Royal Mail partners with UPP to roll-out parcel locker services in a first for student accommodation
Royal Mail and UPP are teaming up to introduce parcel lockers at 14 student residences across the UK. This is the first partnership between Royal Mail and a student accommodation provider.
The first locker is now up and running at Nottingham Trent University.
These feature label printing, with the aim of making the process more convenient for customers who do not have access to a printer. Customers need to pay for postage online and print the label by scanning a QR code at the locker or request a QR code if they are returning a purchase.
With long-term partnerships with 15 top UK universities, UPP has over 35,000 rooms for students under management or in construction.
Royal Mail now has almost 24,000 locations where customers can drop off and collect parcels, including 2,200 lockers, almost 8,000 Royal Mail Shop outlets, 11,500 Post Office branches, 1,200 Royal Mail Customer Service Points and 1,200 parcel postboxes.
Customers can also drop off parcels small enough to fit in a postbox and use the app to request proof of postage, as well as drop off larger parcels in the new postboxes of the future.
Anna Malley, Director of Partnerships and Acquisitions at Royal Mail, says: “Our partnership with UPP will make it even easier for students to send and receive parcels with Royal Mail. We know it can be difficult for students in halls to have secure locations to pick up their parcels at any time and to have somewhere on their doorstep to send or return items. These locations are a great addition to our rapidly expanding network.”
Holly Dixon, Commercial Revenue Manager at UPP, says: “We’re constantly working on ways to improve the service we offer to our student residents and we know from early feedback they greatly appreciate this new initiative.”
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Parcel lockers were a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
We received a record number of entries and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
For a full rundown of all of the shortlisted entries, click here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC in Central London on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
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