THE SUBPOSTMASTER - JUNE ISSUE
June's issue of the The SubPostmaster magazine
June's issue of the The SubPostmaster magazine
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<strong>THE</strong><br />
<strong>THE</strong> OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF <strong>THE</strong><br />
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF <strong>SUBPOSTMASTER</strong>S<br />
<strong>JUNE</strong> 2024 www.nfsp.org.uk<br />
Nine pages<br />
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Annual<br />
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Postmasters<br />
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A community<br />
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I<br />
Gary marks four decades of service<br />
at Menheniot Post Office<br />
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Contents<br />
<strong>THE</strong><br />
<strong>THE</strong> OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF <strong>THE</strong> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF <strong>SUBPOSTMASTER</strong>S<br />
<strong>JUNE</strong> 2024 www.nfsp.org.uk<br />
In this month’s issue<br />
4 NFSP COMMENT<br />
Chief Executive Calum Greenhow describes why the right<br />
culture will ensure a bright future for the network<br />
7 NEWS<br />
The NFSP attended a wide-ranging meeting with Post<br />
Office Ltd (PO), along with other postmaster representative<br />
bodies<br />
10 NFSP INTERVIEW<br />
Members’ Editor Jon Follenfant spoke to PO Central<br />
Operations Director Mel Park<br />
14 <strong>THE</strong> NET UPDATE<br />
The latest from the Negotiating and Engagement Team<br />
15 CONFERENCE 2024<br />
Nine pages of coverage from the NFSP’s Conference, held at<br />
the University of Warwick in May<br />
16 CONFERENCE 2024 - YOUR QUESTIONS<br />
NFSP members were given the chance to pose their most<br />
pressing questions about the network<br />
18 CONFERENCE 2024 - BREAKOUT SESSIONS<br />
The future of the network came under the spotlight<br />
20 CONFERENCE 2024 - KEY SPEAKERS<br />
The NFSP’s Tim Boothman and Calum Greenhow addressed<br />
delegates<br />
22 CONFERENCE 2024 - DELEGATE FEEDBACK<br />
Attendees give their verdict on Conference<br />
23 CONFERENCE 2024 - RETAIL EVENT SUCCESS<br />
A number of new retailers were present at the Conference’s<br />
Retail Event<br />
24 MAILS SUPPORT<br />
Getting mails segregation right and how to achieve full<br />
remuneration for DPD PUDO work<br />
26 POST OFFICE IN FOCUS<br />
Gary Walters BEM this year marks 40 years as the<br />
postmaster of Menheniot Post Office<br />
29 YOUR LETTERS<br />
Members’ letters and points of view, with replies from PO<br />
and the NFSP<br />
34 PLANNING AHEAD<br />
The NFSP Retail Team’s guide to making the most of the<br />
summer months<br />
Look out for this year’s NFSP Annual Review<br />
We look back at a year which was, quite<br />
rightly, dominated by the Horizon Inquiry and<br />
set against the struggling economy. As we look<br />
to ensure a bright future for postmasters and<br />
the post office network, we reflect on the work<br />
that the NFSP has undertaken on behalf of its membership<br />
over the last year, highlighting achievements and what we are<br />
working towards going forward.<br />
The Annual Review can be viewed by scanning the QR code.<br />
Production editor: Allan Norbury (allan@lewisbusinessmedia.co.uk)<br />
Design: Sarah Crowhurst<br />
Contributors: Steven Bailey, Ruth Buckley-Salmon, Wendy Burke, Robert<br />
Clack, Amanda Cox, Julia Goatcher, Calum Greenhow, Simon King, Keith<br />
Richards, Helen Richardson, Paul Simmonds, Elizabeth Vessey, Alan White<br />
Members’ Editor: Jon Follenfant<br />
NFSP Headquarters:<br />
Evelyn House, 22 Windlesham Gardens,<br />
Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex BN43 5AZ<br />
Tel: 01273 452324<br />
Email: thesubpostmaster@nfsp.org.uk<br />
The views expressed in The SubPostmaster are not necessarily those of the NFSP.<br />
The SubPostmaster is published by Lewis Business Media (Arts) Ltd<br />
on behalf of the National Federation of SubPostmasters<br />
©Lewis Business Media (Arts) Ltd 2024<br />
Tel: 01825 983105<br />
ISSN 0039-433<br />
KINGFISHER <strong>JUNE</strong> <strong>SUBPOSTMASTER</strong> MAGAZINE.indd 1 31/05/2024 13:59<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 3
Comment CEO Calum Greenhow<br />
<strong>THE</strong> RIGHT CULTURE<br />
CAN ENSURE <strong>THE</strong> POST<br />
OFFICE NETWORK HAS<br />
A VIABLE FUTURE<br />
s I write this column, we<br />
A<br />
have just finished<br />
Conference, which was<br />
one of the best I have<br />
attended. My first Conference was<br />
back in 2010 and there were around<br />
220 postmasters present. Conference<br />
2024 was back to those kinds of<br />
numbers, which was great to see.<br />
Thanks has to go to colleagues who<br />
attended for their approach and<br />
constructive challenge to not only<br />
myself but also Postal Affairs Minister<br />
Kevin Hollinrake and Post Office Ltd<br />
(PO) CEO Nick Read.<br />
Conference was about debating the<br />
big ideas that we as postmasters focus<br />
on. One such idea is culture. If our<br />
culture as a<br />
network is not<br />
right then the<br />
changes and<br />
improvements<br />
that are required<br />
to face the<br />
challenges of<br />
today and<br />
tomorrow, will not<br />
happen and that will<br />
lead to the detriment of us<br />
all.<br />
That is why it was important to really<br />
focus on the changes in culture that<br />
are required, not only within PO but<br />
also within the network.<br />
It was therefore encouraging to<br />
“It was<br />
encouraging<br />
to engage with<br />
colleagues who<br />
could see why a<br />
focus on culture is<br />
important”<br />
NFSP Chief<br />
Executive Officer<br />
Calum Greenhow,<br />
speaking at<br />
Conference 2024<br />
engage with<br />
colleagues who<br />
could see why a<br />
focus on culture<br />
is important at<br />
this very<br />
moment.<br />
To be clear, the<br />
bedrock of who we,<br />
the NFSP, are as an<br />
organisation has not<br />
changed since our formation<br />
back in 1897. The aim back then was<br />
the same as today “to improve the<br />
conditions under which postmasters<br />
labour and to undertake the<br />
advancement of our interests by all<br />
legitimate and honourable means”.<br />
4 The SubPostmaster June 2024
It was therefore<br />
important to<br />
restate the vision<br />
and mission of<br />
the NFSP as a<br />
collective of<br />
postmasters.<br />
Our vision is to<br />
be the collective<br />
voice of post office<br />
operators offering<br />
members<br />
representation, support,<br />
and solutions to realise the full<br />
potential of their businesses.<br />
Our mission is to provide a<br />
membership-led organisation,<br />
supporting members to operate post<br />
office and retail outlets. To represent<br />
their interests at every level of policy<br />
and decision-making. We offer you as<br />
postmasters, an opportunity to belong<br />
to, and take part in, a community<br />
working together for a more<br />
successful future.<br />
Saying this is not enough, we have<br />
to live it. Having Darren Burns of the<br />
Timpson Group speaking at<br />
Conference was key to this, as the<br />
culture within Timpson is an example<br />
“The right culture<br />
can enhance the<br />
communities within<br />
which that business<br />
operates”<br />
the business has to<br />
follow. During his<br />
speech on the<br />
Sunday<br />
afternoon,<br />
Darren showed<br />
colleagues the<br />
art of possible<br />
and what good<br />
looks like. He<br />
demonstrated that it<br />
is possible for the three<br />
levels within a business of<br />
operational, tactical, and strategic<br />
to work together for the common<br />
good of everyone in the business.<br />
Not only that but the right culture<br />
can enhance the communities within<br />
which that business operates. This is<br />
what we, as investing postmasters,<br />
today want for the network.<br />
With that in mind, we will seek your<br />
help during the year to introduce a<br />
Culture Committee. This will be a<br />
nominated colleague from each<br />
region of the NFSP working alongside<br />
the NFSP Chair and the CEO.<br />
I make no secret that this is<br />
something we will pinch from<br />
Timpson, that has a Culture<br />
Committee which is charged with<br />
encouraging colleagues to aim for the<br />
following targets: To be the best, enjoy<br />
change, keep looking for ideas, show<br />
leadership, win hearts and minds, no<br />
secrets, enshrine upside down<br />
management, to amaze their<br />
customers, be obsessed with<br />
colleagues by picking great people,<br />
ensure there are no big shots,<br />
discharge responsibility with head<br />
office being a support, to leave politics<br />
in the car park, making Timpson a<br />
great place to work, ensuring there is<br />
excellent training available, to always<br />
be fair, know their people, reward<br />
loyalty, support people in trouble,<br />
enable colleagues to feel good about<br />
themselves, support charity, celebrate<br />
success, and have fun at work.<br />
I do not regret buying our post<br />
office in 1995. I have loved owning and<br />
operating our business down the<br />
years, conversing with customers, and<br />
serving our community and I know<br />
many of you feel exactly the same.<br />
Together, with the right culture, we<br />
can ensure that the Post Office of<br />
today has a viable future, but we need<br />
your help to achieve this.<br />
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5
News roundup<br />
Stephen Harper<br />
obituary<br />
Stephen Harper<br />
NFSP Honorary Life Member<br />
Stephen Harper sadly passed away<br />
on 9 April, aged 71, in New Zealand.<br />
Stephen took over Dungiven Post<br />
Office when his father retired in<br />
September 1991. He joined the NFSP<br />
not long afterwards and started<br />
attending local meetings.<br />
After four or five years, he joined<br />
the Northern Ireland Committee.<br />
He was Branch President for a year<br />
and took over as National Executive<br />
Officer following Norman<br />
Ferguson’s retirement in October<br />
2006, and continued in the role<br />
until Conference 2013.<br />
He was a trustee to the Board of<br />
Benevolence, a member of the<br />
Mailwork Committee and Internal<br />
Development Committee and lay<br />
member on the General Purposes<br />
Committee.<br />
Stephen was elected as National<br />
President in 2010/11 and in 2015 was<br />
made Honorary Life Member.<br />
Our thoughts are with his wife,<br />
Erin, and their family at this sad<br />
time.<br />
NBIT TRIALS<br />
CONTINUING<br />
NBIT trials are continuing at pilot<br />
branches and the latest update is<br />
anticipated to go live in the summer.<br />
Trials will continue at more offices<br />
until mid-2027, with the mass rollout<br />
happening after that point.<br />
A mobile van has delivered 50<br />
demos to working postmasters across<br />
Wales and the South West. These<br />
have been 45-minute one-to-one<br />
hands-on experiences and have<br />
received a feedback score of 4.71/5.<br />
Concerns about user experience<br />
have been raised and PO state<br />
transactions should be quicker than<br />
present. NBIT will go through different<br />
stages of testing and the aim is to<br />
have a more agile system than<br />
Horizon.<br />
The NFSP submitted a response<br />
to the consultation on April 2025<br />
National Minimum Wage (NMW)<br />
rates.<br />
The submission pointed out that<br />
consideration had to be given to<br />
those postmasters, as selfemployed<br />
individuals, do not earn<br />
the equivalent of NMW, and the<br />
impact this could have on their<br />
staff levels, opening hours and<br />
future security.<br />
CONCERN OVER COUNTERFEIT STAMPS<br />
The NFSP raised concerns with Post<br />
Office Ltd (PO) in April over the<br />
potential reputational damage to<br />
postmasters regarding counterfeit<br />
stamps.<br />
Articles published throughout April<br />
and May reported that counterfeit<br />
stamps were flooding the UK.<br />
Members of the public complained<br />
about receiving £5 penalties to collect<br />
post after Royal Mail (RM) deemed the<br />
stamps on them to be counterfeit.<br />
PO has held several meetings with<br />
RM to find out how stamps are<br />
identified as fake, and RM now has<br />
stringent processes in place before<br />
customers are surcharged.<br />
Customers are reminded to only buy<br />
stamps from RM’s website or from<br />
their local post office.<br />
If any customer reports to you that<br />
they have been charged for a<br />
‘counterfeit’ stamp, let the NFSP know<br />
by emailing admin@nfsp.org.uk<br />
Post Office Bill approved<br />
The Post Office Bill was approved<br />
by Parliament last month, in a quick<br />
move to ensure the Bill passed before<br />
prorogation ahead of July’s General<br />
Election.<br />
The Bill introduces a law which<br />
quashes convictions from the Horizon<br />
scandal, and applies to convictions<br />
