Hewitt checks out the 21st century Post Office

Trade and Industry
Secretary Patricia Hewitt today saw for herself how a revolutionary new
programme will transform the local Post Office into a hi-tech information
centre, with advice available at the touch of a button. The programme is to be
piloted across Leicestershire over the next six months. Ms Hewitt was visiting Guthridge Crescent Post Office in Leicester, where she
was given a demonstration of the Your Guide service – a GBP29 million jointly
funded initiative between Government and Consignia. Your Guide is a new interactive programme that will allow Post Office
customers immediate access to an extensive range of local and national
information and services – all free of charge. Using the latest touch-screen technology, coupled with assistance from trained
Consignia staff and subpostmasters, customers will be able to access guidance
on a range of issues from jobs and training to benefits and entitlements. Ms Hewitt said: "Your Guide is an excellent development for the Post Office
customer and I am looking forward to seeing what customers across
Leicestershire and Rutland think of the new service. Their views will help us
develop the system for the whole of the UK. "The Government is committed to seeing thriving, profitable Post Offices and
to improving accessibility to Government information and services. Your Guide
is an innovative idea that can achieve both these aims, while greatly
benefiting the customer and ensuring future success." Your Guide is currently
being introduced to Post Offices throughout Leicestershire and Rutland.
Consignia is fitting 50 units a week in the region and plans to have 267 Post
Offices providing the service by the end of August. The pilot programme will
be thoroughly evaluated early next year, with a view to a UK-wide rollout. Consignia's Head of Your Guide Services David Waltho said: "Your Guide is
designed to make life easier. It's a new idea that provides a wide range of
useful information and services in a simple way, free of charge and all in one
place – your local Post Office. "For the trial we've selected the subjects that our customers told us were the
most important to them – these include jobs, benefits, retirement, transport
and local information. "We'd like everyone to try Your Guide, let us know what they think and help us
make life even easier for our customers in the future." Notes to Editors: 1. Your Guide will provide information through a combination of five channels:
face-to-face, by sub postmasters and counter staff; leaflet dispensers,
telephone hotlines and touch screen computers (in the majority of offices),
with expert advice sessions held at some of the larger offices. In a separate,
but related trial, some offices will also provide internet access. 2. The Your Guide concept was first introduced in the 2000 Performance and
Innovation Unit Report on the future of the Post Office network, where it was
suggested, what was known as, a General Government Practitioner service could
provide better access for citizens to government and advice and services while
at the same time be added as another income stream for the Post Office. 3. The Your Guide pilot runs for six months from early September 2001 until
February 2002. 4. There are more than 30 organisations providing information for the Your
Guide pilot, including: * Department for Work and Pensions * National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux * Department for Education and Skills * Leicestershire City and County Councils * Di
strict Authorities * Age Concern * Elderly Accommodation Councel * Inland Revenue 5. Your Guide also demonstrates Government's commitment to the 'Modernising
Government' vision – to improve the delivery of Government information and
services to all by joining up content, providing easier access and bringing
the benefits of new technology to all. M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within
M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2
PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web.
Inquiries to [email protected]. (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD -0-M2 COMMUNICATIONS, 03rd August 2001Trade and Industry
Secretary Patricia Hewitt today saw for herself how a revolutionary new
programme will transform the local Post Office into a hi-tech information
centre, with advice available at the touch of a button. The programme is to be
piloted across Leicestershire over the next six months. Ms Hewitt was visiting Guthridge Crescent Post Office in Leicester, where she
was given a demonstration of the Your Guide service – a GBP29 million jointly
funded initiative between Government and Consignia. Your Guide is a new interactive programme that will allow Post Office
customers immediate access to an extensive range of local and national
information and services – all free of charge. Using the latest touch-screen technology, coupled with assistance from trained
Consignia staff and subpostmasters, customers will be able to access guidance
on a range of issues from jobs and training to benefits and entitlements. Ms Hewitt said: "Your Guide is an excellent development for the Post Office
customer and I am looking forward to seeing what customers across
Leicestershire and Rutland think of the new service. Their views will help us
develop the system for the whole of the UK. "The Government is committed to seeing thriving, profitable Post Offices and
to improving accessibility to Government information and services. Your Guide
is an innovative idea that can achieve both these aims, while greatly
benefiting the customer and ensuring future success." Your Guide is currently
being introduced to Post Offices throughout Leicestershire and Rutland.
