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{{short description|British retail post office company owned by the government of the United Kingdom}}
{{about|the retail post office company|the postal service and courier company|Royal Mail|British postal services before 1970|General Post Office|1970–2001|Royal Mail#Statutory corporation|other uses of the name and term Post Office|Post Office (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Post Office Limited
| native_name = 
| logo = Post Office Logo.svg
| former_name = Post Office Counters Ltd (1987{{endash}}2001)<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{Cite web |date=1987-08-13 |title=Post Office Limited |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02154540 |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=[[Companies House]] |language=en}}</ref>
| type = [[State-owned enterprise|State-owned]] [[private company limited by shares]]
| genre = 
| predecessor = [[General Post Office]]
| foundation = 13 August 1987<ref name="CompaniesHouse" />
| founder = 
| location_city = London
| location_country = England
| location = 
| key_people = [[Nigel Railton]] (chair), Neil Brocklehurst (CEO)
| area_served = United Kingdom
| industry = [[mail|Postal service]]
| products = 
| services = 
| revenue = £912 million
| revenue_year = 2024
| operating_income = 
| net_income = £22 million
| net_income_year = 2024
| num_employees = 3,719 (2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Post Office Limited Annual Report & Consolidated Financial Statements 2023/24 |url=https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/media/f2ojoyo1/post-office-limited_2024-ara-final-signed-17-12-24-pwc-signed.pdf |page=107 |publisher=The Post Office |access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref>
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| parent = 
| owner = [[Government of the United Kingdom]]
| caption = 
| website = {{Official URL}}
| dissolved = 
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Post Office Limited''', formerly '''Post Office Counters Limited''' and commonly known as the '''Post Office''', is a state-owned retail [[post office]] company in the United Kingdom that provides a wide range of postal and non-postal related products including [[postage stamps]], [[banking]], [[insurance]], [[bureau de change]] and [[identity verification service]]s to the public through its nationwide network of around 11,500 branches. Most of these branch post offices ({{circa|99}}%) are run by [[Franchising|franchise partners]] or by independent business people known as subpostmasters; Post Office Limited directly manages the remaining 1%, known as Crown post offices.<ref name="PONos">{{cite web |last1=Booth |first1=Lorna |title=Post Office Numbers |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02585/SN02585.pdf |website=UK Parliament |publisher=House of Commons Library |access-date=30 October 2023}}</ref>

Since 2020, a public enquiry has been under way into the company's actions which led to between 700 and 900 subpostmasters being [[British Post Office scandal|wrongfully prosecuted for financial crimes]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Hearings Timeline |url=https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/public-hearings-timeline |website=Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry |access-date=23 January 2024}}</ref> in what has been described by the [[Criminal Cases Review Commission]] as "the biggest single series of wrongful convictions in British legal history".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ccrc.gov.uk/news/the-ccrc-and-post-office-horizon-cases/ |title=The CCRC and Post Office / Horizon cases |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024-01-03 |website=Criminal Cases Review Commission |access-date=2024-06-04|quote=The Post Office Horizon scandal, which is the subject of the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, is the most widespread miscarriage of justice the CCRC has ever seen and represents the biggest single series of wrongful convictions in British legal history.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56718036|title=Post Office scandal explained: What the Horizon saga is all about|date=21 April 2021|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/08/post-office-horizon-scandal-bosses/|title=The Post Office bosses who presided over biggest miscarriage of justice in legal history|first1=Neil|last1=Johnston|first2=Ewan|last2=Somerville|first3=Joe|last3=Pinkstone|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=8 January 2024|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

==History==
Post Office branches, along with the [[Royal Mail]] delivery service, were formerly part of the [[General Post Office]] and, after the passage of the [[Post Office Act 1969]], the Post Office, a statutory corporation. Post Office Counters Limited was created as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Post Office in 1987. The first managing director of Post Office Counters was John Roberts, who took up the post in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://archive.org/stream/NewsUK1988UKEnglish/Dec%2012%201988%2C%20The%20Times%2C%20%2363262%2C%20UK%20%28en%29_djvu.txt |title=Post Office threatens legal action|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=12 December 1988| accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199091/cmhansrd/1991-06-18/Writtens-9.html|title=Training (Southwark)|publisher=Hansard|date=18 June 1991|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> A former civil servant, Richard Dykes, took over as managing director of Post Office Counters in September 1993.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6191043.25-million-christmas-cards-from-richard/|title=25 million Christmas cards from Richard|date=17 December 1996|newspaper=The Bolton Times| accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> Dykes was succeeded in May 1996 by Stuart Sweetman,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.marketingweek.com/po-counters-md-goes-to-top-royal-mail-post/|title=PO Counters md goes to top Royal Mail post|date=19 April 1996|newspaper=Marketing Week|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> who continued to serve in that role until his retirement in November 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://postofficeinquiry.dracos.co.uk/phase-3/2023-01-19/|title=Post Office Inquiry: transcripts|date=19 January 2023|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref>

