Tag: Royal Mail

Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for Newport and Gwent Valleys

Posted by | Jan 15, 2008 | |

Post Office Ltd opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for the Newport and Gwent Valleys area. In line with the criteria and factors set by the UK Government in its Response Document (DTI The Post Office Network, Government response to public consultation May 2007, the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 126 Post Office® branches across the Newport and Gwent Valleys area, including establishing three new innovative Outreach service points, but to close 25 existing branches. (See full list below).

Under the proposals, more than 99.6 pct of the area’s population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

Post Office Ltd is now seeking views on the proposed future service provision in the area, in particular views on access to Post Office services, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure. Consultation is due to end on February 25, 2008.

The UK Government has already undertaken a 12-week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK-wide network of Post Office branches by up to 2,500 from its current level of over 14,000, while continuing to provide funding (subject to EU state-aid clearance) to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the UK Government.

Read More

Post Office UK cuts mortgate rate

Posted by | Jan 15, 2008 | |

The Post Office® today announced an interest rate cut to its three year fixed rate mortgage to 5.48 per cent – making it the best mortgage deal of its kind on the high street.

This is the second rate cut to the Post Office®’s three year fixed rate mortgage in two months, and the third since its launch in November 2007 when it offered a rate of 6.09 per cent.

The mortgage continues to carry its low fixed arrangement fee of just GBP 399 and can be taken out on up to 95 per cent of a home’s value. There is no higher lending charge or extended tie-in, giving Post Office® customers a market leading deal.

The three year fixed rate deal is part of a range of mortgages being trialled by the Post Office® in selected branches in the North of England.

Post Office® has also slashed the rates of its three year fixed buy-to-let and self-certification mortgages to 5.99 per cent.

Post Office® director of lending Gary Fitton said: “These new rate cuts put our mortgage range at the top of the comparison tables, further proving our commitment to offering customers transparent and excellent value for money products.

The mortgage trial, launched in September 2007, follows a succession of well-received financial product launches by the Post Office® which is now the fastest growing financial services provider in the UK. It has already attracted more than one million customers with its easy to understand and good value products.

Post Office® Mortgages are provided in conjunction with Bristol and West, the Bank of Ireland’s lending arm. As a responsible lender, the Post Office® applies strict lending criteria and enforces appropriate checks before an offer is made.

Read More

Postcomm asks for views on the regulatory framework for postal services from 2010

Posted by | Jan 15, 2008 | |

Postcomm is considering how, and to what extent, it should regulate Royal Mail from 2010 onwards, when its current price control is due to be replaced.

The regulator wants to begin by taking a ‘top down’ approach, based on what was learned from last year’s Strategy Review, before focusing on detail later on in the process. Most specifically, Postcomm wants to consider whether adopting a different approach could allow a significant reduction in the scope of regulation, whilst maintaining sufficient protection for customers and operators in those areas where Royal Mail has substantial and enduring market power.

An initial letter, issued to stakeholders, sets out a number of possible approaches and seeks feedback on the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Postcomm is also looking for stakeholders’ views as to what other measures might be needed to ensure that a proposed approach would be effective.

Responses to this initial consultation should be sent to Postcomm by Friday 14 March 2008. Following this consultation, Postcomm will carefully consider responses, before publishing initial proposals for changes to the regulatory framework around June 2008.

Read More

Royal Mail Group employees lead the way in carbon offsetting (UK)

Posted by | Jan 14, 2008 | |

The Woodland Trust is challenging businesses to follow Royal Mail Group’s example in enabling its people to offset their carbon emissions by planting trees.

Already 130 employees from Royal Mail, Post Office Ltd and Parcelforce Worldwide have signed up to the newly launched scheme to give money direct from their wage packets to the Woodland Trust, which will enable the charity to plant and look after 2,500 trees in its 1,000 UK woods.

To find out how many trees the employees would have to plant to offset their annual carbon footprint and to get tips about how to reduce their emissions they used a revolutionary new carbon calculator called Ollie.

This calculator, developed by Royal Mail, asks employees about their home energy usage, as well as car and air travel before calculating how many trees will need to be planted to help offset their carbon footprints.

This is the first time a company’s employees have ever been given the opportunity to offset their residual carbon emissions tax free through their wage packets to a charity which specialises in UK woodland creation.

Now Royal Mail has launched the scheme internally the company has gifted the carbon calculator to the Woodland Trust, which is challenging other businesses to follow Royal Mail’s example and offer their employees the opportunity to help offset their carbon footprints.

Royal Mail staff are no strangers to giving to charity though their wage packets, which is called payroll giving. Royal Mail was among the first organisations to set up payroll giving in 1989 and its scheme is one of the largest in the UK. The calculator is being promoted directly in the workplace by representatives from Payroll Giving in Action, who help employees to do calculations and fill out pledge forms.

About 50,000 staff are currently signed up to payroll giving and during the last financial year gave more than GBP 2.6 million to charitable causes.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

How ready do you feel for the de minimis changes coming in July?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!




View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest