Royal Mail is gearing up for what is undoubtedly one of its busiest periods and you can be a part of the action this year.
The national postal service is currently hiring for a number of temporary roles across the North West.
As Christmas edges closer each year, Royal Mail gradually begins to get more bustling with people from all across the country rushing to post letters and gifts to their loved ones, which understandably leaves it needing a few extra hands to help in making sure everyone’s post is delivered on time for the big day.
With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic predicted to make this festive season busier than ever before too, the service really needs your help.
Reckon you’re up to the job?
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While unfortunately none of the jobs currently available are based in the Greater Manchester region, there are a number of opportunities available in neighbouring towns across the North West, so if you’re in need of a few extra pennies and don’t mind travelling a little further, then one of these roles could definitely suit you.
So, what temporary roles are Royal Mail recruiting for at the moment then?
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Mail Sorter
Role Type:Christmas Casual
Mail Sorters are needed at several hubs across the North West.
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According to Royal Mail, this role involves unloading mail and parcels from vans, moving them around the warehouse, and sorting them into the right departments so that they arrive at their destination safely.
The job description states that successful candidates for the role will be people who enjoy working to tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment, are proactive and detail focused, are flexible and adaptable to work on various tasks during a shift, are able to push trolleys (up to 250kgs) and lift and move mail bags up to 11kg, and can comfortably stand for long periods of time.
Roles are currently available at the following nearby sites:
Chester Mail Centre
Warrington Mail Centre
Preston Mail Centre
Carlisle Mail Centre
No previous experience is needed for the role.
When it comes to pay, this is allocated hourly and ranges from £8.72 – £12.30 per hour.
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When you apply for the role, you will be able to select the shift patterns that are preferable to you and at most centres, there will be early shifts, lates, nights and weekends available to choose.
You can find out more information and apply for the roles here.
Wikimedia Commons
Mail Processor
Role Type:Christmas Casual
Royal Mail recruiting for a number Mail Processors at its North West Hub in Warrington.
According to Royal Mail, this particular role is a rather physical and active one as it involves unloading wheeled containers from incoming vehicles, moving them to the correct despatch lane, and then loading them to outgoing transport.
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It also involves a significant amount of walking each day, which is equivalent to around five miles or more.
The job description states: “If you are 18 years of age or over, are punctual, reliable and have a flexible approach, you are the type of person we’re looking for”.
Pay for the role is between £9.60 – £12.30 per hour.
Once again, shift patterns can be negotiable but do include lates, nights and weekends, and do be aware that this role may also require you to help out with parcel processing and mail sorting too.
You can find out more information and apply for the roles here.
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Manchester rent is now ‘41% more expensive than five years ago, according to a recent study
Danny Jones
Yes, that’s right, as per some of the latest data on leased housing in central Manchester, it’s now approximately 41% more expensive to rent here than it was half a decade ago.
If you’ve lived in and around the city centre for long enough, chances are that you’ve already been feeling that difference, especially of late.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis roughly began in 2021, following the economy and the world essentially opening back up after multiple lockdowns, so it’s little surprise that new research has shown affordability when it comes to renting has been on a slump ever since, too.
As well as the price of seemingly most things in everyday life going up post-pandemic, the average rental rate for even just a one-bedroom flat/apartment has jumped up significantly between 2020 and 2025.
Even some ‘available’ housing in town is being hampered by claddin (Credit: Valienne via WikiCommons)
That’s according to the numbers crunched by credit card experts, Zable, anyway.
Not only did their recent report cite the rent prices going up even before the cost of living crisis – essentially following the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak – but if their figures, the rate of inflation and the unwaveringly high demand for housing are anything to go by, this trajectory is likely to continue in 2026.
As of February this year, around one in three UK households is now a single-person occupancy, which already comes with its challenges (the Manchester City Council tax discount being a thin lifeline for countless), not to mention energy bills and the cost of groceries continuing on an upwards trend.
Put in the simplest and most reductive terms, it’s now almost £300 dearer for most people to live on their own than it was back in 2020, and besides Liverpool clocking in as second on the list of increasingly expensive cities to live (a 42.12% increase), Manchester came in third.
You can see the full table down below:
Rank
City
% increase – 2020-2025
Difference from 2020 to 2025 in £
Average rental cost for a 1 bed 2025
1
Newport
47.39%
£2,611
£8,121
2
Liverpool
42.12%
£2,290
£7,727
3
Manchester
41.00%
£3,364
£11,569
4
Edinburgh
40.28%
£4,620
£16,090
5
Leicester
39.93%
£2,391
£8,379
6
Wolverhampton
39.22%
£2,049
£7,273
7
Nottingham
39.07%
£2,400
£8,543
8
Glasgow
38.02%
£2,679
£9,725
9
Colchester
37.63%
£2,617
£9,572
10
Cardiff
37.06%
£2,828
Average rental cost for a 1-bed 2025
Another fear is that with lots of people finding it hard to manage living in other major cities like London, even those moving to Manchester are also having an impact on how available affordable housing is here.
That’s why schemes such as the new ‘social rent’ development over in Wythenshawe are so important to the current generations of renters, with the possibility of owning your own property in the future becoming increasingly difficult for so many.
It’s also worth noting that Manchester ranked fourth among the British locations where the cost of living is said to have increased the most over the past five years, with the average difference in annual spend growing by an estimated 22.84%.
Premier League launch completely FREE archive featuring highlights from every game since 1992
Danny Jones
Finally, in a bit of private sports broadcasting news we can actually get behind, the Premier League have launched a new archive featuring highlights from every single game in the first division’s modern era.
Best of all, as the title might have given away, it’s completely free to enjoy.
Chronicling every top-flight game since 1992, the new digital Premier League archive available online was launched earlier this week.
Providing video on-demand (VOD) access to literally thousands of games from way back when, you can relive all of your favourite moments from the best league in the world.
It might sound like quite a simple and easy thing to supply the masses with, but in an era when it’s increasingly hard and expensive to watch broadcast of any and all games, be that live on telly, via streaming, or VOD, this is such an easy win for the Prem.
With so many people struggling to afford all the various packages needed to view premium football, and therefore turning to illegal sites, this is at least a step in the right direction and a good bit of PR.
Sports presenter Nubaid Haroon wrote: “When I had my show with the Premier League, the archive was available via a login for us to watch some of the old tapes.
“It was genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. Regularly tapping in to see random dons like Elmander and Nzogbia.”
For us, it’s going to be watching vintage clips of Michu, Adel Taarabt and Alan Smith – yes, for both Leeds AND Man United.
Safe to say the whole thing has gone down very well with pretty much all footy fans across the board.
Don't want to overstate this but 20-minute highlights of every Premier League game in history, free and on demand, means that this should be a national holiday.
Case in point: another user on social media went on to add, “The full Premier League archive? Finally. Time to disappear into 33 seasons of greatness.”
Happy days indeed.
We expect the positive reaction to this will only grow even greater as more and more people find out about this new free service.
You can find the near countless hours of Premier League football right HERE – which classic game that comes to mind are you going to watch first?