Consignia is fitting 50 units a week in the region and plans to have 267 Post
Offices providing the service by the end of August. The pilot programme will
be thoroughly evaluated early next year, with a view to a UK-wide rollout. Consignia's Head of Your Guide Services David Waltho said: "Your Guide is
designed to make life easier. It's a new idea that provides a wide range of
useful information and services in a simple way, free of charge and all in one
place – your local Post Office. "For the trial we've selected the subjects that our customers told us were the
most important to them – these include jobs, benefits, retirement, transport
and local information. "We'd like everyone to try Your Guide, let us know what they think and help us
make life even easier for our customers in the future." Notes to Editors: 1. Your Guide will provide information through a combination of five channels:
face-to-face, by sub postmasters and counter staff; leaflet dispensers,
telephone hotlines and touch screen computers (in the majority of offices),
with expert advice sessions held at some of the larger offices. In a separate,
but related trial, some offices will also provide internet access. 2. The Your Guide concept was first introduced in the 2000 Performance and
Innovation Unit Report on the future of the Post Office network, where it was
suggested, what was known as, a General Government Practitioner service could
provide better access for citizens to government and advice and services while
at the same time be added as another income stream for the Post Office. 3. The Your Guide pilot runs for six months from early September 2001 until
February 2002. 4. There are more than 30 organisations providing information for the Your
Guide pilot, including: * Department for Work and Pensions * National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux * Department for Education and Skills * Leicestershire City and County Councils * Di
strict Authorities * Age Concern * Elderly Accommodation Councel * Inland Revenue 5. Your Guide also demonstrates Government's commitment to the 'Modernising
Government' vision – to improve the delivery of Government information and
services to all by joining up content, providing easier access and bringing
the benefits of new technology to all. M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within
M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2
PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web.
Inquiries to [email protected]. (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD -0-M2 COMMUNICATIONS, 03rd August 2001Trade and Industry
Secretary Patricia Hewitt today saw for herself how a revolutionary new
programme will transform the local Post Office into a hi-tech information
centre, with advice available at the touch of a button. The programme is to be
piloted across Leicestershire over the next six months. Ms Hewitt was visiting Guthridge Crescent Post Office in Leicester, where she
was given a demonstration of the Your Guide service – a GBP29 million jointly
funded initiative between Government and Consignia. Your Guide is a new interactive programme that will allow Post Office
customers immediate access to an extensive range of local and national
information and services – all free of charge. Using the latest touch-screen technology, coupled with assistance from trained
Consignia staff and subpostmasters, customers will be able to access guidance
on a range of issues from jobs and training to benefits and entitlements. Ms Hewitt said: "Your Guide is an excellent development for the Post Office
customer and I am looking forward to seeing what customers across
Leicestershire and Rutland think of the new service. Their views will help us
develop the system for the whole of the UK. "The Government is committed to seeing thriving, profitable Post Offices and
to improving accessibility to Government information and services. Your Guide
is an innovative idea that can achieve both these aims, while greatly
benefiting the customer and ensuring future success." Your Guide is currently
being introduced to Post Offices throughout Leicestershire and Rutland.
Consignia is fitting 50 units a week in the region and plans to have 267 Post
Offices providing the service by the end of August. The pilot programme will
be thoroughly evaluated early next year, with a view to a UK-wide rollout. Consignia's Head of Your Guide Services David Waltho said: "Your Guide is
designed to make life easier. It's a new idea that provides a wide range of
useful information and services in a simple way, free of charge and all in one
place – your local Post Office. "For the trial we've selected the subjects that our customers told us were the
most important to them – these include jobs, benefits, retirement, transport
and local information. "We'd like everyone to try Your Guide, let us know what they think and help us
make life even easier for our customers in the future." Notes to Editors: 1. Your Guide will provide information through a combination of five channels:
face-to-face, by sub postmasters and counter staff; leaflet dispensers,
telephone hotlines and touch screen computers (in the majority of offices),
with expert advice sessions held at some of the larger offices. In a separate,
but related trial, some offices will also provide internet access. 2. The Your Guide concept was first introduced in the 2000 Performance and
Innovation Unit Report on the future of the Post Office network, where it was
suggested, what was known as, a General Government Practitioner service could
provide better access for citizens to government and advice and services while
at the same time be added as another income stream for the Post Office. 3. The Your Guide pilot runs for six months from early September 2001 until
February 2002. 4. There are more than 30 organisations providing information for the Your
Guide pilot, including: * Department for Work and Pensions * National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux * Department for Education and Skills * Leicestershire City and County Councils * Di
strict Authorities * Age Concern * Elderly Accommodation Councel * Inland Revenue 5. Your Guide also demonstrates Government's commitment to the 'Modernising
Government' vision – to improve the delivery of Government information and
services to all by joining up content, providing easier access and bringing
the benefits of new technology to all. M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within
M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2
PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web.
Inquiries to [email protected]. (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD -0-M2 COMMUNICATIONS, 03rd August 2001