Why does the Post Office exist?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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It's a tough question: what are the three things which capture the essence of the Post Office and its business? Or put another way: why does the post office exist?

We may have been around for centuries, but what are the defining features which capture our reason for being?

And why does it matter anyway?

They are some of the questions at the heart of a project which has been underway for the last couple of years. All with a simple aim - to define why we do what we do so that we can ensure the business continues to do it for many more centuries.

The work started by gathering some of our key stakeholder together. The National Federation of Subpostmasters, the unions, Consumer Futures. The government, Age UK, the British Youth Council and Citizens Advice.

This forum came up with some definitions which we then took out to customers, staff and colleagues.

Three things came out of this very clearly. Our reason for existing was defined as supporting communities, being a trusted part of the community and providing unrivalled access for every community.

So we took that and turned into a Statement of Purpose. At its heart is our belief in communities.

Why does this matter? It's what sets us apart. It distinguishes us from the rest of the high street. Where others move away, close down, shut up shop, we do not, with an outlet within three miles of 99pc of the population.

This belief in communities - our purpose - is a huge commercial asset. It drives affection in a way most brands would long for. But it is only worth anything if we are commercially successful. Without that, we would fail - full stop.

That's why as we talk more loudly and proudly about our purpose we will also be driving harder commercially. The two things sit together - we are commercial so we can deliver our purpose - and if we are not commercial we can't serve our purpose.

You will be hearing a lot more about this purpose in the coming weeks and months, and with it a renewed drive to focus relentlessly on our customers in order to up our game considerably in commercial terms.

It's an exciting and challenging time for this unique commercial business and its public purpose.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Where others move away, close down, shut up shop, we do not, with an outlet within three miles of 99pc of the population." suggests that Post Offices haven't closed down and there's still as many as years ago and suggests that a Post Office is all that's needed as if a pub within three miles of 99% of the population isn't just as important.