'Changes to Post Office branches will keep them at the heart of communities' a director's view

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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The Post Office plays a vital role in communities across the UK.

We are making changes to ensure our services remain widely available into the future.

With over 11,600 branches, more than 99 per cent of people in the UK live within three miles of a Post Office branch.

We want to safeguard that level of service.

The majority of our network, over 97 per cent, is operated through franchises with retailers.

The remaining 285 branches are directly managed by the Post Office.

These branches are usually based on high streets and city centres across the UK.

Like many major retailers, the Post Office must respond to the way customers want to do business and to factors, such as rising property costs, affecting high streets.

In some of locations, despite the hard work and efforts of our people, our directly managed branches will not be sustainable if left as they are.

Through franchising these branches with a retail partner we can keep the same services available for our customers.

This is the model that works for the vast majority of Post Office branches.

We care about our people and understand that changing the way we operate some of our directly managed branches can be very difficult for those affected.

When making any changes our priority is to ensure they are fully supported.


When we plan to franchise a branch we always let the people working there know first and we keep them informed at every stage.
We also undertake a public consultation to get the views of the local community.

When a franchise takes place branch staff have the right to transfer to the retailer in line with TUPE legislation, but we also provide support if they do not wish to do so – some people want to explore redeployment opportunities within the business and others may decide to leave through a settlement agreement.

Making significant vital changes to safeguard the Post Office into the future affects everyone working for the business.

These decisions are not taken lightly but we’re continuing our enviable track record in avoiding compulsory redundancies and supporting people as we continue with our progress to modernise our business.
We know just how much our customers and people care about the services provided to communities by local post offices.

That is why over the last four years we have modernised nearly 7,000 post offices, adding more than 200,000 extra opening hours each week, and we are now the largest UK retailer open on a Sunday.

Through transforming our business we are ensuring that we have a sustainable branch network that is a great place to work and one which can thrive and grow to serve future generations.

Roger Gale is the director responsible for the Post Office’s 285 directly managed branches. Previously working in the banking industry, Roger has been with the Post Office for over 10 years.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Someone has their head in the sand me thinks.

If you were to ask PO's and those that own/run them, i.e. the franchisees, they would have a completely different view on sustainability.

I believe if they were asked their honest views, many would say their business is dying a slow painful death.