A Yorkshire-based parcel delivery company is gearing up for the Christmas period following a £32 million investment in service enhancements.

Evri, which said it handled 730 million parcels last year, has a target of 800 million parcels "before the end of the year" of 2024, according to a spokesperson.

The company expects to handle more than 3.7 million parcels on its busiest day this year, but "has capacity to handle up to 4.2 million if needed."

Preparations for the festive period began in July, when Evri announced that it was seeking an additional 9,000 people to join its workforce - including 8,000 couriers and 2,000 workers for its hubs and depots.

Three depots in Tyneside, Pen-y-bont, and Sheffield have been relocated, which Evri said has allowed it to increase capacity in those locations by "more than 200,000 parcels combined."

The Sheffield depot relocation represented a £2.5 million investment, with 132,000 sq ft of space and the creation of 23 new jobs.

Evri has also upgraded 60 of its smaller, "more localised" delivery units, as well as introducing new locations to handle increased volumes.

The company's out-of-home network now spans more than 16,000 locations, including 3,200 Post Offices following the establishment of a partnership last year.

More information about last year's Post Office partnership is available at corporate.postoffice.co.uk/en/blogs/2023_12/post-office-partners-with-dpd-and-evri-to-launch-new-in-branch-parcel-delivery-services/

Ashley Walker, director of planning and infrastructure, said: "This significant investment underlines Evri's commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring we deliver a seamless experience for both our customers and business partners.

"With the festive season fast approaching, we know this is an important time for retailers and consumers alike.

"We've invested heavily to ensure we can continue to deliver our industry-leading on-time delivery rate of 99 per cent.

"By expanding our network, bolstering our workforce, and investing in innovative technology, we're confident we're well-equipped to handle the ever-increasing demand for parcel deliveries during the peak period."

The company recently announced a partnership with Scope, and said it aims to be "the most accessible delivery company in the UK."

Following research conducted with the Research Institute of Disabled Consumers, disabled people expecting deliveries from Evri can now request more time to get to the door, as well as requesting that couriers ring the doorbell instead of knocking.

Last year, Evri also announced that it had invested £10m in its customer service operation.

According to a spokesperson, "the business has continued to invest in this area" in 2024.