STRUGGLING post offices could close because the Scottish Executive won’t handover pounds 1.5million allocated to them by Westminster.
Consignia, which runs the Post Office, hit out at the Executive for failing to give out cash from the Urban Deprived Fund.
They claim around 150 post offices in Scotland’s poorer areas, such as Easterhouse in Glasgow and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, could benefit.
The postal market could be open fully in just half the time intended by regulators because of a loophole in plans gradually to end Consignia’s protected monopoly, the company will claim next week.
The warning is expected to escalate a row between the Royal Mail group and Postcomm, the government regulator, over its proposals for introducing competition.
Read MoreRoyal Mail has introduced a new direct mail scheme, which has yet to be named. It is designed to make running a mailing as easy as booking a TV, radio or poster campaign. Through a dedicated booking centre, agencies, client companies and mailing houses will now be able to receive an upfront, all-inclusive price for each campaign – and no doubt many would say, “about time too”.
Read MoreLa Poste, the French post office, is seeking a partnership with a bank to help it expand its financial services arm, one of its fastest growing businesses.
Martin Vial, chairman, said La Poste was searching for “powerful allies” that could add expertise and allow it to offer more financial products.
iForce(tm), a European leader in digital fulfilment solutions for the direct-to-consumer (DTC) market, has secured investment worth up to GBP5m led by Lynx New Media Ventures, a Bear Stearns and Virgin enterprise, with participation from investors including Firebird Capital, a specialist logistics investor.
iForce(tm) also announces today that it has finalised a major asset-sharing agreement with Consignia which will increase iForce(tm)’s warehouse capacity in the UK and broaden the distribution of its proprietary warehousing and logistics software solution, SMaRT*.
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.