made in England, Wales and Northern<br />
Ireland. The Scottish Parliament used<br />
its emergency procedure to also<br />
quash convictions made in Scotland.<br />
The NFSP welcomes these<br />
announcements which help right the<br />
wrongs made during Britain’s biggest<br />
miscarriage of justice.<br />
Tracked delay<br />
The go-live dates for Tracked 24<br />
and Tracked 48 services remain<br />
delayed but trials are still<br />
continuing in some branches.<br />
The NFSP is concerned about the<br />
length of time it is taking to get<br />
these services to go live.<br />
6 The SubPostmaster June 2024
Wide-ranging meeting with PO<br />
The NFSP and Voice of the Postmaster (VotP) met<br />
with Post Office Ltd (PO) last month and had a very<br />
constructive and pragmatic discussion on issues that are<br />
of intrinsic concern to postmasters.<br />
Topics covered included an update on the NBIT<br />
programme development, how governance of PO can<br />
be improved to enable postmasters as investors in the<br />
business to enjoy a greater partnership relationship with<br />
PO, how we can improve representation, enable greater<br />
awareness of and provide vital wellbeing support to<br />
postmasters across the country and, of course,<br />
postmasters’ remuneration.<br />
What was encouraging was just how much in<br />
agreement on these important issues the NFSP, VotP<br />
and PO are.<br />
Sadly, whilst the Communication Workers Union were<br />
invited, they decided not to attend.<br />
The aim over the coming weeks will be to meet with<br />
PO further to work together to develop improved<br />
governance and structure wellbeing support.<br />
NFSP highlights<br />
employee concern<br />
The NFSP expressed its concerns<br />
in April about the PO Board<br />
Postmaster NED roles and its<br />
effectiveness.<br />
The full statement can be found on<br />
www.nfsp.org.uk<br />
The NFSP wrote to the Post Office<br />
Ltd (PO) Board at the beginning of<br />
May following events in the Horizon<br />
Inquiry.<br />
We highlighted how employees of<br />
PO in the past were part of the<br />
obfuscation of truth in relation to the<br />
accuracy and reliability of the<br />
Horizon system yet remain<br />
employees of PO today.<br />
We are growing increasingly<br />
concerned that we keep having to<br />
deal with these individuals and ask<br />
whether they should remain in the<br />
employment of PO.<br />
The NFSP wants to discuss the<br />
seriousness of the situation further<br />
with the Board of PO.<br />
Phases 5 and 6 of the Inquiry run<br />
until the closing statements are<br />
made on Friday 26 July.<br />
Full coverage of the<br />
Inquiry is available on the<br />
Post Office Horizon IT<br />
Inquiry YouTube channel.<br />
Members of the Board of<br />
Benevolence would like to thank<br />
delegates at the NFSP Annual<br />
Conference for their donations to the<br />
NFSP Benevolent Fund.<br />
In total, £2,528 was raised through<br />
the raffle. This is in addition to the<br />
£3,742 in donations received<br />
between 1 June 2023 and 31 May<br />
2024. Thank-you also to the Regions<br />
who hold raffles, individual<br />
donations, those who have collection<br />
boxes on their counters and all the<br />
members for their kind donations<br />
through remuneration each month.<br />
Syed collects his<br />
certificate after<br />
retiring ai171525030911_June 2024 Subpostmasters Advert.pdf 1 09/05/2024 11:25<br />
Syed receives recognition<br />
Syed Mushtaq Haider Jafri was awarded a Certificate of<br />
Appreciation after retiring as postmaster of Norbury Post Office in<br />
February. Syed was presented with the award in front of his staff<br />
by Regional Manager Manish Mehta and Area Manager Cristina<br />
Scaramella.<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 7
News roundup<br />
Report submitted to Welsh Government<br />
The NFSP submitted a report to<br />
the Welsh Government on behalf of<br />
the Wales/Cymru branch in May<br />
regarding access to high street<br />
banking in Wales.<br />
Wales is probably one of the most<br />
affected parts of the UK, alongside<br />
Northern Ireland and rural Scotland, as<br />
broadband coverage is not as<br />
widespread in more rural areas,<br />
therefore online provision may not be<br />
an option.<br />
Distance to the nearest alternative<br />
banking facility will be greater in<br />
Wales, due to its rural nature.<br />
The NFSP believes post offices offer<br />
a ready-made solution for bank<br />
branch closures, so government needs<br />
to adapt the access criteria to include<br />
opening hours, model type and<br />
banking services.<br />
New Members’<br />
Editors announced<br />
We are delighted to announce that<br />
Tim Allen and Jon Bumphrey will take<br />
over as joint Members’ Editors of The<br />
SubPostmaster magazine from the<br />
August edition.<br />
Jon is a fourth-generation postmaster<br />
and he and his family have owned<br />
around 20 branches over the past 100<br />
years. He said: “This gives me valuable<br />
insight into where the Post Office has<br />
come from, where it is headed, and<br />
what it means to its staff, customers,<br />
and communities.<br />
“This role interested me because I will<br />
relish the opportunity to have first-hand<br />
access to the people who make a lot of<br />
the decisions that affect what we do<br />
every day in our branches.”<br />
Jon owns Evesham PO, a Main high<br />
street branch with 19 outreaches and he<br />
has also recently launched a Banking<br />
Hub.<br />
Tim became postmaster of Kington in<br />
2019 after a career in<br />
telecommunications and property. He<br />
was part of the NFSP delegation who<br />
handed the DVLA petition into 10<br />
Downing Street in November and he<br />
has also written several blogs which can<br />
be found on the NFSP website.<br />
Tim said: “I very much look forward to<br />
the possibility of interviewing PO<br />
Tim Allen and (inset)<br />
Jon Bumphrey<br />
personnel on matters of concern to<br />
postmasters and to finding answers to<br />
members’ letters. The level of<br />
renumeration that is paid to<br />
postmasters genuinely shocked me<br />
when I took on the job.<br />
“Whilst I have no expectation of major<br />
change anytime soon, I do believe we<br />
have passed the rock-bottom point and<br />
the trajectory for those who can hang in<br />
there is a better one. If I can play the<br />
smallest part in helping to change the<br />
way we are seen by Government, that<br />
would be truly worthwhile.”<br />
This magazine is Jon Follenfant’s last<br />
MEETING WITH<br />
<strong>THE</strong> DBT<br />
The NFSP met with the<br />
Department for Business and Trade<br />
(DBT) in April.<br />
The NFSP thanked the Postal<br />
Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake and<br />
the DBT for their work on<br />
compensation for victims of the<br />
Horizon scandal.<br />
Fake stamps were discussed<br />
and how postmasters are worried<br />
these are getting through.<br />
It was good to hear the Minister<br />
challenging Royal Mail (RM).<br />
The price of stamps and the<br />
Ofcom review: NFSP discussed<br />
concerns over Ofcom’s call for input<br />
and the lack of full stakeholder<br />
engagement, plus the lack of<br />
financial scrutiny of RM.<br />
Remuneration update: NFSP<br />
reiterated the increase needs to be<br />
greater to keep up with the cost of<br />
running a post office.<br />
as Members’ Editor after nine years in<br />
the role.<br />
NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow said: “I<br />
would like to thank Jon for all his hard<br />
work and for providing so much insight<br />
to members. I wish him all the best in<br />
his retirement.<br />
“We now very much look forward to<br />
working with both Tim and Jon.”<br />
Oversight Committee reply<br />
The NFSP received a reply from Postal Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake in<br />
April to our letter regarding the governance of Post Office Ltd (PO) and NFSP<br />
proposals for the establishment of an Oversight Committee to scrutinise<br />
decision making by PO.<br />
Minister Hollinrake says he looks forward to receiving a more detailed outline<br />
of the NFSP’s Oversight Committee proposal to give it full consideration.<br />
8 The SubPostmaster June 2024
OUTREACH PROVISION<br />
Post Office Ltd (PO) has always<br />
had the ability to review all<br />
Outreach provisions to ensure they<br />
are value for money for both the<br />
public and PO.<br />
The NFSP found out 12 months<br />
ago that PO was visiting offices and<br />
imposing changes to the Outreach<br />
provision without consultation with<br />
the postmaster, nor paying any<br />
costs associated with these<br />
changes. As the NFSP had not been<br />
officially informed about this, the<br />
programme was suspended as it<br />
was deemed a breach of contract<br />
by PO.<br />
Following several meetings<br />
between PO and the NFSP, PO<br />
agreed that there would now be a<br />
consultation process with each<br />
postmaster, and any changes<br />
introduced would only be with the<br />
agreement of the postmaster, and<br />
also that any costs associated with<br />
the proposal would be borne by PO.<br />
Nominations sought for<br />
Midland Region NED<br />
A vacancy exists for a Non-<br />
Executive Director to represent the<br />
Midland Region. The period of office<br />
shall be to June 2027.<br />
Nominations are invited from NFSP<br />
members/Organisational<br />
Representatives (OR) to be appointed<br />
as Non-Executive Director for and<br />
from within the Midland Region. An<br />
OR exercises company membership<br />
rights, including the right to be<br />
elected as a Non-Executive Director,<br />
of his/her nominating member (e.g.<br />
voting at AGM); each member must<br />
appoint an OR. Details and a form to<br />
appoint your OR are available from<br />
the NFSP headquarters, Shoreham.<br />
Nomination forms (also available<br />
from headquarters, Shoreham) must<br />
be submitted with an election<br />
address to the Chief Executive Officer<br />
by 5pm on Sunday 30 June. As a<br />
guide, the election address should be<br />
approximately 350 words. The<br />
nomination form must be completed<br />
and signed by the person nominated<br />
and the proposer and seconder, who<br />
must also be NFSP members/ORs.<br />
If more than one nomination is<br />
received from within the<br />
ROYAL MAIL TAKEOVER BID<br />
The parent company of Royal Mail, International Distribution Services,<br />
has accepted a takeover bid for sole ownership from the EP Group.<br />
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has met with EP Group Chief<br />
Executive Daniel Křetínský to discuss his plans. The expectation is Royal<br />
Mail’s headquarters and tax position will remain within the United Kingdom<br />
for at least five years.<br />
The NFSP is interested in members’ thoughts. Please write to us by<br />
emailing communications@nfsp.org.uk<br />
membership of the Region, it will be<br />
necessary to hold a ballot. If this is the<br />
case, election addresses will be<br />
circulated, along with ballot papers,<br />
to the members who must also be<br />
NFSP members/OR of the Region.<br />
If a candidate is successful in being<br />
elected by the Region, an induction<br />
and training day will take place soon<br />
after at NFSP headquarters,<br />
Shoreham.<br />
Civica Election Services will act as<br />
the Independent Scrutineer for the<br />
election and also the Independent<br />
Person to distribute ballot papers.<br />
They will prepare ballot papers and<br />
distribute them by post to all<br />
members in the region by<br />
Wednesday 31 July.<br />
Completed ballot papers must be<br />
received by Civica Election Services<br />
no later than 10am on Thursday 15<br />
August.<br />
If an election is not necessary, the<br />
name of the elected Non-Executive<br />
Director will be published in the<br />
August edition of The<br />
SubPostmaster. If a ballot is held, the<br />
results will be notified to the CEO,<br />
and the person elected will be<br />
named in the October edition of The<br />
SubPostmaster.<br />
Network Transformation podcast<br />
The NFSP has produced a podcast to<br />
highlight the Network Transformation (NT)<br />
programme, which discusses whether<br />
postmasters were wrongly encouraged to<br />
convert to NT.<br />
The podcast features NFSP CEO Calum<br />
Greenhow, NFSP Compliance and Network<br />
Support Advisor Keith Richards, plus Martin<br />
Howe and David Enright, from Howe + Co<br />
Solicitors. The podcast, titled Solicitors<br />
investigating whether Post Office Ltd misled<br />
postmasters over Network Transformation, can<br />
be viewed on our YouTube channel or by<br />
scanning the QR code:<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 9
NFSP Interview<br />
HIGHLY TRAINED AND<br />
READY TO ADVISE<br />
POSTMASTERS<br />
For this edition, Members’ Editor Jon Follenfant<br />
spoke to Central Operations Director Mel Park,<br />
who is responsible for the operation of the Branch<br />
Support Centre at Post Office Ltd’s headquarters<br />
