feeling First Class looked at raising numeracy and literacy levels whilst improving employee understanding of health and well being issues.