Tag: Royal Mail

UK Post offices 'to be opened in pubs'

Posted by | Oct 2, 2007 | |

Temporary post office branches could be opened in pubs in order to meet government efficiency targets.

That is according to the Post Office’s first batch of local consultations on which branches should be closed under government plans.

They propose that roughly 15 per cent of post offices be closed in order to meet central government targets.

Announced last year by then trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling, the plans, designed to cut losses on the post office network, envisaged a fall in the number of local branches from just over 14,000 to almost 12,000 over an 18-month period.

Published today are the individual plans for post offices in Kent, the east Midlands and an area encompassing eastern Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and north Lincolnshire.

But the Post Office insists that 99 per cent of customers will see no change to their services, with nine in ten people remaining within one mile of a post office.

Under today’s consultation plans, Kent would lose 58 of its 363 post offices, the number of branches in the east Midlands will fall from 433 to 360 and 336 post offices would remain in eastern Yorkshire after 45 are closed.

The plan to open post offices in pubs is among a number of outreach proposals that also include the option of mobile branches.

“Taking the decision to close any post office branch is always very difficult and we know will cause concern to many of our customers,” commented Post Office managing director Alan Cook.

Mr Cook added: “We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with post office services is both fully aware of the changes we are proposing to meet government requirements, and able to give views on how accessible services will be in the future.”

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Joan Collins and Westlife to star in new Post Office UK tv advertising campaign

Posted by | Oct 1, 2007 | |

The series of TV commercials are set in a fictional Post Office branch which will welcome some famous faces in the coming months, with customers including Westlife, Bill Oddie and Keith Harris and Orville.

The fictional Post Office team is led by sub-postmaster Ken, played by John Henshaw, whose has previously appeared in The Royle Family, Early Doors and Life on Mars.

Post Office marketing director Gary Hockey-Morley said: “Our marketing has been key in helping us to become the fastest growing financial provider in the UK. We have exceeded one million financial services customers, GBP 2bn has been invested in our savings accounts and one in every 25 credit cards is from the Post Office.

“But the business continues to face major commercial challenges so it is vital that we respond to create a sustainable branch network. The TV advertisements will form the backbone of a major new marketing campaign highlighting the uniqueness of our service and the broad range of competitively priced products on offer at local Post Office branches.

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Parents pick USA as ‘most wanted’ destination in holiday half term report

Posted by | Oct 1, 2007 | |

The USA is now the ‘most sought after’ half term holiday destination for families, according to a new survey by the Post Office, in which long haul locations – America, the Caribbean and Australia – took three of the top four places¹.

Parents of schoolchildren aged between 5-18 years were asked where they would most like to visit with their children for one week over half term, if money were no object. The United States proved clear favorite with 42 per cent of the total vote.²

Its strong performance was boosted by the popularity of long-time family favorite Florida, which accounted for 61 per cent of the American vote and a staggering 26 per cent of the overall total – despite a flight time in excess of seven hours. Understandably the allure of Orlando’s Disneyworld had a marked impact on the Florida vote.

Indeed, the strength of sterling against the US dollar saw Post Office sales of the currency increase by over 13 per cent when compared with summer 2006.

Altogether long haul destinations took five of the top ten places – with the Caribbean in third place, Australia at number four, New Zealand at seven and Canada at ten – despite the long flight times involved. One week in Australia, for example, would involve a cool 24 hours in the air each way and yet it is one of the most desirable family destinations for a week-long family break.

Long haul destinations accounted for 57 per cent of the 60 destinations named by respondents to the Post Office survey. Among the more adventurous choices by parents were Alaska, Botswana, Chile, China, Fiji, Macchu Pichu in Peru and San Diego.

Leaving aspirations aside, the Post Office holiday survey, conducted by YouGov, revealed that traditional favorites Spain and France still head the list of half term breaks actually booked by families. The USA is in third place indicating that the gap between reality and aspiration may be closing.

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Printers secure as Royal Mail offers bulk mail opt out during strikes

Posted by | Sep 28, 2007 | |

It should be business as usual for bulk mail printers as Royal Mail has announced the suspension of door drops for unaddressed mail during next month’s strikes to allow customers to make alternative arrangements for delivery.

The company is suspending its activities for the weeks beginning 8, 15, and 22 October, during which the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has scheduled a series of 48-hour strikes.

The company said in a statement: “The CWU’s strike action, which is designed to damage Royal Mail, its customers and its people, will make it impossible for us to deliver the services normally to our customers and we are taking steps now to give customers in the fully competitive door to door market the opportunity to change their mailing plans or, if necessary, make alternative arrangements.”

Direct Marketing Agency head of postal affairs Alex Walsh was confident that mailers would have no problem finding alternative means of delivery.

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Post Office to trial Mortgages

Posted by | Sep 26, 2007 | |

The Post Office today announced it will be trialing mortgages at selected branches in the North.

The trial 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.

As the mortgage market becomes ever more complex, the Post Office is investigating the need for straightforward mortgages with good initial and long term value and no hidden charges.

Three mortgage products will be available during the trial, led by a three year fixed rate product with an initial rate of 6.09 pct. Each of the products will have a transparent pricing structure, including a low cost fixed arrangement fee of GBP 399, no higher lending charges and a competitive reversion rate.

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 will apply strict lending criteria and enforce appropriate checks before an offer is made.

The products are as follows, led by a market leading three-year fixed rate mortgage with an initial rate of 6.09 pct.

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