Big Changes to UK Postal Services – Here’s What You Need to Know
Updated 28th July 2025
Heads up, mailers. The UK postal service is shifting gears.
Ofcom – the UK’s postal regulator – has been reviewing the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and announced key changes this summer, rolling out from 28th July 2025. The goal? A more reliable, futureproof service that balances speed, price, and choice.
If you’re sending mail to customers, here’s the top-level info you need to stay up to date.
What’s changing?
From 23rd September 2025, Royal Mail will no longer be required to deliver Second Class letters on Saturdays.
Here’s a summary of the services you can access for your customer mail:
Mailmark Economy
- Delivery days: Monday to Friday only (no more Saturday delivery)
- Format: Letters only
Standard Service D+3
- Delivery days: Monday to Friday (no weekend deliveries)
- New delivery timeframe: Within 2 days of handover (currently next day)
- Format: All formats
- Rollout: Expected to take up to 12 months to be fully implemented
- NB: In many cases, if First Class Mail is being delivered to an address, standard mail may still arrive alongside it
Priority Service D+2 (NEW)
- Delivery days: Monday to Saturday
- Next-day delivery following handover
- Handover process: New class identifier will be required, with a new indicia introduced
- Format: BM MM Letters & Large Letters, MM Magazine Subscription Large Letters
- NB: Priority service does not support Admail, only Bus mail
What does this mean for you?
If you’re sending regular or priority mail – particularly time-sensitive comms – these changes could impact how you plan, produce, and deliver campaigns.
But don’t worry. We’re here to help you adapt smoothly, whether that’s tweaking formats, updating print specs, or managing data and delivery windows.
This SMP article is a useful resource, if you fancy reading up further.
Read the full announcement from Ofcom here.
Want help navigating the changes?
Let’s talk. Whether you need advice, technical support, or help adapting your campaigns, we’re here to make it easy.
Get in touch with our team – we’ll walk you through it.