in London<br />
Post Office Ltd<br />
Central Operations<br />
Director Mel Park<br />
“Changes to<br />
recruitment<br />
and training has<br />
enabled advisors<br />
to provide<br />
accurate<br />
advice”<br />
T<br />
he Branch Support Centre<br />
(BSC), otherwise known as<br />
the HelpLine, fields more<br />
than 4,000 calls a week<br />
and over 200,000 calls a year from<br />
post offices across the network.<br />
An average call takes nine minutes,<br />
and some can last for more than an<br />
hour.<br />
Over the years that I have had my<br />
office, I have often wondered how<br />
the BSC works, so last month I had<br />
the opportunity to meet Mel.<br />
We started our conversation by<br />
discussing the fact that some<br />
postmasters have referred to the BSC<br />
as the ‘Hell line’ because of the time<br />
taken to answer calls and the<br />
variability of advice given.<br />
Mel joined Post Office Ltd (PO)<br />
from Boots in October 2022, where<br />
she had managed the retailer’s<br />
much larger help function, and was<br />
quick to challenge this assertion. She<br />
believes that changes that have been<br />
put in place to the recruitment and<br />
training of advisors has enabled<br />
them to answer calls promptly<br />
and provide accurate and<br />
timely advice.<br />
In day-to-day charge<br />
of the BSC is Trevor<br />
Ward. He is assisted<br />
by three managers<br />
who supervise the<br />
recruitment, training,<br />
quality control and<br />
operation of the 48<br />
advisors, seven<br />
performance coaches and<br />
nine complaint handlers on the Issue<br />
Resolution Team.<br />
In addition, there are 15 advisors<br />
who predominantly work from home<br />
dealing with Pick Up & Drop Off<br />
(PUDO) issues.<br />
The BSC is separate to other<br />
10 The SubPostmaster June 2024
specialist helplines such as cash<br />
management, customer complaints<br />
and IT.<br />
Coming back to the time it takes to<br />
get through, I pointed out that it<br />
takes around 60 to 70 seconds after<br />
calling the contact phone number to<br />
navigate the Intelligent Voice<br />
Response (IVR) voice prompts before<br />
a caller can select the option (option<br />
3), to reach the actual BSC. A further<br />
series of voice prompts then provides<br />
the different options from balancing<br />
through notifying of an office closure.<br />
The reason why a caller is asked to<br />
input their branch or FAD code is to<br />
ensure that those branches who will<br />
be taking part in NBIT are screened<br />
to NBIT Centre of Excellence, and a<br />
particular set of advisors. I pointed<br />
out that callers are asked to give their<br />
branch code again when they get to<br />
talk to an advisor. The removal of this<br />
duplication has been changed as<br />
part of a wider review of help<br />
functions.<br />
Mel went on to say that 95% of all<br />
calls were answered - call centres<br />
apparently never achieve 100% due to<br />
callers hanging up,<br />
particularly at very busy<br />
times - and 87% of<br />
successful calls were<br />
answered within 60<br />
seconds.<br />
The operation of the<br />
BSC is reported on at<br />
various levels through<br />
the organisation right up<br />
to board level. Key<br />
Performance Indicators are<br />
monitored at regular intervals and<br />
include the number of calls, the<br />
response times and major topics.<br />
Of the calls received, 90% are<br />
immediately resolved and if a call<br />
related to a discrepancy cannot be<br />
resolved immediately it is escalated<br />
to the Network Support and<br />
Resolution Team for a more detailed<br />
review. Potential branch-impacting<br />
Horizon problems are flagged up for<br />
any potential IT-related issues.<br />
Mel stressed the importance of the<br />
recruitment and training of advisors<br />
and as the BSC is based in<br />
Chesterfield, they are recruited in<br />
that area in groups of five or six. They<br />
“All new<br />
recruits receive<br />
the same counter<br />
training as new<br />
postmasters”<br />
are selected not on their<br />
previous call centre<br />
experience but on<br />
their potential call<br />
handling skills, paying<br />
particular attention to<br />
character, attitude,<br />
and reliability.<br />
New recruits are<br />
initially based in the office<br />
for the first six months, after<br />
which hybrid working can be<br />
arranged, however there is a<br />
requirement to frequently go into<br />
the office for ongoing training and<br />
development.<br />
All new recruits receive the same<br />
counter training as new postmasters<br />
to familiarise themselves with the<br />
Horizon system, then they receive<br />
classroom training on an incremental<br />
basis, taking calls in between training<br />
sessions in specific areas of the<br />
business. The idea behind this<br />
incremental training is that it would<br />
be extremely difficult to learn and<br />
remember the whole of the business<br />
in one go.<br />
Training covers simple demands<br />
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NFSP Interview<br />
for three weeks,<br />
before new starters<br />
take calls for four<br />
weeks before<br />
returning to the<br />
classroom to learn the<br />
more complex balancing<br />
related demands. Throughout<br />
all the training, emphasis is placed<br />
on call handling skills, particularly<br />
listening skills, which has been<br />
recognised positively by postmasters<br />
through satisfaction surveys.<br />
Advisors are monitored not only<br />
throughout their training but during<br />
their time at the BSC to ensure that<br />
correct advice and guidance is given,<br />
but also for the business to learn<br />
from the calls to the centre if<br />
particular topics arise.<br />
The basic tools that advisors have<br />
are the knowledge articles which sit<br />
in the background on their computer<br />
system. When a call on a particular<br />
issue is received, the advisor can<br />
quickly pull up the background<br />
knowledge article and answer the<br />
question.<br />
The advisors also have to handle a<br />
mock-up of Horizon without, Mel<br />
stressed, access to live branch data to<br />
“Throughout the<br />
training, emphasis<br />
is placed on call<br />
handling skills,<br />
particularly<br />
listening skills”<br />
enable them to guide<br />
postmasters through<br />
transactions if<br />
needed.<br />
The coaches are<br />
responsible for ensuring<br />
that these knowledge<br />
articles are kept up to date by<br />
reference to the product teams.<br />
If an advisor requires further<br />
information to help a postmaster,<br />
they can refer to a coach who has<br />
greater experience on a particular<br />
topic.<br />
Similarly, if an advisor feels that a<br />
knowledge article is incorrect or<br />
needs updating then they can<br />
discuss this with their coach who, in<br />
turn, can take the issue up with the<br />
appropriate product or accounting<br />
team.<br />
This results in a continuous<br />
virtuous circle of keeping knowledge<br />
articles current and relevant, which<br />
enables postmasters to receive<br />
relevant and accurate help.<br />
The seven coaches also act as<br />
mentors for advisors who need<br />
additional support. They are also<br />
experts on particular products and<br />
services and deliver product specific<br />
induction training.<br />
It is no surprise that the busiest<br />
times for the BSC, beside a spike in<br />
calls for a particular topic such as a<br />
stamp issue or slow running of<br />
Horizon, is 9am to 11.30am daily and<br />
on branch balancing days of<br />
Wednesday and Thursday evening.<br />
The most prevalent calls are about<br />
balancing, stock, and mails queries<br />
and the “how do I” (carry out a<br />
particular transaction).<br />
These calls may highlight<br />
consideration for additional support<br />
for individual postmasters on a<br />
particular topic, changes to training<br />
materials, or a wider dissemination of<br />
information to the network.<br />
Other requests received have<br />
included a customer enquiring how<br />
to send a human body to another<br />
town as they felt the funeral director’s<br />
fee for transporting the body was too<br />
much, a police officer wanting to<br />
send a frozen rabbit through the<br />
post as an exhibit for a case, a<br />
customer wanting to know how<br />
many houses there were in his village<br />
as he wanted to send something to<br />
everyone who lived there, and much<br />
more.<br />
12 The SubPostmaster June 2024
The NET update<br />
<strong>JUNE</strong> UPDATE<br />
FROM <strong>THE</strong> NET<br />
The NFSP Negotiating and Engagement Team (NET) are back<br />
with another update of the current issues across the network<br />
and the work it does to address them<br />
ROYAL MAIL<br />
T24 AND T48 UPDATE<br />
Royal Mail is still working on a fix for the<br />
issue affecting track and trace data in some<br />
cases. This means that the rollout has paused<br />
until a ‘fix’ is successfully implemented.<br />
SPECIAL DELIVERY POUCHES<br />
We were made aware in early April that<br />
these were out of stock in Swindon branches<br />
and only available to order again towards the<br />
end of May. The NFSP is pursuing Post Office<br />
Ltd (PO) and Royal Mail (RM) for compensation<br />
for the loss of remuneration to postmasters.<br />
IT UPDATE<br />
PIN PAD ERROR<br />
The NET has raised the issue around<br />
the incorrect messaging on the PIN pad<br />
screen. PO is continuing to monitor<br />
whether the ‘fix’ implemented in the<br />
trial offices is working before it is rolled<br />
out to the full network.<br />
SYSTEM SLOWNESS<br />
A fix was uploaded in December for<br />
the system slowness issue and seems to<br />
have significantly improved the<br />
response times for transactions. If you<br />
are having problems, please report to<br />
Branch Support Centre or via Branch<br />
Hub and get a reference number.<br />
BLUE SCREEN <strong>ISSUE</strong>S<br />
If any postmaster experiences a blue<br />
screen situation, they should contact<br />
BSC to authorise a reboot as in the<br />
majority of cases this will fix the<br />
problem.<br />
DROP & COLLECT<br />
Drop & Collect continues to be an issue of<br />
concern to the NFSP as PO is intent on rapidly<br />
expanding this part of the network to maintain its<br />
overall numbers with no restrictions on the<br />
services the retailer offers for other carriers.<br />
This is to the detriment of the current network<br />
as PO should adhere to the restrictions policy as<br />
per its contract. Effectively this is creating a twotier<br />
network.<br />
If any postmaster has a concern regarding the<br />
opening of a Drop & Collect near them, they must<br />
log a complaint with PO as per instructions in<br />
their notification letter. Once a nearby Drop &<br />
Collect has been open for six months, postmasters<br />
can request a review by the appeals panel if they<br />
feel their business has been impacted.<br />
14<br />
The SubPostmaster June 2024
SHAPING YOUR<br />
FUTURE<br />
Nine pages dedicated to the 2024 Annual Conference<br />
and Retail Event, covering this year’s big discussions,<br />
learnings and key takeaways<br />
Delegates from across the United<br />
Kingdom assembled for the NFSP<br />
Annual Conference and Retail Event<br />
at the University of Warwick in<br />
Coventry on 11-13 May.<br />
The Conference kicked off with the<br />
Retail Event on the Sunday morning<br />
where several new retail categories<br />
were displayed for the first time.<br />
In the afternoon, NFSP Chief<br />
Executive Officer Calum Greenhow<br />
addressed delegates when he spoke<br />
about an Oversight Committee and<br />
the future of the post office network,<br />
the culture within Post Office Ltd<br />
(PO), the vision of the NFSP, and<br />
more, before a Q&A session took<br />
place.<br />
The Timpson Group’s Darren Burns<br />
then spoke about Upside Down<br />
Management and the culture in<br />
Timpson, before a Banquet Dinner in<br />
the evening.<br />
Monday was headlined by Your<br />
Questions, a Q&A panel debate<br />
which featured Postal Affairs<br />
Minister Kevin Hollinrake, PO Chief<br />
Executive Nick Read, Calum and<br />
Darren, with NFSP Chair Tim<br />
Boothman chairing the event.<br />
Minister Hollinrake said: “I really<br />
enjoyed it. Understandably people<br />
gave me a constructive challenge<br />
about where we are and where we<br />
need to go.<br />
“But we heard everything people<br />
said and we’re<br />
very keen to<br />
make sure that<br />
the Post Office<br />
isn’t just seen as<br />
Kevin Hollinrake<br />
an organisation<br />
that has a past.<br />
It’s also got a very bright future.”<br />
The new format received positive<br />
feedback from delegates and<br />
provided the opportunity to ask<br />
important questions.<br />
Breakout sessions in the afternoon<br />
gave members the chance to talk<br />
about how they see the future of the<br />
network plus the opportunity to<br />
share best practice and brainstorm<br />
ideas.
