Research
In addition to its annual reports on the Post Office network, Postcomm conducts other post office-related research and acts as a central source of information on Post Office issues, including:
- the future of the rural Post Office network;
- customers' views on the Post Office network, and
- the role of Post Offices in serving the community.
Related documents:
- 8 October 2007 - Access to postal services. A final report for Postcomm. NERA Economic Consulting (pdf, 3698)
- Key findings from the research included: 80% of people perceive themselves to be within a mile of a post office and more than 90% perceive thei branch as easy to reach; 43% of people said they used a post office at least once a week to access postal services, and more than 75% said they expected to continue to use the same amount of postal services in future.
- 8 October 2007 - Postcomm news release
- Greater focus needed on creating a sustainable and viable post office network for the future
- 17 May 2007 - Postcomm news release
- Securing sustainability of the network is now the issue
- 17 May 2007 - Department of Trade and Industry news release & statement
- £1.7bn investment to keep Post Office network national (external link)
- March 2007 - consultation responses
- Postcomm's response to Government's consultation on the post office network (pdf, 80KB) and details of other respondents (external website).
- 14 December 2006 - Department of Trade and Industry post office consultation (external link)
- Includes the full consultation document in English and Welsh
- 14 December 2006 - Postcomm news release
- Postcomm welcomes Government's 'first step' on post offices
- 12 October 2006 - Post Office Urban Reinvention - One year on (pdf, 1.2MB)
- Postcomm commissioned NERA Economic Consulting, with assistance from Accent to conduct stage 2 of the review of the urban reinvention programme. The review was conducted to see, a year on from the initial review, if anything had changed for customers, subpostmasters, and POL. The review looked at the differences between branches in areas where there is a closure nearby (less than a mile) and those that do not have a closure close by. This time, however, the research also looked at Post Offices that were due to close under the urban reinvention closure programme, but were not allowed to close. The study did not look at the directly managed branches. (Please note this publication is only available electronically).
- 23 August 2006 - Post Office Debate (pdf, 178KB)
- This report attempts to capture the mood set by the speakers, the questions and answers on the day, as well as feedback from forms completed by the audience and responses to Postcomm's dedicated email address by those who were unable to attend. More information on The Post Office Debate.
- 3 July 2006 - State of the Network: Recommendations for the future of the social post office network
- This report prepared by Postwatch and members of the Counters Advisory Group (CAG) has been designed to inform the future of the post office network and to help stakeholders understand the role of the Post Office network and the challenges it faces. A copy of the report can be found on Postwatch's website.
- 14 October 2005 - Review of the Post Office Urban Reinvention Programme (pdf, 1.7MB)
- NERA Economic Consulting, with assistance from Accent research was commissioned to undertake a review of Post Office Ltd's network urban reinvention programme to evaluate its short and medium term economic and social effects on; Customers - both personal and small to medium sized businesses, subpostmasters, and Post Office Ltd. It also took into account the switch to Direct Payment of pensions and benefits and the introduction of new products at Post Offices. We intend to start stage 2 of this work in January 2006, to review the longer term trends as well as the position one year on. (Please note this publication is only available electronically)
- 13 October 2005 - Post Office networks abroad executive summary (pdf, 546KB)
- This is Postcomm's second report on post office networks abroad, which provides an update on developments since 2003. It provides an update and overview of the common issues faced by post office networks abroad and how governments and postal operators have tackled them.
- 7 January 2005 - The customer experience (pdf, 581KB)
- This MORI research was conducted as a joint project by Postcomm and Postwatch, and looks at customers' experience in large urban Post Offices, concentrating on: queuing; the general post office environment; customer advice; the sending and receipt of packages.
Research focused on the differences between customers' experience in directly managed or Crown Post Offices (those managed by Post Office Limited) and in large franchise post offices (former Crown Offices). - 25 October 2004 - The future of the rural Post Office network (pdf, 391KB)
- Analysis by Future Foundation of the demand for and future sustainability of services and products provided by Post Offices. The report also looks at the options for different levels of service provision in different types of rural communities.
- 25 October 2004 - Cost-benefit analysis of the rural Post Office network (pdf, 588KB)
- Research report from consultants NERA and RAND Europe providing valuations of local rural Post Office services and an assessment of whether valuations differed between various sectors of the population.
- 8 March 2004 - The future of the rural Post Office network in Scotland (pdf, 679KB)
- Presentation by Jeanette Darrell, Postcomm's former director of network, to Postwatch, Scotland.
- 31 July 2003
- Postcomm's advice on the future of the rural post office network (for further details, please contact the webmanager.)
- 30 September 2002
- Serving the community VI - Post Offices' vulnerable customers in rural and urban deprived areas (pdf, 217KB).
- 30 September 2002
- Serving the community V - the effect of Post Office closures (pdf, 132KB).
- 30 September 2002
- Serving the community IV - future business for Post Offices in rural and urban deprived areas (pdf, 113KB).
- 30 September 2002
- Serving the community III - Post Offices in rural and urban deprived areas with no other shops or services (pdf, 60KB).
- 22 December 2001
- Respondents' views on the discussion paper on maintaining access to rural Post Offices (pdf, 121KB).
- 11 December 2001
- Serving the community II - evidence of the community value of Post Offices in urban deprived areas (pdf, 124KB).
- 11 December 2001
- Serving the community I - evidence of the community value of Post Offices in rural areas (pdf, 143KB).
- 3 December 2001
- Post Offices and community needs in rural and urban deprived areas (pdf, 300KB).
- 6 June 2001
- The subpostmasters survey (pdf, 52KB).
- 7 December 2000
- Preserving access to Post Offices in rural areas, a discussion paper (pdf, 121KB)
- 7 December 2000 - Postcomm news release
- Postcomm leads research on rural Post Offices.
