Post Office branch modernisation programme wins major global accolade

• Post Office Network Transformation Programme awarded Customer Service Award at the World Post and Parcel Awards
• Programme has delivered an extra 200,000 opening hours, over 4000 branches open seven days a week

The Post Office’s network transformation programme has received the Customer Service Award at the 2017 World Post and Parcel Awards 2017.

The World Post and Parcel Awards, which are judged by a panel of global mail experts, aim to recognise and promote excellence for organisations operating in mail markets across the globe. The Customer Service Award recognised the Post Office’s achievements in delivering the biggest transformation programme in UK retail history, improving services for customers and communities all over the UK.

Since its separation from Royal Mail Group in 2012, the Post Office has modernised over 7000 branches, providing an extra 200,000 opening hours for customers to access its services. Thousands of its branches now open from early in the morning until later in the evening. It is the largest retail network open on Sundays with over 4000 branches open seven days a week.

Kevin Gilliland, Post Office Chief Executive, Retail said: “The Award recognises the pace and unprecedented scale of the changes achieved across the Post Office business. It’s a tribute to all the people in our network who are working hard to make services better for customers and ensure our branches thrive, not only for today’s customers, but for future generations too.

“Trust and convenience are key factors for consumers and businesses whether collecting, returning or posting letters and parcels. Our modernisation programme has further strengthened our position as the place that provides customers with unrivalled ease of access to a wide range of services to meet their individual mailing needs.”

The Post Office’s 11,600 branches lie at the heart of communities across the UK, providing essential services to communities, enabling local businesses and helping local high streets to thrive. Its network is at its most stable for decades.

The Post Office provides essential services to communities across the UK; 99.7% of the population lives withinthree miles of a Post Office - 17m customers visit a Post Office branch each week, including a third of the UK’s small businesses.

As well as mail services it branches offer access to vital services such access to everyday banking services including cash withdrawals and deposits for customers of all UK high street banks. It is the UK’s number one provider of foreign currency. It offers its own wide range of financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards alongside government services and telephony services.

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Issued by:

Post Office External Relations,

1^st Floor, Finsbury Dials

20 Finsbury Street,

LONDON

EC2Y 9AQ

Tel: 020 7012 3456 (24 hours),

email: pressoffice@postoffice.co.uk

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Notes to editors

With over 11,600 branches, the Post Office network is the biggest retail network in the UK.

The Post Office is modernising its network with thousands of its branches now open from early in the morning until later in the evening. It is the largest retail network open on Sundays with over 4000 branches open seven days a week.

97% of Post Office branches are run with retail partners on an agency or franchise basis. The Post Office provides essential services to communities across the UK; 99.7% of the population lives within 3 miles of a Post Office - 17m customers visit a Post Office branch each week, including a third of the UK’s small businesses.

We sell 170 different products and services spanning financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards; Government services; telephony; foreign currency; travel insurance and mail services.