Isle of Man Post Office has announced that it will convert the Post Offices in Regent Street, Douglas and Parliament Street, Ramsey into Sub Post Offices, just like all its other branches across the network, in early 2015, following approval from the Council of Ministers.
Mannin Retail Limited has been awarded the contract to operate both of these Post Offices. They are a trusted partner in five Sub Post Offices already, providing excellent service to customers.
Isle of Man Post Office believes converting these branches to Sub Post Offices will maintain service levels to customers and deliver the substantial savings in operating costs needed to protect the retail network and ensure a reliable, profitable postal service in the future.
Against the backdrop of declining mail volumes, retail transactions and the resultant fall in profits last year, this announcement comes amid the ongoing determination by the board and management of Isle of Man Post Office to make the business more sustainable and efficient into the future. The Post Office is deeply committed to maintaining its retail network throughout the Island; however it currently incurs approximately £750k losses per annum, with the Parliament Street, Ramsey and Regent Street, Douglas branches accounting for over two thirds of this loss. All the other branches on the Island are already Sub Post Offices. Converting these two branches to Sub Post Offices means current costs can be reduced and the business will become stronger and more sustainable whilst maintaining a high level of service to its customers.
Customers of the two branches will continue to enjoy the same level of service, product offering and convenience. Customers will also benefit from extended opening hours by 15 minutes at the beginning and end of each week day which will assist those people working standard office hours, as well as a wider range of services made available through their proximity to other retail services.
The Post Office recognises the impact that this will have on the employees at the two branches and has started consulting closely with them and their elected representatives and will continue to do so throughout the process.
Mannin Retail Limited has given a commitment to Isle of Man Post Office that all staff will be offered a position in the two new Sub Post Offices which the Post Office welcomes.
The new Post Offices will be housed within Mannin Retail Limited's two retail shops in both Douglas and Ramsey; both are within close proximity of the existing two branches. They will offer the full range of existing postal services with a Pay & Post self-service Kiosk in each.
Graham Cregeen MHK, Chairman of Isle of Man Post Office said: "Isle of Man Post Office needs to navigate the current economic challenges we face as mail volumes and retail transactions continue to fall. We believe that the Post Office retail network has a crucial role to play in sustaining retail activity in the Island's communities and we're committed to providing this. Converting the two branches to Sub Post Offices will deliver substantial operational savings which we believe will reduce our losses by enough to protect the retail network into the future whilst ensuring a continued high quality service is provided to our customers."
Mr Cregeen continues: "Maintaining customer service has been a key consideration in this decision and new partner Mannin Retail Limited has a substantial understanding of the communities in which the Post Office operates given its experience with the five other Sub Post Offices it manages where service levels are excellent. In considering the options to convert these branches, the Board was extremely concerned about the impact any change over would have on the very dedicated and loyal staff working in these areas. Mannin Retail Limited has given the Post Office an undertaking that all opportunities for new employment created by this change will be made available to Post Office employees. Isle of Man Post Office will be working very closely with Mannin Retail Limited to ensure that all aspects of the transition go as smoothly as possible for all of our customers and employees alike."
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