Conference 2024<br />
Monday morning of Conference featured Your Questions, a<br />
panel Q&A session, in which postmasters had the chance to put<br />
their most pressing questions about the future of the post office<br />
network to Postal Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake, Post Office<br />
Ltd (PO) Chief Executive Nick Read, NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow<br />
and Darren Burns, of the Timpson Group. This session ran for<br />
over 90 minutes and was chaired by NFSP Chair Tim Boothman.<br />
Here are some of the key topics which were covered:<br />
BRAND RESTORATION<br />
Kevin Hollinrake: “I get the fact there<br />
has been damage to the brand at the<br />
centre – at government level, and at<br />
shareholder level, in terms of the way<br />
PO has been managed in the past.<br />
“We’re dealing with that through<br />
the Horizon Inquiry, we’re dealing<br />
with that through compensation and<br />
doing what we’ve never done before<br />
which is overturning convictions<br />
through statute. More than 700<br />
people will quite rightly have their<br />
names cleared on that basis.<br />
“By the end of this year, most of<br />
those things will be out of the way,<br />
and the Inquiry will report early next<br />
year.<br />
“We’ve not got a damaged brand<br />
here that we need to change<br />
somehow. We just need to invest<br />
properly in that brand.<br />
“It’s my view that at a local level,<br />
post offices are very highly valued<br />
parts of our communities. As long as<br />
they are valuable in terms of<br />
profitability, then they will have a<br />
value in terms of running a business<br />
and selling a business.”<br />
Nick Read: “There is an enduring<br />
brand here which has lasted for 360<br />
years. No question we’re in a bad and<br />
tight spot at the moment but I believe<br />
we will come through this.<br />
“I spend a lot of time talking to<br />
corporate businesses about how long<br />
it takes to recover from the nadir,<br />
when you’re right in it. People talk<br />
about two to three years to rejuvenate<br />
and regenerate.<br />
“We’ve got a Minister and a<br />
government that wants the post<br />
office to succeed.”<br />
BANKING FRAMEWORK 4<br />
AND AUTOMATION<br />
Nick Read: “If banks are saving £3<br />
billion a year from their physical<br />
estates then that responsibility that<br />
has been handed to the post office<br />
needs to be paid for.<br />
“If you look at the reduction in costs<br />
of running a bank branch versus<br />
running either a Banking Hub or an<br />
enhanced office, it’s something like a<br />
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90% reduction in cost.<br />
“Some of that saving has to come to<br />
the post office. That’s part of our<br />
Banking Framework 4 negotiations,<br />
but banks will push back hard. We will<br />
be expecting banks to support and<br />
pay for automation to enhance post<br />
offices, in terms of security<br />
automation particularly.<br />
“We’re also looking at mails and<br />
parcels automation and how that will<br />
play a part.<br />
“And NBIT, we anticipate that we will<br />
reduce our operating costs both in<br />
branch and in the centre by anything<br />
up to 50% by introducing a system<br />
that’s going to genuinely and<br />
dramatically reduce the processing<br />
time and cost time associated with<br />
running a branch.<br />
“That’s a core part of the way<br />
forward and we have to embrace it. It<br />
is your single biggest cost, and we<br />
need to make sure that we make it as<br />
simple and as uncomplex as possible.”<br />
STRATEGIC REVIEW<br />
Nick Read: “We’ve had a new<br />
appointment of a PO Chair (Nigel<br />
Railton) and he is very keen to do a<br />
strategic review of the business.<br />
“It’s very evident that we will have a<br />
new administration of some<br />
description in the next six to eight<br />
months or so.<br />
“With that will come a new funding<br />
investment in PO and at the same<br />
time we will conclude the Inquiry, so<br />
there is a real necessity to do a<br />
strategic review.<br />
“As it stands today, I am contracted,<br />
and I am instructed by statute to have<br />
11,500 branches across the network.<br />
That’s not going to change any time<br />
soon until we have some form of<br />
consultation or some change of<br />
statute.<br />
“We shouldn’t expect today to have<br />
a different size and shape of network.<br />
What we are doing is trying to make<br />
sure that we meet demand within the<br />
context of 11,500 branches.”<br />
GOVERNMENT SERVICES<br />
Kevin Hollinrake: “We recognise that<br />
not everybody wants to shop online.<br />
But the reality is consumer habits are<br />
changing with the rise of Amazon. It’s<br />
not us who are allowing Amazon to<br />
deliver parcels to your home, that’s<br />
what people choose to do and we as a<br />
government won’t stand in the way of<br />
that.<br />
“We’ve got to try to find a future for<br />
the high street with the opportunities<br />
that do exist. But the reality is things<br />
have changed, and I get my fishing<br />
licence online now.<br />
“There are opportunities around<br />
banking services and parcels. There<br />
are physical interactions that some<br />
consumers still do need.<br />
“But we can’t dictate to consumers<br />
where they purchase these services.”<br />
Calum Greenhow: “Consumer habits<br />
are changing but it’s also being<br />
directed by chief executives and<br />
shareholders who are looking to<br />
reduce their costs so they can increase<br />
their profit.<br />
“Back in 2005, income to<br />
government from post office services<br />
was £596m. Today it’s £20m to £30m.<br />
We’ve lost over half a billion pounds.<br />
“Online is getting harder and more<br />
frustrating. A post office brings social<br />
interaction. People have to leave their<br />
home, go out into the fresh air and<br />
speak to someone, so post offices<br />
have massive physical and mental<br />
health benefits on that basis.”<br />
FUTURE OF <strong>THE</strong> NETWORK<br />
Calum Greenhow: “There is a<br />
phenomenal trust in postmasters, and<br />
a phenomenal understanding from<br />
the general public as to what you’ve<br />
experienced.<br />
“But there needs to be a<br />
fundamental change in the whole<br />
structure so that the general public<br />
and you as postmasters can have<br />
confidence about your businesses.<br />
“Would any of you tell any of your<br />
friends to invest in a post office? That’s<br />
what we need to change.<br />
“If we can change that so you’re<br />
shouting out that PO is a fantastic<br />
brand to be involved in, a fantastic<br />
company to be with, then people are<br />
going to want to come into that<br />
business.”<br />
You can watch the full Your<br />
Questions segment on the NFSP<br />
YouTube channel.<br />
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June 2024 The SubPostmaster 17
Conference 2024<br />
<strong>THE</strong> FUTURE<br />
IN FOCUS<br />
During our Conference, Breakout Sessions were held to discuss topics such as the future of the<br />
network and the role of the NFSP, inviting the valuable insights and opinions of members. Key<br />
topics were discussed by more than 200 postmasters, and action points have been highlighted<br />
below which the NFSP will look to implement throughout the upcoming months.<br />
ROLE OF <strong>THE</strong> NFSP<br />
What does the NFSP do well?<br />
Provides protection, support, and<br />
guidance. Represents postmasters in<br />
negotiations with Post Office Ltd<br />
(PO) and Government.<br />
Easy to get hold of in times of<br />
need. The NFSP listens, provides<br />
support, and keeps members up to<br />
date with important issues.<br />
HR support via HR4UK.<br />
Mails Segregation Team offers<br />
valuable support.<br />
Retail support. Safescan’s<br />
discounted rates and member<br />
benefits with partners were<br />
highlighted.<br />
Network & Engagement Team are<br />
always on hand to listen and help.<br />
Communication via The<br />
SubPostmaster magazine, WhatsApp<br />
groups, and the weekly newsletter.<br />
The Advocacy project and NFSP+.<br />
Support through the Benevolent<br />
Fund.<br />
What would make the NFSP<br />
better?<br />
More branch visits from the CEO<br />
and Board to engage with members.<br />
Input from members on the future<br />
direction of the network and the<br />
NFSP.<br />
New faces at Board level and there<br />
should be a maximum term.<br />
More retail information at regional<br />
meetings and more retail partners.<br />
An NFSP forum where members<br />
can share their experience and<br />
expertise, and where questions can<br />
be asked.<br />
More power in negotiations with<br />
PO.<br />
More training for members and an<br />
education programme for new<br />
members.<br />
Working with other representative<br />
groups to strengthen postmaster<br />
voices.<br />
If you were to work alongside NFSP<br />
CEO Calum Greenhow for a day,<br />
what would you do to improve the<br />
NFSP?<br />
Look to get a better deal with PO<br />
for remuneration and constantly<br />
push this as the number one priority.<br />
Talk about culture: Why are so<br />
many offices struggling to survive<br />
with ever depleting remuneration,<br />
whilst PO employees’ salaries<br />
increase with inflation?<br />
Provide support for incoming and<br />
leaving postmasters.<br />
Keep members in the loop with<br />
discussions with PO.<br />
Organise NFSP Roadshows around<br />
the country.<br />
FUTURE OF <strong>THE</strong> POST<br />
OFFICE NETWORK<br />
How do you think the governance<br />
of PO needs to change in order to<br />
protect your investment?<br />
Greater transparency across all<br />
decisions.<br />
Greater postmaster involvement in<br />
decision making.<br />
Reduction in management levels<br />
and reduce central costs.<br />
Upside Down Management.<br />
The PO Board should be run by the<br />
people who own it.<br />
Please share any alternative ideas<br />
you may have about how to<br />
safeguard the future of the post<br />
office network?<br />
Upside Down Management<br />
Introduce enhanced technology in<br />
branches, like NBIT.<br />
New Government products and<br />
services.<br />
An Oversight Committee even after<br />
Mutualisation to ensure<br />
accountability.<br />
Speak to local MPs and put<br />
pressure on local authorities to<br />
support post offices, through council<br />
tax bills and council rates relief.<br />
New remuneration model.<br />
Reduce the size of the network.<br />
Sell off Crown offices.<br />
18 The SubPostmaster June 2024
LOBBYING AND<br />
CAMPAIGNING<br />
What do you believe should be the<br />
NFSP’s priority lobbying and<br />
campaigning issues?<br />
Negotiate with PO to get<br />
maximum remuneration.<br />
Business rates.<br />
Securing postmasters’ future.<br />
Governance and oversight.<br />
Transparency to PO revenue<br />
structure and PO cost reduction.<br />
Retail crime.<br />
How would you like to be more<br />
involved in future lobbying and<br />
campaigning?<br />
Local and national petitions.<br />
Engagement and meetings with<br />
local MPs.<br />
Local workshops and meetings.<br />
Organise focus groups, a retail<br />
crime group, for example.<br />
NFSP COMMUNICATIONS<br />
AND ENGAGEMENT<br />
How do you currently receive news<br />
and communications from the<br />
NFSP? What would you like to see<br />
more/less of?<br />
Communication comes through<br />
the weekly newsletter, WhatsApp,<br />
The SubPostmaster magazine,<br />
podcasts and Teams meetings.<br />
More face-to-face meetings.<br />
Retail success stories from<br />
postmasters would be informative.<br />
One retail meeting per quarter.<br />
What ideas or thoughts do you<br />
have on how the NFSP can better<br />
engage and communicate with<br />
members?<br />
More social events, branch visits<br />
and face-to-face meetings to<br />
improve engagement and to<br />
encourage new members.<br />
Members should be aware of every<br />
topic the NFSP discusses with PO.<br />
Share good news stories, like the<br />
Benevolent Fund and postmaster<br />
achievements.<br />
Reply to all issues which arise for<br />
members, even if they cannot be<br />
resolved.<br />
Videos to promote post offices.<br />
SOCIAL MEDIA<br />
What are you currently doing on<br />
social media to promote your post<br />
office?<br />
Posts about Evri and DPD Pick Up<br />
and Drop Off.<br />
Promoting banking and post office<br />
opening times.<br />
Sharing information on<br />
community pages about services.<br />
Paid adverts to highlight the post<br />
office on Facebook.<br />
Promoting Google Reviews as<br />
customer feedback is important.<br />
Tag, share and like competitions.<br />
What could you do differently and<br />
how can the NFSP and PO support<br />
you with this?<br />
Share post office and retail success<br />
stories.<br />
Offer social media training.<br />
Look at branches who promote<br />
their business successfully on social<br />
media.<br />
Form a Facebook group with other<br />
local businesses.<br />
REMUNERATION AND<br />
COUNTER SERVICES<br />
What ideas do you have to bring in<br />
new services and influence<br />
positive change?<br />
Same remuneration for all models.<br />
Payment of fines.<br />
Children’s saving accounts and<br />
current accounts.<br />
Amazon needs to be integrated<br />
into Horizon.<br />
PO to become a full bank for<br />
consumers and SME customers.<br />
Local post offices should have the<br />
security and capacity to store more<br />
cash.<br />
Introduce a fixed fee for providing<br />
bank services. The money banks save<br />
should be reorganised.<br />
What are your thoughts on Drop &<br />
Collect, Enhanced Post Offices and<br />
Banking Hubs?<br />
D&C is good where a branch is<br />
closed, but PayZone and D&C outlets<br />
can also be a worry.<br />
Banking Hubs are positive if given<br />
to the nearest postmaster.<br />
It needs to be promoted that post<br />
offices offer banking services.<br />
NFSP ACTION POINTS<br />
NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow to<br />
visit postmasters around the United<br />
