Post offices ‘must modernise’ to survive

Post offices need to diversify and modernise their services if they want to survive, according to a report which found that a disproportionate amount of business is conducted in relatively few.

While there are 1,140 post offices, the bulk of transactions, two thirds, are conducted in 300 of these. Another 550 (48%) carry out 12% of total business.

If post offices are to survive, they need to diversify into financial services, social enterprise, public-service delivery and white labelling (), according to the business development group who compiled the initial report, published for consultation today.