53 - Postal and courier activities

This Chapter has been extracted from the ONS Explanatory Notes and provides a more detailed explanation of possible activities that could fall within the SIC Codes related to the Chapter.

This division includes postal and courier activities, such as pickup, transport and delivery of letters and parcels under various arrangements. Local delivery and messenger services are also included.

53.1 Postal activities under universal service obligation

53.10 Postal activities under universal service obligation

This class includes the activities of postal services operating under a universal service obligation by one or more designated universal service providers. The activities include use of the universal service
infrastructure, including retail locations, sorting and processing facilities, and carrier routes to pickup and deliver the mail. The delivery can include letter-post, i.e. letters, postcards, printed papers (newspaper, periodicals, advertising items, etc.), small packets, goods or documents. Also included are other services necessary to support the universal service obligation.

This class includes:
- pickup, sorting, transport and delivery (domestic or international) of letter-post and (mail-type) parcels and packages by postal services operating under a universal service obligation. One or more modes of transport may be involved and the activity may be carried out with either self-owned (private) transport or via public transport.
- collection of letter-mail and parcels from public letter-boxes or from post offices

This class excludes:
- postal giro, postal savings activities and money order activities, see 64.19

53.2 Other postal and courier activities

53.20 Other postal and courier activities

53.20/1 Licensed Carriers

This subclass includes:
- pickup, sorting, transport and delivery (domestic or international) of letter-post and (mail-type) parcels and packages by firms operating outside the scope of a universal service obligation. One or more modes of transport may be involved and the activity may be carried out with either self-owned (private) transport or via public transport.

This subclass also includes:
- home delivery services

This subclass excludes:
- transport of freight, see (according to mode of transport) 49.20, 49.41, 50.20, 50.40, 51.21, 51.22

53.20/2 Unlicensed Carriers

This subclass includes:
- pickup, sorting, transport and delivery (domestic or international) of  (mail-type) parcels
and packages by firms operating outside the scope of a universal service obligation. One or more modes of transport may be involved and the activity may be carried out with either self-owned (private) transport or via public transport.

This subclass also includes:
- home delivery services

This subclass excludes:
- transport of freight, see (according to mode of transport) 49.20, 49.41, 50.20, 50.40, 51.21, 51.22

 

For all queries related to this Chapter or any other aspect of SIC Codes, please contact the Office of National Statistics on 01329 444970 or email classifications.helpdesk@ons.gov.uk.