Kingdom. If you would like Calum to<br />
visit your branch, email:<br />
communications@nfsp.org.uk<br />
The NFSP will discuss issues raised<br />
with PO and Government, and feed<br />
back as much information as we can.<br />
The NFSP Communications Team<br />
will produce guides on subjects<br />
which postmasters have requested<br />
help and support for. A social media<br />
guide is currently being produced.<br />
Individual skillsets and postmaster<br />
success stories will be shared, so<br />
fellow postmasters can consider new<br />
and different ideas.<br />
The idea of NFSP Roadshows<br />
around the country will be discussed<br />
at the June Board Meeting.<br />
Focus Groups will be set up. If you<br />
are interested in sharing your<br />
expertise, email<br />
communications@nfsp.org.uk<br />
Regional and national meetings<br />
will be discussed at the June Board<br />
Meeting.<br />
We have taken on board that some<br />
postmasters prefer hybrid meetings,<br />
whilst several members at<br />
Conference would like more face-toface<br />
meetings.<br />
The NFSP will look to speak to<br />
other postmaster representative<br />
groups about the future of the<br />
network.<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 19
Conference 2024<br />
WORKING TOGE<strong>THE</strong>R<br />
FOR A BETTER FUTURE<br />
Calum Greenhow and Jon Follenfant<br />
Calum Greenhow and Jayshree Punatar<br />
Calum Greenhow and Bharat Visani<br />
NFSP Chair Tim Boothman<br />
opened this year’s NFSP Conference<br />
by talking about the future of the<br />
post office network and how<br />
everybody needs to work together.<br />
Tim Boothman<br />
Tim said: “What a year it has been<br />
since the last Conference. The two<br />
main reasons are the ongoing public<br />
Inquiry into the horrific revelations of<br />
the last 20-odd years but also the ITV<br />
drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office.<br />
“It’s very good that it has been<br />
brought to the public’s attention and<br />
it’s important all victims are given<br />
full redress and compensation for<br />
the horrific way they were treated<br />
before the group litigation order.<br />
“But there is another side to it and<br />
not many people are looking forward<br />
to the future. What happens when<br />
the Inquiry is finished, and all<br />
compensation is paid?<br />
“What about the network of today<br />
and the network of tomorrow?<br />
“It could be argued the past Post<br />
Office Ltd (PO) board and general<br />
executives failed postmasters. There’s<br />
plenty of evidence of that but who is<br />
coming up with the way forward.<br />
“I think it should be you<br />
Calum Greenhow<br />
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(postmasters). That’s the reason you<br />
are here because you care about the<br />
post office network going forward.<br />
“This is the first day, the start of<br />
your future. We have to start thinking<br />
differently, about the network we<br />
want. It’s our investment in this<br />
network which will shape what it<br />
looks like in two, five, 10 years’ time.<br />
We are all in this together, only unity<br />
and collaboration will bring about<br />
the necessary change this network<br />
requires.”<br />
Chief Executive Officer Calum<br />
Greenhow reviewed the past year<br />
but also looked ahead to the future<br />
of the post office network when he<br />
addressed delegates at Conference.<br />
Calum was delighted to see more<br />
than 200 postmasters in attendance<br />
this year, with 70 postmasters<br />
attending for the first time. He said:<br />
“A united collective of postmasters<br />
working in and through the NFSP<br />
can ensure that whatever<br />
Government is in power listens and<br />
understands the needs of over 7,000<br />
Darren Burns<br />
small independent businesspeople<br />
who own and operate the network of<br />
11,500 post offices across the country.<br />
“This united collective of<br />
postmasters can influence PO for the<br />
good of the network.”<br />
Calum also spoke about the<br />
culture of PO, toxicity in the network,<br />
the vision of the NFSP, the Horizon<br />
Inquiry, an Oversight Committee,<br />
and much more, before a Q&A<br />
session with delegates.<br />
You can read more on the NFSP<br />
website or watch Calum’s speech on<br />
YouTube by<br />
clicking on the<br />
QR code here:<br />
Keynote<br />
speaker Darren<br />
Burns gave an<br />
inspiring and<br />
engaging<br />
speech and<br />
highlighted how Upside Down<br />
Management is key to the Timpson<br />
Group’s whole business.<br />
Darren, the Director of Diversity<br />
and Inclusion at the Timpson Group,<br />
spoke about the culture at Timpson<br />
and said the ‘kings and queens’ of<br />
their business are the people who<br />
serve customers.<br />
He said: “The biggest change in<br />
our culture came in the late 1990s<br />
when Sir John Timpson, who is our<br />
current Chairman, coined the term<br />
Upside Down Management.<br />
“The basic premise was that most<br />
conventional businesses are shaped<br />
like a pyramid with the most<br />
important people sitting at the top<br />
– the decision-makers, the board of<br />
directors and at the bottom you’ve<br />
got the low skilled, low paid<br />
colleagues.<br />
"What we decided to do was turn<br />
that on its head and the most<br />
important people in our business<br />
were the people at the top.<br />
“You can imagine it’s like an<br />
inverted pyramid, so the kings and<br />
queens of our business are the<br />
people serving customers, cutting<br />
keys, repairing shoes, repairing<br />
watches.<br />
“Everything senior managers do in<br />
the business is to make the lives of<br />
our colleagues who are working in<br />
our branches easier.”<br />
Darren also spoke about Timpson’s<br />
recruitment policy, how the<br />
company invests in colleague<br />
development, a Happy Index to<br />
ensure colleague support, how<br />
unhappy colleagues are helped to<br />
find new jobs, and much more.<br />
Three long-serving NFSP<br />
members were presented with<br />
honorary life memberships by NFSP<br />
CEO Calum Greenhow at the<br />
Banquet Dinner on the Sunday<br />
evening.<br />
Bharat Visani was Midland region<br />
NED for nine years before stepping<br />
down earlier this year. He was also<br />
Branch Secretary for Leicester before<br />
becoming a NED.<br />
Jon Follenfant was Regional<br />
Secretary/Treasurer for the South<br />
West region and also Members’<br />
Editor of The SubPostmaster<br />
magazine for the past nine years.<br />
Jayshree Punatar has been a<br />
stalwart of the NFSP for a number of<br />
years and is Regional Treasurer of the<br />
South East region. She has also been<br />
a huge support to NED Saj Hussain.<br />
MAY 2024 QUARTER PAGE ADVERT LANDSCAPE.indd 1 14/05/2024 14:59<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 21
Conference 2024<br />
Postmasters spoke positively about this year’s Annual Conference with<br />
the Your Questions segment a particular highlight from the two days.<br />
This year’s theme was Shaping Your Future and numerous discussions<br />
were held around the Post Office brand, the culture in the post office<br />
network, the future strategy of the network and much more.<br />
Both new attendees and regular delegates spoke to the NFSP about<br />
how they found this year’s event and how the post office network can<br />
move forward in the future.<br />
Zaf<br />
Rushnaiwala:<br />
“My first<br />
Conference<br />
was really<br />
informative, and it was<br />
really good for postmasters<br />
who attended for the first<br />
time.<br />
“There was a lot of<br />
insight through the<br />
speakers and also the<br />
Question & Answer time,<br />
plus the opportunity to<br />
network with fellow<br />
postmasters was great.”<br />
Dhaval<br />
Gosaliya:<br />
“It was good.<br />
You only get<br />
the chance<br />
once a year to see all your<br />
colleagues and fellow<br />
members and to get to see<br />
what’s going on within the<br />
business, challenges Post<br />
Office Ltd (PO) and<br />
postmasters face, whilst<br />
also challenging the PO,<br />
the Government and the<br />
NFSP.<br />
“We have to work<br />
together with PO, the<br />
Government and with the<br />
NFSP to make sure we<br />
have a bright future.”<br />
Alison De<br />
Lara:<br />
“I really<br />
enjoyed it. I’ve<br />
got a lot out of<br />
it, met lots of fellow<br />
postmasters, done a lot of<br />
networking and it’s been<br />
very useful.”<br />
Andrew<br />
Phipson:<br />
“I took a lot<br />
out of it.<br />
“I loved the<br />
new Question Time format,<br />
and we had the<br />
opportunity to ask<br />
important questions to not<br />
only (PO Chief Executive)<br />
Nick Read but also the<br />
Postal Affairs Minister<br />
Kevin Hollinrake about the<br />
future of the network and<br />
the long-term planning<br />
about where PO is going.<br />
“The current focus is on<br />
the (Horizon) Inquiry which<br />
is only right for that to<br />
come to a conclusion later<br />
on this year.<br />
“But the questioning<br />
should be around the<br />
future of the network<br />
moving forward and how<br />
that affects postmasters.”<br />
Paul Money:<br />
“I found the<br />
Conference<br />
excellent. It<br />
was good to<br />
catch up with a load of<br />
colleagues I hadn’t seen<br />
for a while and also get to<br />
the bottom of some of the<br />
issues regarding<br />
remuneration, how our<br />
culture needs to alter or<br />
not and also to hear other<br />
people’s comments on<br />
what is happening in the<br />
network.”<br />
Tim Allen:<br />
“It was a really<br />
interesting<br />
Conference at<br />
a good venue,<br />
and I especially enjoyed<br />
the Q&A debate.<br />
“The retail event was<br />
great. There was a nice mix<br />
of products from gift card<br />
suppliers to banks, and I<br />
met suppliers who I don’t<br />
use but could add value to<br />
my business. It was also<br />
good to see the NBIT<br />
terminal as it gave us the<br />
chance to ask some<br />
questions about it.”<br />
Ying Shi:<br />
“It was<br />
absolutely<br />
brilliant. I got<br />
a new supplier<br />
from the Retail Event and<br />
also met fellow<br />
postmasters who I<br />
exchanged ideas with.<br />
“I really enjoyed it, and it<br />
was at a lovely location.”<br />
Dipesh<br />
Modha:<br />
“I want to be a<br />
better<br />
postmaster; I<br />
want to be a better retailer<br />
and a better businessman.<br />
“I want to get those skills<br />
from here to improve a bit<br />
and to then use those skills<br />
to apply to my business.”<br />
Jon<br />
Follenfant:<br />
“The new<br />
format was<br />
refreshing,<br />
and the Q&A<br />
went very well. It was good<br />
to have somebody<br />
independent outside of PO<br />
and the Minister to<br />
actually take questions<br />
and to reflect on what<br />
happens in other<br />
organisations.<br />
“While we have to help<br />
everybody involved in the<br />
past, we really do need to<br />
think about the future,<br />
where PO is going, and<br />
where we’re going to make<br />
our money in the future.”<br />
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22 18<br />
The SubPostmaster June 2024
RETAIL EVENT<br />
A SUCCESS<br />
This year’s Retail Event kicked<br />
off the Annual Conference and was<br />
attended by many of the NFSP’s<br />
retail partners, with new retailers<br />
in attendance and a good cross<br />
section of categories represented<br />
including banking, utilities, and<br />
convenience, whilst a great range<br />
of varied greeting card companies<br />
displayed their latest products with<br />
cards to suit every post office.<br />
Matt Stanley, Head of Buying and<br />
Purchasing at IPS, was pleased with<br />
how the event went.<br />
He said: “The postmaster is at the<br />
heart of everything we do at IPS, so<br />
being able to present products in<br />
front of them is really great.<br />
“There was a lot of interest in our<br />
products, and we’ve taken on board<br />
all of the feedback from postmasters<br />
in developing our range.”<br />
James Fox, of H&H, also praised this<br />
year’s event and said: “It was very<br />
good, and we saw a lot of<br />
postmasters who we’d never met<br />
before. We’ve introduced them to the<br />
different ranges of impulse gifting<br />
which we supply.”<br />
The NFSP’s Senior Retail Advisor,<br />
Amanda Pedley, was in attendance<br />
promoting the retail support she can<br />
offer members. This includes advice<br />
through retail health checks via video<br />
link or in person, advice on what<br />
products to stock and how to market<br />
your business.<br />
Contact Amanda by emailing<br />
amanda.pedley@nfsp.org.uk<br />
Post Office Ltd also had a<br />
significant presence with various<br />
displays, including the new NBIT<br />
terminal which allowed postmasters<br />
to directly address their questions<br />
regarding the Horizon replacement<br />
system to PO representatives.<br />
Dipesh Modha was on hand to<br />
explain how social media can help<br />
postmasters grow their business.<br />
He said: It was a very fruitful event.<br />
Social media is a skill, but<br />
postmasters are now beginning to<br />
understand the value of that and<br />
how important it is for their business<br />
to grow.”<br />
NFSP Commercial and Retail<br />
Director Robert Clack was delighted<br />
with how the event went and said: “It<br />
was great to see so many<br />
postmasters engaging with our retail<br />
suppliers throughout the event.<br />
“My thanks go to all the retail<br />
partners, PO representatives,<br />
delegates and the NFSP Retail Team<br />
for making this year’s event such a<br />
success.<br />
“The importance of retail has<br />
become greater than ever, and we<br />
received positive feedback from both<br />
members and our suppliers.<br />
“Our retail sector suppliers are<br />
experts in their field so know what’s<br />
coming and can offer some real help<br />
to postmasters.<br />
“If there’s any members who need<br />
help or support with their retail<br />
section, please get in touch. Our<br />
team will be happy to help you.”<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 23
