Government urged to transform Post Offices into business hubs

The Government should remodel Post Offices as practical business hubs for small firms, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said.

The Federation said that while small businesses are key customers for Post Offices, they are offered little in the way of business services. It also said that its business hubs proposal could be ‘the best chance the Network has of becoming financially viable'.

The FSB is calling for the following points to be implemented across UK post offices:

• One business desk to be placed in each Post Office, manned by staff specialised in a variety of business matters, such as Government services, banking, insurance and postage services;
• A regular Business Link service in each Post Office for one-on-one advice;
• Set up dedicated advertising facilities within the Post Office to support small businesses;
• Provide meeting room facilities where possible.

John Wright, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, pointed out how the proposal can benefit local communities as well as provide additional financial support to the Post Office Network:

"Making post offices into small business hubs - including dedicated business desks and a full range of financial services - will not only ensure the survival of the country's post offices, but also the communities that they serve.

"The Government has committed to the importance of sustaining local communities and must now step up and support the Post Office to become a small business hub. The sooner this happens, the sooner the Post Office can become financially viable in its own right and small firms will be able to access the service that they deserve."

04/09/09