THE SUBPOSTMASTER - JUNE ISSUE

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Conference 2024 THE FUTURE IN FOCUS During our Conference, Breakout Sessions were held to discuss topics such as the future of the network and the role of the NFSP, inviting the valuable insights and opinions of members. Key topics were discussed by more than 200 postmasters, and action points have been highlighted below which the NFSP will look to implement throughout the upcoming months. ROLE OF THE NFSP What does the NFSP do well? Provides protection, support, and guidance. Represents postmasters in negotiations with Post Office Ltd (PO) and Government. Easy to get hold of in times of need. The NFSP listens, provides support, and keeps members up to date with important issues. HR support via HR4UK. Mails Segregation Team offers valuable support. Retail support. Safescan’s discounted rates and member benefits with partners were highlighted. Network & Engagement Team are always on hand to listen and help. Communication via The SubPostmaster magazine, WhatsApp groups, and the weekly newsletter. The Advocacy project and NFSP+. Support through the Benevolent Fund. What would make the NFSP better? More branch visits from the CEO and Board to engage with members. Input from members on the future direction of the network and the NFSP. New faces at Board level and there should be a maximum term. More retail information at regional meetings and more retail partners. An NFSP forum where members can share their experience and expertise, and where questions can be asked. More power in negotiations with PO. More training for members and an education programme for new members. Working with other representative groups to strengthen postmaster voices. If you were to work alongside NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow for a day, what would you do to improve the NFSP? Look to get a better deal with PO for remuneration and constantly push this as the number one priority. Talk about culture: Why are so many offices struggling to survive with ever depleting remuneration, whilst PO employees’ salaries increase with inflation? Provide support for incoming and leaving postmasters. Keep members in the loop with discussions with PO. Organise NFSP Roadshows around the country. FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE NETWORK How do you think the governance of PO needs to change in order to protect your investment? Greater transparency across all decisions. Greater postmaster involvement in decision making. Reduction in management levels and reduce central costs. Upside Down Management. The PO Board should be run by the people who own it. Please share any alternative ideas you may have about how to safeguard the future of the post office network? Upside Down Management Introduce enhanced technology in branches, like NBIT. New Government products and services. An Oversight Committee even after Mutualisation to ensure accountability. Speak to local MPs and put pressure on local authorities to support post offices, through council tax bills and council rates relief. New remuneration model. Reduce the size of the network. Sell off Crown offices. 18 The SubPostmaster June 2024
LOBBYING AND CAMPAIGNING What do you believe should be the NFSP’s priority lobbying and campaigning issues? Negotiate with PO to get maximum remuneration. Business rates. Securing postmasters’ future. Governance and oversight. Transparency to PO revenue structure and PO cost reduction. Retail crime. How would you like to be more involved in future lobbying and campaigning? Local and national petitions. Engagement and meetings with local MPs. Local workshops and meetings. Organise focus groups, a retail crime group, for example. NFSP COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT How do you currently receive news and communications from the NFSP? What would you like to see more/less of? Communication comes through the weekly newsletter, WhatsApp, The SubPostmaster magazine, podcasts and Teams meetings. More face-to-face meetings. Retail success stories from postmasters would be informative. One retail meeting per quarter. What ideas or thoughts do you have on how the NFSP can better engage and communicate with members? More social events, branch visits and face-to-face meetings to improve engagement and to encourage new members. Members should be aware of every topic the NFSP discusses with PO. Share good news stories, like the Benevolent Fund and postmaster achievements. Reply to all issues which arise for members, even if they cannot be resolved. Videos to promote post offices. SOCIAL MEDIA What are you currently doing on social media to promote your post office? Posts about Evri and DPD Pick Up and Drop Off. Promoting banking and post office opening times. Sharing information on community pages about services. Paid adverts to highlight the post office on Facebook. Promoting Google Reviews as customer feedback is important. Tag, share and like competitions. What could you do differently and how can the NFSP and PO support you with this? Share post office and retail success stories. Offer social media training. Look at branches who promote their business successfully on social media. Form a Facebook group with other local businesses. REMUNERATION AND COUNTER SERVICES What ideas do you have to bring in new services and influence positive change? Same remuneration for all models. Payment of fines. Children’s saving accounts and current accounts. Amazon needs to be integrated into Horizon. PO to become a full bank for consumers and SME customers. Local post offices should have the security and capacity to store more cash. Introduce a fixed fee for providing bank services. The money banks save should be reorganised. What are your thoughts on Drop & Collect, Enhanced Post Offices and Banking Hubs? D&C is good where a branch is closed, but PayZone and D&C outlets can also be a worry. Banking Hubs are positive if given to the nearest postmaster. It needs to be promoted that post offices offer banking services. NFSP ACTION POINTS NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow to visit postmasters around the United Kingdom. If you would like Calum to visit your branch, email: communications@nfsp.org.uk The NFSP will discuss issues raised with PO and Government, and feed back as much information as we can. The NFSP Communications Team will produce guides on subjects which postmasters have requested help and support for. A social media guide is currently being produced. Individual skillsets and postmaster success stories will be shared, so fellow postmasters can consider new and different ideas. The idea of NFSP Roadshows around the country will be discussed at the June Board Meeting. Focus Groups will be set up. If you are interested in sharing your expertise, email communications@nfsp.org.uk Regional and national meetings will be discussed at the June Board Meeting. We have taken on board that some postmasters prefer hybrid meetings, whilst several members at Conference would like more face-toface meetings. The NFSP will look to speak to other postmaster representative groups about the future of the network. June 2024 The SubPostmaster 19
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Page 30 and 31: Your letters “More needs to be do
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Page 34 and 35: Planning ahead HERE COMES THE SUN
Page 36: New range launch! TOYS IPS Retail a

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