NFSP mails support<br />
GETTING MAILS SEGREGATION RIGHT:<br />
LETTER/LARGE LETTER MAIL BAG<br />
The errors that are stopping<br />
you from getting full payment<br />
for mails segregation are:<br />
Franked/Meter mail being found<br />
1 in the Letter/Large Letter mail bag<br />
Letter/Large Letter mail bags not<br />
2 being labelled or incorrectly<br />
labelled<br />
Great news! We're thrilled to share that you've achieved<br />
two out of the three mail bag targets, earning you an<br />
additional £2.7 million for mails segregation.<br />
You were just 0.4% away from hitting the 95% target for<br />
the Letter/Large Letter mail bag.<br />
In addition to supporting<br />
members with Pick Up & Drop Off<br />
(PUDO), our goal this year is to help<br />
you achieve all three mail bag<br />
compliance targets, ensuring that<br />
you receive the full payment for<br />
mail segregation and the £1m<br />
bonus.<br />
After looking at last year's data,<br />
we noticed that most of the errors<br />
when sorting Letter/Large Letter<br />
mail happened in the smaller<br />
offices.<br />
There are a few reasons for this,<br />
for example: not enough space, the<br />
volume of mail you handle, and not<br />
being familiar with the types of<br />
mail transactions being handled.<br />
Priority mail incorrectly placed in<br />
3 the Letter/Large Letter mail bag<br />
The good news is that we can easily spot and prevent these errors.<br />
Don’t forget to check out the Letter/Large Letter guide by scanning<br />
the QR code provided, below. It's really helpful for understanding the<br />
right way to handle Franked/Meter, Letter/Large Letters and how to<br />
label mail bags correctly. Remember, Priority mail should never go<br />
into a Letter/Large Letter mail bag; it should be kept separate and<br />
handed to the collection office in a mail bag and<br />
secured around the neck with a blue tie.<br />
Could you also chat with your team to make<br />
sure everyone is on board with these<br />
guidelines? Taking a little extra time to review<br />
and follow the correct guidance will give you<br />
the best chance at hitting all three mail bag<br />
targets next year. Thanks for your help!<br />
24 The SubPostmaster June 2024
GETTING PUDO RIGHT:<br />
HOW TO ACHIEVE FULL REMUNERATION FOR DPD PUDO WORK<br />
During our visits to member branches, we’ve noticed that over 25% of our members haven’t<br />
received full payment for scanning DPD parcels in and/or out of their office.<br />
If your branch offers the DPD service, please make sure that you and your team follow this fourstep<br />
procedure to ensure that you are not missing out on any remuneration.<br />
Scan all DPD items<br />
1 into Horizon as soon<br />
as you receive them<br />
It is important to scan<br />
the items into Horizon as<br />
soon as you receive<br />
delivery from the DPD<br />
driver or, as an absolute<br />
minimum, on the day of<br />
delivery.<br />
Note – Even if the DPD<br />
items of mail have already<br />
appeared in your<br />
inventory prior to you<br />
scanning, you must still<br />
scan each parcel.<br />
Storing DPD<br />
2 items of mail<br />
Store safely and<br />
securely DPD<br />
items of mail<br />
awaiting<br />
customer pick up<br />
Note – Best<br />
practice would<br />
be to store items<br />
of mail by carrier<br />
and then by<br />
name/date<br />
received.<br />
Customer collection<br />
3 When the Customer<br />
arrives in your office with<br />
their PickUp Pass to collect<br />
their DPD item of mail, scan<br />
their PickUp Pass and locate<br />
the item.<br />
Note - If the customer<br />
doesn’t have their PickUp<br />
Pass for identification, they<br />
require two forms of identity<br />
one from each of the two<br />
groups identified, right.<br />
4<br />
Scanning the DPD item of mail<br />
out to the customer<br />
Scan the DPD item label and hand<br />
the item of mail to your customer.<br />
Note – If you have correctly recorded<br />
the customer Pick-Up and scanned<br />
the DPD item there will be two<br />
entries in the basket. Select settle<br />
and issue the item.<br />
If you do not have these two entries<br />
in the basket you will not receive<br />
your correct remuneration. Please<br />
go back and try again.<br />
GROUP 1 – Passport or Driving<br />
Licence.<br />
GROUP 2 – Utility bill or bank<br />
card (Driving Licence can be<br />
offered from Group 2 ID if not<br />
shown as Group 1).<br />
Locate the DPD item of mail<br />
on Horizon and in your office<br />
and record the identification<br />
shown on Horizon<br />
If you require further training or support please email mailssupport@nfsp.org.uk<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 25
Retail Post Office in focus<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
FOCUSED<br />
Gary Walters BEM this year celebrates 40<br />
years as the postmaster of Menheniot Post<br />
Office. He tells Simon King about his career,<br />
which saw him start, aged 18, as the<br />
youngest postmaster in the country<br />
ary Walters, like his father<br />
G<br />
before him, was born in the<br />
village of Menheniot, which<br />
is located around two miles<br />
south-east of Liskeard in Cornwall.<br />
His father, a builder, bought the shop<br />
when Gary was five years old and his<br />
mother worked in the shop, with Gary<br />
helping out on weekends and after<br />
school, before taking on the business at<br />
18.<br />
Importance of the Post Office<br />
“It’s very important to the community<br />
to have a post office and shop, as it’s<br />
the focal point of the village,” Gary said.<br />
“Everyone comes to meet and chat,<br />
and I know most people.<br />
“It’s the place where you come to<br />
book the village hall, and where you<br />
buy tickets for the pantomime. I ran<br />
Scouts in the village for 10 years and I’ve<br />
been the treasurer of the hall since the<br />
late 1980s.”<br />
Gary said being a subpostmaster is a<br />
rewarding role.<br />
“Everybody seems to like me, and<br />
everybody knows me,” he said. “If<br />
somebody wants something, they only<br />
have to ask, and I’ll do it. Postmasters<br />
are seen as a pillar of the community,<br />
and I’ve been here all my life.”<br />
Outreach, Home Service and<br />
Partner Sites<br />
When the Network Transformation<br />
programme started in 2012, Gary was<br />
selected as an Outreach provider.<br />
“I started off with three Outreach<br />
services and over the next six months, I<br />
ended up with a dozen or so – it didn’t<br />
take very long to get to a dozen,” Gary<br />
said. “The most I’ve<br />
ever had is 21, but<br />
now it’s coming<br />
down.”<br />
Gary currently runs<br />
13 Outreach services<br />
in Darite, Downderry,<br />
East Taphouse, Kingsand,<br />
Lostwithiel, Millbrook,<br />
Pensilva, Rilla Mill, St Neot,<br />
Tregadillett, Tetcott, Tideford and<br />
Trewidland.<br />
“I’ve got three Outreach kits which<br />
we go out with to village halls,” Gary<br />
said. “Three of the kits are out three<br />
days a week; and two of the kits are out<br />
on the other two days in the week.”<br />
Gary is currently in negotiations with<br />
Post Office Ltd (PO), and he believes<br />
that some of the Outreach services will<br />
be cut.<br />
In addition to the Outreach services<br />
he provides, Gary also offers a Home<br />
Service to a number of customers.<br />
“I still have customers using the<br />
home service,” he said. “Through the<br />
DDA procedure that PO has, I can cash<br />
cheques for customers in their home.”<br />
Gary originally had six Partner Sites,<br />
and he now runs two Partner Sites in<br />
Polruan and Lerryn.<br />
“I fund them, I look after them, I pay<br />
them, and PO pays me,” Gary said. “In<br />
theory, they’re my employees, but<br />
they’ve got their own shop.”<br />
Changing retail industry<br />
Gary is a Spar customer, and he gets<br />
his goods from Appleby Westward. He<br />
said that during his time in business,<br />
the retail sector has changed<br />
dramatically.<br />
“Postmasters<br />
are seen as a<br />
pillar of the<br />
community. I’ve<br />
been here my<br />
whole life”<br />
“John Irish CBE<br />
pioneered the ‘8 to<br />
Late’ concept in Spar,<br />
which brought<br />
trading in the<br />
evening,” Gary said.<br />
“Before that it was<br />
always 9am-5.30pm on<br />
Mondays, Tuesdays,<br />
Thursdays and Fridays;<br />
Wednesdays and Saturdays were both<br />
half days and on Sundays we wouldn’t<br />
open at all.<br />
“We closed at 10pm for a while, then<br />
we moved to 9pm. Through Covid we<br />
closed at 8pm and now we’ve settled<br />
on 7pm.”<br />
Gary pointed out that 40 years ago,<br />
the Walters family used to have two<br />
shops in the village – the post office<br />
and grocery store, while the other store<br />
was non-food, selling gifts, toys, ladies<br />
underwear, gardening items, paint<br />
brushes, pans, and plastic bowls.<br />
“It was the place everybody came to<br />
in this community, they didn’t go<br />
anywhere else,” Gary said. “Retailing<br />
has changed massively. Years ago,<br />
there were no out-of-town<br />
supermarkets, and now some of these<br />
include post offices.”<br />
Gary said that chilled is the most<br />
popular category in his store and milk<br />
is the biggest seller.<br />
“Retail is very important,” he said.<br />
“The village shop sells many things and<br />
the post office is part of that mix – if<br />
you want a meal, you can get a meal<br />
here.”<br />
Banking takes off<br />
Banking has become popular in Gary’s<br />
C<br />
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26<br />
The SubPostmaster June 2024
are on it, and instead of paying 100% for<br />
a building and the cost of the whole<br />
thing, they pay 20% because they share<br />
it.<br />
“Postmasters are happy because<br />
they’re getting paid, and the banks cut<br />
their costs by 80% and still have<br />
visibility in the towns.”<br />
branch over the last few years.<br />
“In Liskeard, we lost NatWest about<br />
three or four years ago, Barclays and<br />
HSBC both left last year before<br />
Christmas, and Lloyds is going soon,<br />
leaving just one bank left: Santander.<br />
“Banking Hubs are coming in, and I<br />
can see in the future that PO is going<br />
to have a Banking Hub in every town in<br />
the country.”<br />
Gary said that he applied for a<br />
2 Half Page Retail Support Ad June SPM.pdf 13 22/05/2024 20:06<br />
Menheniot Post Office<br />
postmaster Gary Walters,<br />
Sarah Walters (left) and<br />
Sarah Harris (right)<br />
Banking Hub in Looe, which is 10 miles<br />
away, but was turned down.<br />
He said: “Saltash is getting a Banking<br />
Hub now, and I think there’s one going<br />
to be in Bodmin – if Santander pulls<br />
out of Liskeard, and then Liskeard gets<br />
a Banking Hub, that will mean every<br />
town around me has a Banking Hub.<br />
“These Post Office Banking Hubs are<br />
quite cheap to run for the banks,<br />
because they share the costs. All banks<br />
The British Empire Medal<br />
In the New Year’s Honours 2022, Gary<br />
was awarded the British Empire Medal<br />
for services to the community of<br />
Menheniot.<br />
Gary said: “I did not expect it. At the<br />
end of November 2021, I got a letter<br />
from the Government, informing me<br />
that I’d been nominated for a BEM; I<br />
wasn’t able to tell anyone, but I<br />
confided in my wife – I was so proud.”<br />
Back in the village, Gary received<br />
many cards and good wishes from<br />
customers, however, on New Year’s Day<br />
2022 – the day the announcement was<br />
made – Gary had Covid, so was unable<br />
to share the good news with his<br />
customers.<br />
“The community was overjoyed that<br />
I’d been honoured,” Gary said.<br />
He received the BEM in May 2022<br />
Retail Support<br />
Programme<br />
To grow your business<br />
“<br />
Sales have increased by around 50% at<br />
least so definitely happy with that. The<br />
retail advice and support was amazing, it<br />
definitely gave me a place to start and<br />
some really good ideas to think about, I<br />
would recommend all postmasters use the<br />
service!<br />
“<br />
Amelia Elson – Tower Hill Post Office<br />
BOOK A VISIT<br />
FREE personalised Retail Health Checks<br />
via store visits or video calls for NFSP members.<br />
with Amanda Pedley, NFSP Senior Retail Advisor.<br />
Scan the QR code or call 01273 452324.<br />
February 2024 The SubPostmaster 23
Retail Post Office in focus<br />
system in place. When we had<br />
deliveries, we had to block off aisles and<br />
restock, one aisle at a time.”<br />
Social media<br />
Gary concedes that he is not very good<br />
at updating social media platforms.<br />
“We have a Facebook page for the<br />
shop, but I’m not completely sure how<br />
to update it,” he said. “Spar will put on<br />
promotions every week automatically,<br />
and we can add stuff to it; we’re also<br />
being encouraged by Spar to have an<br />
Instagram account too.”<br />
from Colonel Edward<br />
Bolitho, Lord-<br />
Lieutenant of<br />
Cornwall, at County<br />
Hall in Truro.<br />
Two weeks later,<br />
Gary had an<br />
invitation to a<br />
Buckingham Palace<br />
garden party.<br />
Looking forward, Gary<br />
said that his children Barney, a<br />
professional photographer; and Charlie,<br />
a professional chef, who featured on<br />
BBC TV’s MasterChef: The<br />
Professionals just before Christmas,<br />
have no interest in taking over the<br />
family business.<br />
Fundraising for good causes<br />
Gary is quick to point out that when it<br />
comes to fundraising, he is part of a<br />
team effort.<br />
“I run the village bar as a volunteer,”<br />
he said. “We’ve raised money for the<br />
hall, and we’ve just been awarded a<br />
£226,000 grant to build new stores,<br />
new disabled toilets and a new roof.<br />
“We support anything going on in<br />
the village and we’ll always sell the<br />
“Managing a<br />
100% increase<br />
in sales<br />
overnight was a<br />
challenge”<br />
tickets from the shop,<br />
whether that’s for<br />
fireworks, the carnival,<br />
or the theatre<br />
pantomime, and<br />
raffle prizes at school<br />
fairs.”<br />
