Who We Are - Sheila

Sheila typifies the community spirit customers recognise Royal Mail for. The Tyneside mail sorter is our next star being recognised as part of the Who We Are campaign.

Our Who We Are campaign celebrates our key workers - connecting communities, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic – and beyond as well. Over the coming months, we’ll be recognising people at the heart of our business, across the pipeline, as they describe who they are in their own words.

We want to receive nominations from around the Group for deserving colleagues to be recognised in this way. Send yours to groupcommunications@royalmail.com

Look out for coverage of Who We Are on RMtv, in Courier, your unit’s tv screens and, of course, here on myroyalmail.com

‘My job involves sorting A4 flat large letters in the sorting frame,’ Sheila said. ‘I take out all the missorts and they get sorted to the right area by my colleagues. I write down how many items I’ve checked and how many missorts I find too.

‘When I first started at Royal Mail eight years ago, I was sorting packets, large parcels, letters, and tipping bags. I then did the IMP letter machine and the FSM large letters sorting machine training courses. Over the years, I have also been trained to use the stamp cancelling machine and I’ve done a First Aid course, as well as the Springboard women’s training course.

‘I think the qualities you need to do the job well are to be efficient in your role, be punctual, work as a team if working with people, be honest, be friendly and true to who you are as a person. It’s also important to know when to reach out if you don’t know how to do something - ask the workplace coach or if you don’t know where something goes, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

‘I remember my first day at Royal Mail – it was 4 October 2012. I sorted large parcels that day and got to know the people I started with. There were lots of people working in the mail centre and our workplace coach, Keith, was showing us the different work sections in the mail centre on the late shift.

‘To me, Royal Mail means working as a team in a multicultural environment and accepting everyone for who they are. Being proud and passionate to be employed there and helping people at work and the public to sort, dispatch, and deliver their parcels and letters on time.

‘During the pandemic, I shaved my hair for Newcastle and Gateshead food banks and raised more than £3,266 by going around collecting sponsorship money during work and in my own free time.

‘It was hard work, but I’m glad I did it because many people have lost their jobs or been furloughed during the pandemic and I’ve helped a lot of people access the food they need from the food banks.

‘I continue to collect food for Gateshead food bank as it’s next door to Tyneside Mail Centre. I sang on the Tannoy at work and did Facebook Live and YouTube videos and I also sang in a care home for the residents. It made them so happy just to hear some old songs during these hard times.’