An Post has launched UK Direct, a new parcel delivery and returns service designed to simplify shipping from Ireland to the UK following the introduction of post-Brexit trade requirements.
The service aims to help Irish SMES access the UK’s consumer market by providing an end-to-end delivery solution that includes customs handling, parcel delivery and returns management.
According to An Post, UK Direct offers pre-cleared UK customs processing and three-day e-commerce parcel delivery to the UK via Dublin Port. The service also includes end-to-end parcel tracking and an integrated returns process for customers.
Businesses can register to integrate with the system, which provides advance customs payments and delivery tracking as part of a single service intended to simplify cross-border e-commerce operations.
Shipping goods to Great Britain has become more complex for Irish SMEs since the UK left the European Union, with companies facing additional customs charges, compliance requirements and longer delivery times. Despite these challenges, demand for UK market access remains strong.
Enterprise Ireland forecasts that 97% of Irish companies plan to expand into new markets over the next 12 months. In a recent pilot program for potential exporters, around two-thirds of participants identified the UK as their priority market.
An Post said it developed the service after consulting Irish SMEs about the difficulties they face when exporting to Great Britain. The company partnered with Royal Mail to provide delivery within the UK as part of the solution.
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, said, “UK-Irish trade is central to Ireland’s economy. This new UK Direct solution reopens that market for businesses facing the challenges posed by Brexit. Ireland’s 400,000+ SMEs are the backbone of this economy, and in building new infrastructure for Ireland, An Post is opening doors to new trade with the UK through a full end-to-end service from one of Ireland’s most trusted companies.
“UK Direct removes barriers to trade, providing Irish SMEs with access to over 69 million new customers. Instead of being tied up in the complexities of customs fees or other red tape, they can focus on huge growth opportunities and ensuring a top-quality retail experience for their new UK customers.”
Kara Owen, the British ambassador to Ireland, said the service reflects cooperation between An Post and Royal Mail: “Businesses on both sides of the Irish Sea want simple, dependable ways to reach their customers, and UK Direct delivers exactly that.”
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