As part of the [[Postal Services Act 2000]], the Post Office statutory corporation was changed to a state-owned public limited company, Consignia plc, in 2001, and Post Office Counters Limited became Post Office Limited.<ref name="CompaniesHouse" /> In 2002, David Mills was appointed as chief executive of Post Office Limited, a newly created role.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gow|first=David|title= I'll quit if we fail, says PO chief|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/aug/16/postalservice |newspaper=The Guardian |date=16 August 2004 |accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://postandparcel.info/4990/news/david-mills-appointed-ceo-of-post-office-ltd-and-to-board-of-consignia/#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Trade%20and,effect%20from%2015%20April%202002. |title= David Mills Appointed CEO of Post Office Ltd and to Board of Consignia |date= 14 February 2002|work= Post & Parcel|publisher=Triangle |accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> Mills stepped down at the end of 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last= Bold|first=Ben |title= Royal Mail seeks letters and Post Office chiefs|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/royal-mail-seeks-letters-post-office-chiefs/528501#:~:text=LONDON%20%2D%20Royal%20Mail%20has%20axed,competition%20from%20rival%20postal%20operators. |newspaper=[[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]] |date=18 November 2005 |accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> His successor, Alan Cook, was appointed with the title of managing director in January 2006. Cook had previously been chief executive of [[National Savings & Investments]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Gribben|first= Roland|title=Royal Mail recruits Premium Bonds guru |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2929397/Royal-Mail-recruits-Premium-Bonds-guru.html|newspaper=The Telegraph |date= 4 January 2006|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref>

With declining mail usage, Post Office Limited had chronic losses, with a reported £102 million lost in 2006, raising concerns in the media regarding its ability as a company to operate efficiently.<ref name="Reference 4">{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article3892886.ece |work=[[The Times]] |url-access=subscription |title=Royal Mail loses £200m as post bag shrinks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517034550/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article3892886.ece |archive-date=17 May 2008}}</ref> Minutes of a board meeting in April 2006 state that the company was insolvent and unable to meet its future debts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2024 |title=Transcript: Adam Crozier questioned by Jason Beer |url=https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/file/2819/download?token=bIQwGMnP |access-date=14 April 2024 |website=Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry |pages=125–126}}</ref> Plans to cut the £150m-a-year subsidy for rural post offices led to the announcement that 2,500 local post offices were to be closed during 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/15/communities.post|title=2,500 post offices to be axed from next summer|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 December 2006|access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref>

{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 220
 | header = Changing face of the Post Office
 | image1 = Crown Post Office, Warwick road - geograph.org.uk - 650063.jpg
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = [[Carlisle]]'s Crown Post Office was opened in 1916 and closed in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Stamp of History |url=https://www.pennybluecarlisle.com/history/ |website=Penny Blue Carlisle |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>
 | image2 = Post Office, Carlisle - geograph.org.uk - 5005771.jpg
 | alt2 = 
 | caption2 = Its replacement is contained within the local branch of W H Smith.
 | align = left
}}
In 2007, the government gave a £1.7 billion subsidy to Royal Mail Group so that it could turn a profit by 2011. This was to be used to invest across the whole network of Royal Mail, Post Office Limited, and [[Parcelforce]]. 85 Crown post offices were closed, 70 of which were sold to [[WHSmith]]. This followed a trial of 6 Post Office outlets in WHSmith stores. WHSmith was expected to make up to £2.5 million extra in annual profit. 2,500 sub-post offices closed between 2008 and 2009. Redundancy packages were provided from public funding (subpostmasters were paid over 20 months salary, roughly £65,000 each).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmtrdind/593/593.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - CRC FINAL WORD.doc |website=Publications.parliament.uk |access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref>

In 2010, David Smith succeeded Alan Cook as managing director. Smith had previously been managing director of Parcelforce, another Royal Mail subsidiary.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ledwith |first1= Mario|last2= Witherow|first2= Tom|last3=Mansfield |first3=Oli |title= Who is responsible for the Post Office scandal?|url= https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/post-office-scandal-who-blame-responsible-z0xn5tvb8|newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=11 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref> In November 2010, the government committed £1.34 billion of funding up to 2015 to Post Office Limited to enable it to modernise the Post Office network.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/postal-services/post-office-network/future-strategy|title=Future strategy|publisher=Bis.gov.uk }}</ref>

