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The Post Office is set to undergo a major overhaul which could see more than 100 branches cease operating as wholly-owned premises. Under the current plans, loss-making sites will be closed down, with alternative franchise arrangements being sought to take their place. Other operators or third-party businesses will be the target of this move, which could lead to the loss of 1,000 jobs nationwide.
In addition to the closure of such locations, jobs at the firm’s head office are likewise expected to be affected by the changes. Chairman Nigel Railton is expected to reveal the full details of the reorganisation plans to Post Office staff later this week. The hope is that these measures will help put the institution on a more secure financial footing. The Post Office has been through a tumultuous time lately, with an extended investigation into the Horizon IT scandal drawing attention to mismanagement issues.
Railton has previously outlined his desire for the Post Offices to put sub-postmasters and other employees at the core of its business operations. The new plans are intended to address fundamental issues in the way the organisation runs. At present, there are 11,500 Post Offices operating across the country – the majority of which are franchises.
However, some 115 Crown Post Offices are staffed exclusively by Post Office personnel. As part of his proposal, Railton wishes to streamline the central operations of the business. Speaking to a parliamentary inquiry, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that sub-postmasters needed to achieve higher wages, and suggested that Post Office locations could be best placed to fill the gaps left by bank branch closures in city centres.
Ministers investigating the future of the Post Office have also toyed with the idea of granting ownership of the organisation to sub-postmasters in a bid to strengthen the institution’s future viability. Wednesday’s announcement of the “new deal” is intended to clarify the future direction of the Post Office as an institution, developing a business model that will connect better with local communities and generate more revenue for its employees and its partners
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