- Overseal Post Office wins Local Hero category at the Post Office’s ‘We’re Stronger Together’ regional awards for the Midlands
- Awards recognise efforts made by postmasters across the region to keep branches open during Covid-19 pandemic and serving their community
Overseal Post Office has won the Local Hero category at the Post Office’s ‘We’re Stronger Together’ regional awards for the Midlands region.
The awards recognise the efforts made by postmasters across the region to keep branches open during the Covid-19 pandemic and serving their local community.
The award was presented virtually to daughter and father Nisha Vithlani and Harshadbhai Patel, last night by Post Office Chief Executive Nick Read. Postmasters who operate branches in the Midlands region had the opportunity to share their experience of running their branch during the pandemic and hear directly about the Post Office’s future growth strategy.
Post Office Area Manager Rachel Briddon, said:
“Overseal Post Office won in this category owing to Nisha and Harshadbhai’s dedication to the community above all else. After Harshadbhai’s wife Daxa Patel, who is Nisha’s mother, passed away, Overseal Post Office was closed for a couple of weeks. They donated all the food stocks from the branch to the local pub to give to vulnerable people in the village. Overseal has since reopened, but they still regularly donate food to help the village during the pandemic. Overseal Post Office really goes the extra mile to help the community and put customers first.”
Postmasters Nisha Vithlani and Harshadbhai Patel, said:
“During this difficult time for us, we still wanted to stand by the community where possible and do all we could to help during this pandemic. It’s what Daxa would have wanted. Being told you’re appreciated is one of the simplest and most uplifting things you can hear. Thank you so much for this award.”
Nick Read, Chief Executive at the Post Office, said:
“I have heard many inspiring stories of postmasters going the extra mile and I have welcomed the opportunity to hear first-hand how postmasters in the Midlands have fared during the pandemic including Overseal. All retailers have been affected and Post Office was no exception. The next few weeks and months will be a critical period as we try and return to a sense of normality. Post Office branches have a vital role to play in supporting their customers and communities, as well as helping small businesses and independent retailers get back on their feet.”
Postmasters heard more about three areas of their business that could help them recover some of the lost trade as a result of the pandemic – Mails and Parcels, banking – cash withdrawals and deposits, and the return in demand for foreign exchange.
- Many people rely on easy access to cash. To spend that cash, businesses need to continue to accept it, and be able to conveniently deposit it into their business bank accounts. That ‘cash cycle’ will play a vital part in our economic recovery from Covid-19. Post Office branches are often the last counter in town where businesses can deposit a day’s takings. Business deposits are growing between 10 – 20% week on week
- For small businesses, being able to get goods out to customers is key. Post Office’s ‘Drop and Go’ parcel service has seen a 70% increase in use month on month.
- Last month, Post Office reactivated its online foreign exchange service and its branch pre-order operation. Customers planning trips abroad can order over 60 currencies online for next day home delivery or collection from all 11,500 Post Office branches. The option to collect in-branch helps increase footfall at our branches and on the UK’s High Streets.