The Covid<br />
pandemic<br />
During the pandemic the<br />
store delivered to customers seven<br />
days a week at first, but eventually that<br />
became six days a week.<br />
Gary said: “At one point we had 150<br />
customers to deliver to; we do it once a<br />
week now on a Friday to around 20<br />
people. Customers used to be able to<br />
order up to 1pm and deliveries would<br />
take place after 3.30pm, and we took<br />
payments over the phone.<br />
“We let two or three customers in the<br />
shop at a time, and our customers<br />
were all outside along the street<br />
chatting. We doubled our turnover<br />
overnight, managing a 100% increase<br />
in sales overnight was a challenge.<br />
“We put up screens and we were<br />
fortunate that the store has two<br />
entrances, so we could put a one-way<br />
GARY’S TOP TIPS FOR<br />
POSTMASTERS<br />
COMMONSENSE IS KEY<br />
“I’m in post office and Spar WhatsApp<br />
groups and judging by some of the<br />
questions that get asked there are lots<br />
of people that don’t know what they’re<br />
doing.<br />
“Be confident in what you’re doing,<br />
and have a commonsense approach.<br />
And if you don’t know the answer to<br />
something, ask.<br />
“I used to have six partner sites. Those<br />
four partner sites that I lost, if staff there<br />
want to know anything, it’s me they<br />
call, not the Post Office helpline.<br />
They’re not afraid to talk to me and tell<br />
me what they’ve done; I will tell them<br />
what they need to do.”<br />
TRAINING<br />
“One thing that’s coming out of the<br />
Horizon Inquiry is there’s a need for<br />
more training – I’ve never had any<br />
formal Post Office training. I’ve just<br />
been told to get on with it.<br />
“People that haven’t got the skill set,<br />
need a bit of training.”<br />
SHOP TALK<br />
Menheniot Post Office, Menheniot,<br />
Liskeard, Cornwall<br />
Opening hours: Shop – 7am-7pm<br />
(Monday to Saturday) and 9am-7pm<br />
(Sunday); Post Office – 9am-5.30pm<br />
(Monday to Friday) and 9am-12.30pm<br />
(Saturday)<br />
Size of branch: 2,500sq ft<br />
PO counters: Fortress<br />
Staff: 13 (Two full-time; 11-part-time)<br />
PO services: Mails, banking, returns,<br />
bills, Drop & Go, Amazon<br />
Retail: Grocery, confectionery, soft<br />
drinks, cards, newspapers, stationery, dry<br />
cleaning<br />
28<br />
The SubPostmaster June 2024
MAILBOX<br />
Your letters answered by Post Office Ltd<br />
and Jon Follenfant, NFSP Members’ Editor<br />
Postmasters need to plan for cost increases,<br />
so will we hear about remuneration increases<br />
before dipping into our own pockets?<br />
R<br />
emuneration is<br />
always a hot<br />
topic and we do<br />
see a pattern of<br />
Post Office Ltd (PO)<br />
applying increases one<br />
way or another. However,<br />
this is insufficient to cover<br />
the ever-increasing costs. I<br />
have rapidly increased my<br />
shop sales from £6k per<br />
annum to £40k but still<br />
struggle to pay the bills.<br />
Will there be an<br />
enhanced recognition that<br />
remuneration needs to<br />
increase and that<br />
communication must take<br />
place by early January next<br />
year to allow business<br />
owners to plan for the<br />
Living Wage increases?<br />
Martin Rudderham<br />
Skellow PO<br />
POST OFFICE REPLIES<br />
Paul Liddiard, Head of<br />
Postmaster<br />
Remuneration<br />
Development,<br />
writes:<br />
Thank you<br />
for your<br />
questions<br />
and I’m<br />
pleased that<br />
you have<br />
recognised the<br />
increases in<br />
remuneration.<br />
As you have stated,<br />
postmasters, like many<br />
retailers on UK high<br />
streets, are facing a very<br />
“I have<br />
increased my<br />
shop sales rapidly<br />
but still struggle<br />
to pay the<br />
bills”<br />
challenging economic<br />
landscape right now.<br />
We are committed to<br />
seeing postmasters share<br />
more in the profits we<br />
make. Postmasters now<br />
receive more than half of<br />
the variable income PO<br />
makes.<br />
At the end of March, we<br />
announced a<br />
remuneration package for<br />
postmasters worth £30<br />
million for the 2024/25<br />
financial year.<br />
As part of that, our new<br />
Operational Excellence<br />
Incentive Scheme will<br />
directly reward<br />
postmasters who deliver<br />
strong performance in<br />
certain back-office<br />
activities. In turn, this also<br />
helps to save money that<br />
is then available to use<br />
elsewhere, including<br />
future remuneration<br />
reviews.<br />
We’re also<br />
ensuring that<br />
postmasters<br />
share in<br />
profits from<br />
online<br />
platform<br />
products.<br />
More widely,<br />
we are always<br />
looking for new<br />
opportunities to<br />
improve branch<br />
profitability. You’ll be<br />
aware we have introduced<br />
in-branch sales with<br />
carriers other than Royal<br />
Mail, for example. We are<br />
also negotiating the next<br />
Banking Framework<br />
agreement, which will be<br />
a vital part of protecting<br />
remuneration, and we<br />
have secured a renewed<br />
commitment with Bank of<br />
Ireland, which will see us<br />
continue to provide a<br />
wide range of<br />
savings<br />
products<br />
online and<br />
in-branch.<br />
As you<br />
know, we<br />
now review<br />
remuneration<br />
annually, and we<br />
are committed to<br />
updating postmasters<br />
before the start of each<br />
financial year in April. We<br />
will endeavour to make<br />
future announcements as<br />
early as possible, but the<br />
timing is largely driven by<br />
budget setting processes,<br />
including the need to<br />
understand the impact of<br />
any Royal Mail tariff<br />
changes once they are<br />
announced.<br />
MEMBERS’ EDITOR<br />
REPLIES<br />
Many thanks to Martin<br />
Rudderham for his letter<br />
about increases in PO<br />
remuneration and the<br />
timing of any<br />
announcements of those<br />
“Many<br />
postmasters<br />
have had to dip<br />
more deeply into<br />
any profits they<br />
make”<br />
pay increases, and to Paul<br />
Liddiard for his response<br />
on behalf of PO.<br />
Postmasters, like any<br />
other businesspeople,<br />
have to plan ahead and<br />
budget. More so over the<br />
last two years because of<br />
the unprecedented<br />
swingeing increases in the<br />
cost of running a post<br />
office. These<br />
costs, primarily<br />
in employing<br />
staff and<br />
energy, have<br />
in no way<br />
been offset<br />
by increases<br />
in payments<br />
by PO. The result<br />
is that many<br />
postmasters have had to<br />
dip more deeply into any<br />
profits they may be<br />
making on any associated<br />
business or, in few cases,<br />
savings. This amounts to<br />
an unseen subsidy of PO,<br />
a government-owned<br />
institution, by the very<br />
postmasters who own and<br />
operate them. This must<br />
stop.<br />
It is interesting to<br />
consider Paul’s comments<br />
that increases in<br />
remuneration worth £30m<br />
have been announced for<br />
the current financial year<br />
and that perhaps more<br />
might flow through from<br />
the next Banking<br />
Framework agreement<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 29
Your letters<br />
“More needs<br />
to be done to<br />
cover<br />
postmasters’<br />
operational<br />
costs”<br />
and other factors. Whilst<br />
these announced<br />
increases and potential<br />
increases are more than<br />
welcome, what is needed<br />
is new profitable products<br />
and services as well as the<br />
flow through from<br />
improvements in head<br />
office cost control and the<br />
reduction of other backoffice<br />
costs.<br />
A recognition by PO that<br />
postmasters operate<br />
businesses and need<br />
sufficient advance<br />
information upon which to<br />
plan for the future, which<br />
might include, for<br />
example, improvements to<br />
post office layout, decor<br />
and staffing levels is<br />
required. Cash flow is a<br />
major element in this<br />
planning. Profit is one<br />
thing, but cash flow is so<br />
important.<br />
Whilst steps to improve<br />
postmaster remuneration<br />
are welcome, more needs<br />
to be done to cover<br />
operational costs to<br />
ensure that postmasters<br />
themselves receive<br />
adequate compensation<br />
for their hard work.<br />
Why the<br />
difference in<br />
commission?<br />
Local branches do the<br />
same work as Main<br />
branches so when will they<br />
be paid the same<br />
commission? For example,<br />
does Post Office Ltd get<br />
paid the same for a 1st<br />
class parcel if it has been<br />
sent from a Main or a<br />
Local? If so, why is there a<br />
difference in commission?<br />
Zafar Rushnaiwala<br />
Holts PO<br />
POST OFFICE REPLIES<br />
Paul Liddiard, Head of<br />
Postmaster<br />
Remuneration<br />
Development, writes:<br />
Thank you for your<br />
questions.<br />
It is entirely normal in a<br />
large-scale franchise<br />
business that there might<br />
be differing contracts for<br />
franchisees in different<br />
circumstances.<br />
Contract requirements<br />
for Main branches and<br />
Local branches are<br />
different and as such, on<br />
many products, attract<br />
differing levels of<br />
remuneration. The core<br />
differences are the<br />
requirements for Main<br />
branches to provide<br />
HR4UK Quarter page ad June 2024 SPM.pdf 7 22/05/2024 13:26<br />
dedicated<br />
areas of the<br />
branch to Post<br />
Office activities, including<br />
dedicated queuing areas,<br />
and also the need for<br />
dedicated staff. In<br />
“Contract<br />
requirements<br />
for Main branches<br />
and Local<br />
branches are<br />
different”<br />
contrast, Local<br />
branches will<br />
usually be set up to<br />
share both space and staff<br />
between the post office<br />
and retail parts of the<br />
business.<br />
C<br />
M<br />
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CM<br />
MY<br />
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HR<br />
*You must be logged into the members’ area of the NFSP website.<br />
Understanding Casual<br />
Worker Agreements<br />
Casual worker agreements offer valuable<br />
flexibility for UK businesses but come with<br />
their set of challenges. Employers must<br />
carefully consider the legal framework<br />
and ensure they maintain fair, transparent<br />
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30<br />
The SubPostmaster June 2024
Main branches also tend<br />
to have a higher cash<br />
throughput and therefore<br />
have greater security<br />
requirements.<br />
Main branches will also<br />
often be located in city or<br />
town centre locations<br />
where rent and rates costs<br />
tend to be higher.<br />
They are also expected<br />
to deal with a<br />
wider variety<br />
of products<br />
that require<br />
a greater<br />
level of<br />
training.<br />
We do<br />
review the<br />
differences in<br />
remuneration<br />
rates as part of our<br />
“Use of the<br />
term ‘franchise’<br />
is misleading<br />
when applied to<br />
postmaster<br />
contracts”<br />
annual strategic<br />
remuneration review and<br />
will continue to do so.<br />
MEMBERS’ EDITOR<br />
REPLIES<br />
Thanks to Zafar<br />
Rushnaiwala for raising<br />
the age-old question<br />
about the remuneration<br />
differences between Main<br />
and Local post<br />
offices, and to<br />
Paul Liddiard for<br />
his<br />
explanation.<br />
This<br />
question is<br />
often raised in<br />
meetings with<br />
both PO and the<br />
NFSP but rarely<br />
have I seen it explained<br />
in print. I have to declare<br />
an interest here – I own a<br />
Main office – and<br />
appreciate Paul’s<br />
rationale, though I don’t<br />
necessarily accept all of it.<br />
I would point out that I,<br />
like I think all independent<br />
postmasters, have an<br />
agency not a franchise<br />
agreement with PO. The<br />
use of the term ‘franchise’<br />
is misleading when<br />
applied to postmaster<br />
contracts.<br />
Yes, Main offices tend to<br />
be self-contained post<br />
offices with a basic retail<br />
offering, usually cards,<br />
gifts, and<br />
stationery. They<br />
are situated<br />
on high<br />
streets<br />
which<br />
attract high<br />
rents and<br />
business rates<br />
and being<br />
predominantly in<br />
urban areas, need to<br />
pay higher wages to<br />
attract and retain staff.<br />
Historically, many have<br />
replaced Directly<br />
Managed or Crown offices.<br />
Local post offices on the<br />
other hand tend to be<br />
co-located as a category<br />
in a convenience store<br />
where they compete for<br />
space with the groceries,<br />
the off-licence, and other<br />
offerings.<br />
Whether a Main or Local<br />
post office branch or other<br />
model, to earn their place<br />
in a local village<br />
“More<br />
remuneration is<br />
needed to ensure<br />
the survival of<br />
all post<br />
offices”<br />
convenience store or on a<br />
busy high street the<br />
message to PO and the<br />
Government must be that<br />
more remuneration is<br />
needed to ensure the<br />
survival of all post offices,<br />
whatever the model.<br />
Readers of The<br />
SubPostmaster magazine<br />
might like to write in to<br />
offer their take on the<br />
various models of post<br />
office that PO are<br />
including in their statistics<br />
in the quest to maintain a<br />
network of 11,500 offices.<br />
We look forward to<br />
hearing from you.<br />
On a personal<br />
note, I am<br />
moving on<br />
after being<br />
Members’<br />
Editor since<br />
2015 and<br />
occasional<br />
contributor for<br />
over three<br />
years. I am leaving<br />
you in the excellent<br />
hands of Tim Allen and<br />
Jon Bumphrey, who were<br />
elected at the recent AGM/<br />
Annual Conference.<br />
Tim and Jon will be<br />
sharing this role in the<br />
coming months, and I am<br />
sure they will offer a fresh<br />
perspective on your letters<br />
in the future. Many thanks<br />
to all who have written in<br />
over the last nine years. It’s<br />
been interesting reading<br />
them and PO’s replies.<br />
Last but not least, please<br />
