Bristol faces the highest risk of Christmas delivery delays

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
New research ahead of Christmas has revealed a shortfall of logistics workers is putting Bristol at the highest risk of delayed holiday parcels.

The ‘Delivery Delays’ Report, from business communications specialist Esendex, analysed data from Indeed to calculate the vacancy rate for the most common delivery job titles, and pinpoint the regions and cities in the UK most at risk of delivery delays this Christmas.

Businesses could be left struggling to meet parcel delivery deadlines in the lead-up to Christmas, as the report found 29,225 open positions for delivery roles in the UK, averaging 42.1 vacancies per 100,000 people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Across the UK, Bristol is most at risk of delivery delays, with 457 vacancies total and a vacancy rate of 98.0 per 100,000 residents - more than double the national average.

Top 10 UK cities most at risk of delivery delays, per capita (100,000)Top 10 UK cities most at risk of delivery delays, per capita (100,000)
Top 10 UK cities most at risk of delivery delays, per capita (100,000)

Residents in Bristol are no strangers to delivery challenges: last year’s postal crisis came after more than 40% of Royal Mail staff had resigned, causing significant delays and week-long waits for parcels.

A similar issue arose in 2022, when strike action at Royal Mail’s Filton sorting office caused a severe backlog of letters and parcels weeks before Christmas.

Pressure on delivery networks only intensifies ahead of Christmas, with £27.6 billion spent on Christmas gifts in the UK last year. In addition, reports project increased spending this year, including a 4% rise in online spending year-on-year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The South West of England also faces the largest shortage, with 1,931 delivery vacancies in total and a vacancy rate of 33.8 per 100,000 residents. This was closely followed by the East of England, with a rate of 33.5, suggesting a potentially higher rate of delivery delays within these regions.

Peterborough and Southampton followed closely behind Bristol, with 86.8 and 75.2 vacancies per 100,000 respectively.

Despite being the capital and a major retail hub, London faces the lowest risk of delivery delays with the lowest vacancy rate in the UK of 13.1 per 100,000 residents in the UK. This could be due to the city’s more prominent logistics infrastructure, which supports a more consistent supply of delivery workers.

Chris Gorman, Head of Commercial Transformation at Esendex, commented on the findings: “As the festive season approaches and consumers increase their online spending, identifying the regions most at risk from delivery job shortages allows businesses to anticipate potential bottlenecks in the supply chain. Whilst bigger cities like London, Liverpool and Birmingham are at lower risk of delays, Bristol and other cities surrounded by more rural areas will face pressures to deliver parcels when expected.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“One of the most effective ways for businesses to manage these challenges is through the use of real-time communication tools, such as automated SMS solutions and Whatsapp for Business. These tools keep customers informed about delivery progress and any unexpected delays, allowing for proactive customer engagement.

“It is important for businesses to be transparent to maintain customer satisfaction and minimise any impact or negative experiences this Christmas. By providing timely updates and facilitating two-way communication channels, businesses can alleviate customer service pressure and ensure greater customer confidence. In a competitive landscape, this level of responsiveness can be a key differentiator as businesses meet customer expectations.”

To view the research in full, please visit: https://www.esendex.co.uk/blog/post/delivery-delays-report/

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice