Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) welcomes the support and approval it received from Tynwald on Wednesday, following a debate on its strategic recommendation on its loss-making retail network.
Tynwald approved IOMPO's recommendation for a financially and socially responsible 'demand driven' retail network service modernisation strategy, on the understanding that the business will commit to a set of six guiding principles to reassure its valued customers that postal services will remain in local communities. These principles include ensuring IOMPO remains financially efficient, managing costs in line with revenues, supporting the overall aim of remaining financially self-sustaining; ensuring 96% of Island residents live within 3 miles of a service access point for postal services, with a postal service access point in each constituency; ensuring postal service access points are accessible, e.g. main bus routes, with ample parking and disabled access and where financially viable, IOMPO will continue to seek opportunities to provide new retail services. IOMPO has also committed to engaging with local stakeholders before changing an existing service.
Julie Edge MHK, Chairman of IOMPO said: "I thank my fellow Tynwald Members for their support and their acknowledgment that the business is facing a perfect storm of decreasing customer transactions, increased competition from new technologies and changing consumer habits. The compilation of this significant report for the Post Office has been the result of much time and effort, consulting with key stakeholders to identify ways to evolve services in the community that meet our customers' needs in a way that is economically viable, offering value for money community postal services, while helping to sustain the future financial status of this trusted Manx business."
She continued: "I wish to thank all the stakeholders who have been involved in this report and in particular, to the sub postmasters and the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) who have shown poised patience in waiting for this report to be finalised and debated. This a unique social asset and a key contributor to our heritage and our reputation as a trusted brand that we are very proud of. We will continue to work closely with the NFSP and sub postmasters, as we have done in the past, to tailor services in line with changes in demand."
Approval of the recommendation will see IOMPO gradually refocus services through a 'demand driven' range of access points. In line with trends and feedback, IOMPO will tailor its postal services based on supply and demand, while wishing to offer its customers greater convenience, including the provision of 'pop up' offices, enhanced kiosks, self-administered postage and parcel drop off/pick up points.
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