keep sending those letters<br />
and emails.<br />
The members’ editors would welcome your letters,<br />
e-mails or messages. You can contact us by post or<br />
email.<br />
Send a letter to:<br />
SubPostmaster Magazine Letters<br />
Evelyn House<br />
22 Windlesham Gardens<br />
Shoreham-by-Sea<br />
BN43 5AZ<br />
Tel: 01273 452324<br />
e-mail: thesubpostmaster@nfsp.org.uk<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 31
Ben Fund quarter page horizontal ad.pdf 8 10/03/2023 18:13<br />
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NFSP<br />
Benevolent Fund<br />
To request an application form contact NFSP<br />
Headquarters on 01273 452324 or email<br />
benfund@nfsp.org.uk<br />
For further information please visit www.nfsp.org.uk<br />
All our work is carried out in total confidence.<br />
The Fund does not cover business related issues.<br />
Helping postmasters<br />
and their families<br />
in times of need<br />
Registered charity 262704<br />
32<br />
The SubPostmaster June 2024
Helpline and press option 1.<br />
Advocay Ad quarter page horizontal.png.pdf 10 22/05/2024 13:54<br />
Member NFSP Directory member benefits<br />
GET <strong>THE</strong> MOST FROM<br />
YOUR BENEFITS YOUR MEMBERSHIP<br />
FOR ANY PROBLEM OR <strong>ISSUE</strong> RELATED TO RUNNING A POST OFFICE<br />
PLEASE CALL <strong>THE</strong> NFSP HELPLINE – 01273 452324<br />
BENEVOLENT<br />
FUND<br />
An independent registered<br />
charity helping past and present<br />
postmasters and their families, in their<br />
time of need.<br />
Visit nfsp.org.uk or email<br />
benfund@nfsp.org.uk<br />
DISCOUNTS<br />
WITH NFSP+<br />
From phones and mobile<br />
devices to shopping and<br />
supermarket discounts, to<br />
car maintenance and<br />
travel. Scan the QR Code for great deals on<br />
fantastic products and services from<br />
NFSP+.<br />
EMPLOYMENT<br />
HELPLINE<br />
Support with managing your<br />
staff and HR advice in partnership with<br />
HR:4UK.<br />
Call 01273 452324 and press option 1.<br />
FREE<br />
INSURANCE<br />
NFSP free insurance<br />
policies cover members<br />
from tax and VAT<br />
investigations and<br />
personal ID theft. Call the helpline or scan<br />
the QR code to find out more or make a<br />
claim.<br />
HEALTH AND<br />
WELLBEING<br />
Free access to health and<br />
wellbeing support services including a<br />
24-hour helpline with qualified<br />
counsellors, bereavement support and<br />
medical information. To find out more<br />
scan the NFSP+ QR code (above).<br />
LEGAL<br />
HELPLINE<br />
Free advice on legal matters<br />
related to your business. Call Lyons<br />
Davidson Solicitors on 01172 442 794 and<br />
quote NFSP.<br />
MEMBER<br />
REPRESENTATION<br />
Our Network and Engagement<br />
Team (NET) represent postmasters in<br />
negotiations with Post Office Ltd (PO) and<br />
our NFSP Advocacy Team provide support<br />
in contractual disputes with PO. Get in<br />
touch by calling the Helpline or email<br />
admin@nfsp.org.uk<br />
Public Affairs represents postmasters in<br />
discussions with MPs and external<br />
stakeholders.<br />
Visit bit.ly/NFSPPublicAffairs for the latest<br />
campaign information or get involved by<br />
contacting our Public Affairs Manager ruth.<br />
buckley-salmon@nfsp.org.uk<br />
POST OFFICE<br />
SUPPORT<br />
For expert Mails and Mails<br />
Segregation compliance support from<br />
your regional Mails Support Advisor email<br />
mailssupport@nfsp.org.uk<br />
RETAIL<br />
PARTNERS<br />
Tap into our hand-picked<br />
list of retail partners<br />
offering exclusive deals to<br />
NFSP members. View the full list via the<br />
QR Code or visit nfsp.org.uk/retail-partner<br />
RELIEF<br />
SCHEME<br />
For cover when you need time<br />
away from your business. Our Relief<br />
Scheme, in partnership with HR:4UK, is<br />
available for NFSP members. Call the<br />
RETAIL SUPPORT<br />
ADVISOR<br />
Free personalised retail health<br />
checks via store visits or video calls. Advice<br />
on the best products to stock and much<br />
more. Call Amanda Pedley on 01273<br />
452324 or email retail@nfsp.org.uk<br />
YOUR<br />
REGION<br />
Each region in the UK has a<br />
thriving NFSP community led by Branch<br />
and Regional Secretaries who also run<br />
post offices. These representatives are<br />
there to provide advice and support with<br />
post office issues. They also organise<br />
online and face-to-face meetings for<br />
sharing your views and helping to steer<br />
the direction of the NFSP.<br />
Not sure who is your Branch or Regional<br />
Secretary? Call the helpline or email<br />
communications@nfsp.org.uk<br />
STAY CONNECTED<br />
NFSP Weekly Newsletter<br />
– The latest news and<br />
information from the<br />
NFSP.<br />
Regional WhatsApp<br />
Groups – Chat with postmasters in your<br />
area, stay across the latest breaking news.<br />
Exclusive NFSP Members’ Website – An<br />
essential resource with news, toolkits,<br />
information and advice covering the<br />
entire spectrum of running a post office<br />
and retail business. www.nfsp.org.uk<br />
Private Facebook Group – Share your<br />
views with other members:<br />
Facebook.com/groups/NFSPmembers<br />
To sign up to these services contact<br />
communications@nfsp.org.uk<br />
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GET <strong>THE</strong><br />
HELP<br />
YOU NEED<br />
NFSP Advocacy Project<br />
PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING POSTMASTERS<br />
Get in touch if you are having:<br />
• Contractual disputes with<br />
Post Office Ltd (PO)<br />
• Have been suspended from your<br />
business<br />
• Require representation during PO<br />
hearings<br />
We’re here to help when things don’t go to plan:<br />
admin@nfsp.org.uk 01273 452324<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 33
Planning ahead<br />
HERE COMES <strong>THE</strong> SUN…<br />
JULY<br />
1<br />
JULY<br />
8<br />
JULY<br />
12<br />
JULY<br />
24<br />
JULY<br />
26<br />
AUG<br />
5<br />
AUG<br />
26<br />
WIMBLEDON<br />
BEGINS<br />
START<br />
DISPLAYING<br />
BACK TO<br />
SCHOOL<br />
STOCK<br />
BANK<br />
HOLIDAY<br />
(NOR<strong>THE</strong>RN<br />
IRELAND)<br />
SCHOOL<br />
HOLIDAYS<br />
(DIFFERS PER<br />
SCHOOL)<br />
SUMMER<br />
OLYMPICS<br />
BEGINS<br />
SUMMER<br />
BANK<br />
HOLIDAY<br />
(SCOTLAND)<br />
SUMMER<br />
BANK<br />
HOLIDAY<br />
(UK)<br />
It’s that time of year again: we’re finally being treated to a little<br />
summer sunshine. Why not take advantage of the summer<br />
season within your retail and plan seasonal promotions, get<br />
involved in some local community events or have a go at<br />
increasing footfall through digital marketing?<br />
PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL<br />
FESTIVALS AND FAIRS<br />
During the summer, many places<br />
hold festivals and fairs. Look into the<br />
events in your area and see if you can<br />
get involved. Not only will you be<br />
where your customers are, but you’ll<br />
also get exposure to new shoppers<br />
who may not be aware of your<br />
business.<br />
Sponsoring a local event or<br />
participating in some way can also<br />
amplify your business and give you<br />
more exposure – both before and<br />
after the event. You can also<br />
advertise your involvement through<br />
print ads, your social media pages,<br />
and your email newsletter.<br />
SUMMER PROMOTIONS<br />
You have some leftover stock from<br />
the winter season. Your customers<br />
are looking for a great bargain. A<br />
great summer sale should feel like a<br />
fun event with unmissable bargains<br />
for all. Why not go a bit further and<br />
create a summer event in store? This<br />
can easily coincide with a flash sale.<br />
Think drinks and snacks,<br />
competitions, prizes and giveaways,<br />
games, raffles and goodie bags. The<br />
only limit is your imagination.<br />
Or use cross-selling to generate<br />
high-value bundle deals. Bundle deals<br />
present a great opportunity to<br />
generate value for your customers<br />
while increasing average order value<br />
through cross-selling. Bundling<br />
products that complement one<br />
another can be a fantastic way to give<br />
customers value for money, increase<br />
customer loyalty and keep them<br />
coming back.<br />
DIGITAL MARKETING TO<br />
MAXIMISE FOOT TRAFFIC<br />
The summer heat is great for getting<br />
people out and about. So, make sure<br />
your business’s digital profile is<br />
Summer marks<br />
the start of the<br />
Back to School<br />
selling period<br />
Need help sorting your Back<br />
to School stock? Then get in<br />
touch with IPS for their latest<br />
Back to School offers and prices,<br />
phone 01923 639800 email<br />
sales@ipsretail.co.uk or visit<br />
their website<br />
www.ipsretail.co.uk<br />
Looking to break into the<br />
retail convenience sector? Why<br />
not contact Bobby’s – the UK's<br />
leading direct-to-store supplier<br />
of snacks, cakes, and sweets.<br />
Visit www.bobbysfoods.co.uk to<br />
find out more.<br />
primed to ensure that consumers<br />
know where you are and what you<br />
offer. Tips to make your business<br />
more visible in local searches<br />
include:<br />
Ensuring that your company is set<br />
up on Google Business Profile.<br />
Making sure your name, address<br />
and phone number data is up-todate.<br />
Encourage and incentivise<br />
customer reviews.<br />
Source backlinks from trusted<br />
local resources like other businesses<br />
and directories in your area.<br />
For more information about how to<br />
set up your Google Business Profile<br />
page scan the QR code to read our<br />
article from the<br />
December 2022<br />
SubPostmaster,<br />
which was all<br />
about Getting<br />
started with Digital<br />
Marketing.<br />
34<br />
The SubPostmaster June 2024
NFSP RETAIL PARTNERS<br />
ACCESSORIES<br />
Emelia Accessories<br />
02476 326198<br />
sales@emeliaaccessories.co.uk<br />
www.emeliaaccessories.co.uk<br />
ATM<br />
Cashzone<br />
01707 632839<br />
sales@cashzone.co.uk<br />
www.cashzone.co.uk<br />
BOOKS<br />
The Cut-Price Bookstore<br />
01482 866695<br />
sales@cutpricebookstore.co.uk<br />
www.cutpricebookstore.co.uk/<br />
nfsp<br />
BUSINESS TRANSFER<br />
Humberstones<br />
01275 377880<br />
jp@humberstones.co.uk<br />
www.humberstones.co.uk<br />
CALENDARS<br />
Unique Calendar Company<br />
01935 823241<br />
mike.ucc@btinternet.com<br />
www.unique-calendar.co.uk<br />
CASH COUNTING<br />
Safescan<br />
01233 645645<br />
info@safescan.com<br />
www.safescan.com/nfsp<br />
Tellermate Ltd<br />
01633 637123<br />
sales.uk@tellermate.com<br />
info.tellermate.com/nfsp<br />
CONVENIENCE<br />
Bobby's Foods<br />
07483 120462<br />
sally.malpass@bobbysfoods.co.uk<br />
www.bobbysfoods.co.uk<br />
Snappy Shopper<br />
0333 900 1250<br />
inbound@snappyshopper.co.uk<br />
www.retailers.snappyshopper.co.uk<br />
FIXTURES & FITTINGS<br />
DoubleCOOL UK Ltd<br />
01283 586028<br />
zcolman@doublecooluk.com<br />
www.doublecooluk.com<br />
GIFTWARE<br />
History & Heraldry<br />
01709 730700<br />
postoffice@historyheraldry.com<br />
www.historyheraldry.com/<br />
postoffice<br />
Global Journey<br />
0161 872 0333<br />
isamuels@global-journey.com<br />
www.globaljourney.co.uk<br />
Essentially<br />
01676 542542<br />
sales@emeliaaccessories.co.uk<br />
www.emeliaaccessories.co.uk<br />
GREETING CARDS<br />
Bug Art<br />
0115 929 4776<br />
enquiries@bugart.co.uk<br />
www.bugart.co.uk<br />
Emotional Rescue<br />
01942 233201<br />
hello@erescue.co.uk<br />
www.emotional-rescue.com<br />
The Great British Card<br />
Company<br />
01452 888999<br />
hello@greatbritishcards.co.uk<br />
www.greatbritishcards.co.uk<br />
Kingfisher Cards Ltd<br />
01803 431515<br />
sales@kingfishercards.co.uk<br />
www.kingfishercards.co.uk<br />
Noel Tatt<br />
01227 811600<br />
sales@noeltatt.co.uk<br />
www.noeltatt.co.uk<br />
Otter House Ltd<br />
01392 824300<br />
sales@otterhouse.co.uk<br />
www.otterhouse.co.uk<br />
Words ‘n’ Wishes Ltd<br />
01942 233201<br />
alison@words-n-wishes.co.uk<br />
www.words-n-wishes.co.uk<br />
INSURANCE<br />
UKGlobal Chester Ltd<br />
01244 566206<br />
steve.jones@ukglobalgroup.co.uk<br />
www.ukglobalgroup.co.uk<br />
MERCHANT SERVICES<br />
Cashplus Bank<br />
www.cashplus.com/NFSP<br />
Customer service line:<br />
0330 024 0924<br />
SumUp<br />
www.sumup.co.uk/nfsp<br />
MOBILE PHONE<br />
ACCESSORIES<br />
Mr Mobile<br />
0161 745 2210<br />
sales@mrmobileuk.com<br />
www.mrmobileuk.com<br />
PACKAGING AND<br />
STATIONERY<br />
IPS Retail<br />
01923 639800<br />
sales@ipsretail.co.uk<br />
www.ipsretail.co.uk<br />
PASSPORT AND<br />
ID SYSTEMS<br />
Swains International Ltd<br />
01485 536200<br />
sales@swains.co.uk<br />
www.swains.co.uk<br />
PHONE CARDS<br />
AQA UK & International<br />
Calling Cards<br />
0203 384 5961<br />
pocs@aqatelecom.com<br />
www.aqatelecom.com<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
AND PHOTOBOOTHS<br />
Facebox<br />
07973 561514<br />
d.antell@btinternet.com<br />
www.face-box.co.uk<br />
READING GLASSES<br />
Readyspex<br />
01963 440800<br />
telesales@peerltd.co.uk<br />
www.readyspex.co.uk<br />
SLUSH MACHINES<br />
Snowshock Ltd<br />
0330 053 6132<br />
sales@snowshock.co.uk<br />
www.snowshock.com<br />
TRANSPORT<br />
Affinity Vehicle Leasing<br />
0800 060 7070<br />
info@affinity4u.co.uk<br />
www.affinity4u.co.uk<br />
UTILITIES<br />
Love Energy Savings<br />
0203 903 9660<br />
info@loveenergysavings.com<br />
www.loveenergysavings.com<br />
VAPING<br />
Vapouriz<br />
0800 644 0000<br />
nfsp@vapouriz.com<br />
www.vapouriz.co.uk<br />
WASTE MANAGEMENT<br />
1st Waste Management<br />
07754 553307<br />
j.jordan@1stwaste.co.uk<br />
www.1stwaste.co.uk<br />
June 2024 The SubPostmaster 35
New range launch!<br />
TOYS<br />
IPS Retail are proud to introduce a<br />
range of toy brands who are looking<br />
to support the sub post office network<br />
Card<br />
Games<br />
Board<br />
Games<br />
Soft<br />
Toys<br />
Pocket<br />
Money<br />
Toys<br />
STRONG POST OFFICE SALES ACROSS <strong>THE</strong> UK!<br />
Call, WhatsApp your account manager or visit us online now...<br />
tel: 01923 639800 email: sales@ipsretail.co.uk web: www.ipsretail.co.uk