Can anyone please offer me some advice?
I wish to work for royal mail but nothing appears on their website at the moment.
What I was wondering is do they take drivers on through the agency or just use the agencies for the Christmas period.
Many thanks
Agency for a year or 2 i think.it is very hard to get in now though .
From what I’ve gathered from reading on here the best way in these days is to become a postie.
This is only rhetoric ramblings not based on any facts btw!
People already employed by RM will be given preference and they’re currently running a driver career path scheme to encourage employees with 7.5t entitlement to compete C+E training.
After that, jobs are advertised on the RM website but the reality is that if you haven’t already been working there on agency then your chances are very slim.
Some people I know had been on agency over 5 years and some just 8 months before getting a full time position. It all depends on which area is recruiting at the time.
Don’t forget that RM is now a private company, which means an attack on terms and conditions is imminent. And the cwu isn’t the strongest union when it comes to defending its members. It had deteriorated over the last 20 years of public ownership
Reef:
From what I’ve gathered from reading on here the best way in these days is to become a postie.This is only rhetoric ramblings not based on any facts btw!
Reef is indeed correct. One of my best mates is on class 1’s out of Dallam lane rail depot in Warrington. He started out as a postie, then went on the trains doing mail sorting and then got put through his CE. It’s virtually impossible to get in full time permanent, and many depot’s have a ’ waiting list ’ for day shifts 
(My mate did a few years on nights before he got on day’s).
Even the 7.5 tonne drivers are on nearly £30k 
OVLOV JAY:
Don’t forget that RM is now a private company, which means an attack on terms and conditions is imminent. And the cwu isn’t the strongest union when it comes to defending its members. It had deteriorated over the last 20 years of public ownership
Already happening.
Mate of mine is a postie on old terms, his wife has just joined the same depot, doing the same job on new and totally different terms.
Ken.
Quinny:
OVLOV JAY:
Don’t forget that RM is now a private company, which means an attack on terms and conditions is imminent. And the cwu isn’t the strongest union when it comes to defending its members. It had deteriorated over the last 20 years of public ownershipAlready happening.
Mate of mine is a postie on old terms, his wife has just joined the same depot, doing the same job on new and totally different terms.
Ken.
That wouldn’t be on the logistics side though. All drivers of the LGE and LGV fleet are on the same terms as the other drivers in the same category. The LGE and LGV do both have different terms to each other though. Any new start would have the same terms as drawn up under the Professional Drivers Agreement which covers all regardless of induction date, wether you transferred internally or got the job as an outsider.
I did some agency (MANPOWER)work a few years ago and asked about getting a proper job with them,no chance basically.I was being paid to sleep about £16.00 per hour thats more than some “ladies” are paid,or so I have been told.
alamcculloch:
I did some agency (MANPOWER)work a few years ago and asked about getting a proper job with them,no chance basically.I was being paid to sleep about £16.00 per hour thats more than some “ladies” are paid,or so I have been told.
It’s more than that if you include the night rate allowance and retention area bonus 
Reef:
From what I’ve gathered from reading on here the best way in these days is to become a postie.This is only rhetoric ramblings not based on any facts btw!
Nah, being a postietute was the former way it was done. 
They have an advert on the gate at the Rochester depot for experienced class one drivers direct
chester1:
They have an advert on the gate at the Rochester depot for experienced class one drivers direct
I’d be amazed if that wasn’t still via an agency, agencies are ̶s̶m̶a̶r̶t̶ (correction - cunning), they know how to hook and to make an advert appear to be a full time directly employed position it’s what they do best.
chester1:
They have an advert on the gate at the Rochester depot for experienced class one drivers direct
So they still haven’t managed to replace me yet then? 
Reef:
chester1:
They have an advert on the gate at the Rochester depot for experienced class one drivers directI’d be amazed if that wasn’t still via an agency, agencies are ̶s̶m̶a̶r̶t̶ (correction - cunning), they know how to hook and to make an advert appear to be a full time directly employed position it’s what they do best.
I’m sure it’s direct will look next time I’m in there . Knowing RM they wont allow any thing unofficial on there property
IS Drivers Direct thename of the agency.? Those agencies get up to all sorts you know. 
Swindon RM uses mainly Manpower (based in Reading) but these do subbie out some of the work (Rapier and Drivers Direct, both Swindon)
A few years ago ( 5 or 6?) they did a mass recruitment drive and took on a lot of agency drivers who had been working there but not heard of that for a long time now
Best thing would be to join your local Manpower and confirm you have 2 years experience in class 1 or they won’t touch you
somtam:
Can anyone please offer me some advice?
I wish to work for royal mail but nothing appears on their website at the moment.
What I was wondering is do they take drivers on through the agency or just use the agencies for the Christmas period.
Many thanks
you never will see them advertise full time positions,i know cos I looked at their site numerous times in the last two years,as others are saying,the only way is agency,even then the agencies have their blue eyed boys who get the best work,been like that since I can remember years ago
wouldn’t mind being a postie, suppose its better than walking the streets.
I have assessment at RM next week ( agy ) any tips?
I am fully expecting it to be mainly centred around H & S.