Evri planning to add 9,000 jobs under new ownership

(Sharecast News) - Parcel delivery firm Evri announced plans to hire 9,000 new workers on Monday, in response to surging online shopping demand. The announcement came after it inked a £2.7bn acquisition agreement with US private equity company Apollo last week.

According to the Telegraph, the expansion would include 8,000 additional delivery drivers and 1,000 support staff, enhancing its capacity to handle the growing volume of online orders.

The company, branded Hermes until 2022, aimed to have 28,000 couriers delivering about four million parcels daily after the expansion.

Its recruitment drive will focus on areas such as Scotland, Bury St Edmunds, Plymouth, and Gatwick.

Evri said its self-employed drivers currently earn an average of £16.50 per hour.

The company said it was also investing in sustainability by building the UK's largest fleet of parcel delivery e-bikes, aligning with its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035.

Apollo's acquisition of Evri from Advent was expected to finalise later in the year, with other potential buyers including DHL and JD.com outbid.

Evri's expansion would position it in direct competition with Royal Mail, set to undergo its own transformation under Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

Royal Mail parent International Distribution Services agreed a £5bn takeover deal with Kretinsky in late May, with shareholders set to vote on it at the annual general meeting in September.

Kretinsky reportedly planned to invest significantly in Royal Mail's parcel division, reduce prices, and establish a network of delivery lockers.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.