Yodel is recruiting 7,000 part-time and full-time staff across the UK in preparation for this year’s peak Christmas period.

The independent parcel carrier is set to recruit more than 800 directly-employed drivers who will be provided with Yodel branded uniforms and a liveried van.

Yodel is also looking for around 3,000 owner-drivers, who will be required to provide their own vans.

Both sets of drivers will be based at their local service centres and provided with hand held computers to help plan their routes and scan parcels as they go on their delivery and collection rounds.

A further 3,000 self-employed couriers, will also be joining the company, using their own cars to deliver and collect smaller parcels from customers.

Self-employed couriers are based from home and carry out deliveries in their own neighbourhood.

Couriers’ hours are more flexible, making it the ideal choice for anyone who requires a job that can fit around other commitments, such as child-care, hobbies or other part-time work.

While these are seasonal positions for the peak period, many of the roles are expected to become permanent thanks to the increase in Yodel’s client base and growth in parcel volumes.

Yodel’s training programme will ensure workers are fully prepared for the peak period and includes tuition on Yodel’s policies and processes as well as basic health and safety.

For the courier and owner driver roles, Yodel also offers support in the form of insurance and vehicle lease packages, as well as guidance on the paperwork and benefits associated with being self-employed.

Vacancies are located across the country, but there is a focus on recruitment in: Aberdeen, Alfreton, Aylesham, Basildon, Borehamwood, Bristol, Cambridge, Carlisle, Carrickfergus, Chessington, Dartford, Edinburgh, Enfield, Gateshead, Gatwick, Glasgow, Gloucester, Hayes, Horndean, Ipswich, Farnborough, Keighley, Kilmarnock, Leamington, Leeds, Lichfield, Lincoln, Llandudno, Llanelli, Maidstone, Middleton, Mitcham, Nant Garw, New Cross, Newton Abbott, Northampton, Norwich, Omagh, Perth, Peterborough, Preston, Reading, Sandwell, Selby, Sheffield, Southampton, Stockton, Stoke, Truro, Warrington, Wrexham and Yeovil.