Post Office Local pilot presents communities with new opportunities
According to research commissioned by the Communication Workers' Union the number of Post Offices will be cut by nearly 50% if the Government decides to sell off the Post Office, possibly to a foreign firm.
Their anxiety of sub-post master around the country surrounds the Government's refusal to sign an 'inter-business agreement' between Royal Mail and Post Office Limited. If the link between the two was severed the Post Office could not depend on Royal Mail business.
However, Social Entrepreneur Robert Ashton thinks that the Post Office Local concept, that the Post Office is currently trialing, will create new opportunities for community enterprises.
“Enterprise, particularly social enterprise, should be all about being innovative and adding value, not protecting a monopoly,” he said.
“The new Post Office Local concept being piloted presents a real opportunity for community enterprises that can be confident that they have community support.”
Post Office Local will pay by transaction rather than providing a Post Office salary and can be linked to all kinds of local services that entrepreneurs think the community requires.
“I’m positive that community enterprises can represent both the Royal Mail and its successors and rivals. It is all about delivering the best service locally and that will dictate the project’s success,” said Mr Ashton, who is the author of the best selling business guide How to be a Social Entrepreneur.
The Post Office network has already shrunk to nearly half its former size. When the Labour part came to power in 1975 there were 19,000 Offices. Currently, there are 11,500 and the Communication Workers' Union is predicting that a further 9,300 would close following a sell off.
The Labour Party has demanded this week that plans to sell off Royal Mail should be dropped, and the company to remain publicly owned.
“It’s no use bleating about the demise of an inefficient monopoly; better to make sure you're part of the solution!” said Mr Ashton.