Tag: fsb

UK SMEs are looking for an alternative to the postal service as concerns mount over the increased number of local post office closures forcing firms to use expensive courier companies.

A survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) revealed that 82 per cent of SMEs believe the closure of their local post office would have a significant impact on their business.

Simon Briault, an FSB representative, said: “Small businesses have limited options for an alternative postal service. The private services that are available have cherry picked the government and larger businesses because they do not make enough money from SMEs.”

The FSB recently called upon politicians to take every possible step to retain the network of post offices and launched a national campaign and petition called Keep Trade Local.

“A large number of SMEs rely on Royal Mail and their local post office, with 94 per cent of them using the service exclusively. Couriers are an alternative service and can be useful, but in rural areas businesses will really suffer,” added Briault.