Yodel creates 5,000 jobs across the UK

Furthermore, 760 employed drivers and 470 self-employed van drivers with their own vehicles, will be taken on to deliver to and collect parcels from customers.

There are a further 2,830 vacancies  for self-employed couriers, to work flexible hours in their own neighbourhood, making it ideal for people who need a job that can fit around other commitments, such as child-care, hobbies or other part time work.

In addition to the front-line roles, Yodel also has vacancies for three service centre managers, three operations managers, 40 service delivery managers and 135 customer service and admin staff.

While these are seasonal positions for the festive period, when the firm expects to handle up to a million parcels a day, many of the roles are expected to become permanent as Yodel anticipates growth in client base and parcel volume.

Vacancies are located across the country, but there is a focus on recruitment in London and the South East, Aberdeen, Carlisle, Edinburgh, East Kilbride, Glasgow, Hayes, Leamington, Middleton, Northampton, Reading, Selby, Southampton and Tilehurst.

Carol Dobbing, 55, from Humbledon Hill in Sunderland, has been working as a neighbourhood courier for Yodel for over two years. She works 18 hours a week and says: “Looking back, becoming a courier was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m more active and I enjoy meeting the people I’m delivering to, some of whom have become good friends. I also have flexibility to work around any other commitments that might arise, such as taking my mother to a doctor’s appointment.”