U.K.’s Royal Mail recently signed a new four-year, £11 million deal to continue supporting the postal service delivered by the British Forces Post Office.
The agreement, signed on March 23 in what’s Royal Mail’s 500th year of operation, continues the relationship the U.K. postal operator has enjoyed with the British Forces Post Office for more than a century, said Mike Newnham, Royal Mail’s chief customer officer.
“Royal Mail is delighted that its long standing contract with the British Forces Post Office is continuing,” said Newnham. “We are proud to play our part in delivering mail to our armed forces stationed around the world.”
The renewed deal means armed forces personnel stationed all over the world will continue to have access to services like the Enduring Families Free Mail Service for personnel deployed on Operations, which allow them to receive mail from friends and loved ones in the U.K. The agreement, known as the Forces Mail Settlement, also allows mail and online shopping orders going to armed forces personnel overseas to be sent at inland U.K. prices.
Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, chief of materiel (land) for defence equipment and support, said whether you’re a few hours away or on the other side of the world, there’s nothing quite like getting a letter from home.
“This deal will ensure that friends and family members can continue to support our troops overseas with letters, parcels and packages without incurring extra postage costs,” said Jaques. “It is crucial that service personnel, who work so hard to keep Britain safe, both at home and abroad, have the support of agreements like this one between government and Royal Mail as part of the Armed Forces Covenant.”