As part of the [[Postal Services Act 2011]], Post Office Limited became independent of Royal Mail Group on 1 April 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/mar/30/royal-mail-post-office-unhappy-divorce |title=This cynical Royal Mail and Post Office divorce will bring only misery |last1=Mackie |first1=Lindsey |last2=Glasman |first2=Maurice |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 March 2012 |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group|GMG]] |location=[[London, England|London]] |issn=0261-3077 |oclc=60623878 |quote=Post Office Ltd |access-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> A ten-year inter-business agreement was signed between Royal Mail and Post Office Limited to allow post offices to continue issuing stamps, and handling letters and parcels for Royal Mail.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-mail/9035225/Fear-of-mass-post-office-closures-averted-as-Royal-Mail-agrees-10-year-lifeline.html|title=Fear of mass post office closures averted as Royal Mail agrees 10 year lifeline|newspaper=The Telegraph | first=Christopher|last=Hope|date=24 January 2012}}</ref> The [[Act of Parliament in the UK|Act]] also contained the option for Post Office Limited to become a [[mutual organisation]] in the future.<ref>[http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/BISCore/business-sectors/docs/c/11-1211-consultation-building-a-mutual-post-office.pdf Building a Mutual Post Office] Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (retrieved 8 December 2012)</ref> In April 2012, [[Paula Vennells]] was appointed as chief executive;<ref>{{cite news |last=Elison|first=Andrew|title= Strip ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells of her CBE, say MPs|url= https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/strip-ex-post-office-boss-paula-vennells-of-her-cbe-say-mps-9mq6dj6wz|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date= 28 April 2021|access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref> she had been with Post Office Limited since 2007 as the network director.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sweeney |first=Mark|title= How Horizon IT scandal brought down former Post Office boss Paula Vennells|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/09/post-office-horizon-it-scandal-paula-vennells-cbe|newspaper=The Guardian |date= 9 January 2024|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> The first chair of the board of the new company was [[Alice Perkins]], who had for a time led human resources management in the Civil Service.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=3 June 2010 |title=Approval of nomination of Ms Alice Perkins as an external member of Council |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2009-10/weekly/030610/acts.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817102534/http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2009-10/weekly/030610/acts.htm |archive-date=17 August 2010 |website=Oxford University Gazette |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> 

In February 2013, Post Office Limited announced it was planning to move around 70 of its Crown post offices into shops. This would reduce the Crown network, which it stated was losing £40 million a year, to around 300.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21380040 |title=Up to 70 Crown post offices to be moved into shops |work=BBC News }}</ref> In November 2013, the government committed an additional £640 million of funding for 2015 to 2018 to allow Post Office Limited to complete its network modernisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bis.gov.uk/Press-Releases/Post-Office-secures-additional-government-investment-to-complete-branch-modernisation-69699.aspx |title=Post Office secures additional government investment to complete branch modernisation |date=26 April 2023 |publisher=Bis.gov.uk }}</ref> In June 2015, the Post Office launched its own [[mobile virtual network operator]] service, Post Office Mobile.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gibbs|first1=Samuel|title=Post Office launches mobile phone network through EE |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jul/08/post-office-launches-uk-mobile-phone-network |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=20 August 2017 |date=8 July 2014}}</ref> However, in August 2016 it decided "to conclude the trial as the results did not give us sufficient confidence that mobile will contribute to our goal of commercial sustainability".<ref>{{cite web |title=Post Office Mobile |url=http://mobile.postoffice.co.uk/we-are-closing |website=Post Office |access-date=20 August 2017 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807230950/http://mobile.postoffice.co.uk/we-are-closing |archive-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>

In January 2016, the Post Office announced plans to franchise 39 Crown branches and close 3 more.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/19/post-office-jobs-under-threat-as-39-branches-set-for-privatisation |title=Post office jobs under threat as 39 branches set for privatisation |date=19 January 2016 |publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> In April 2016, the Post Office agreed to hand over up to 61 more branches to WHSmith in a 10-year deal. The deal was condemned as "blatant back-door privatisation" by the [[Communication Workers Union (United Kingdom)|Communications Workers Union]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/13/post-office-to-move-up-to-61-branches-to-wh-smith|title=Post Office to move up to 61 branches to WH Smith|first=Sarah|last=Butler|newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 April 2016|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> In January 2017, the Post Office announced it was to close and franchise another 37 Crown branches.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38570067 |title=Post Office to close and franchise more Crown branches |date=20 January 2017 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> In December 2017, the government agreed a £370 million funding deal for 2018 to 2021 to further modernise the Post Office network and protect rural branches.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/funding-deal-puts-post-office-at-heart-of-government-industrial-strategy |title=Funding deal puts Post Office at heart of government industrial strategy |date=20 December 2017 |publisher=Civil Service World}}</ref> In June 2018, the Post Office agreed to acquire [[Payzone (United Kingdom)|Payzone]]'s UK bill payment business after it was split from [[Payzone (Ireland)|Payzone Ireland]], to expand its bill payment network.<ref name=postoffice1>{{cite news |url=https://postandparcel.info/97070/news/infrastructure/post-office-looking-to-buy-payzones-bill-payments-business/ |title=Post Office looking to buy Payzone's Bill payment business |date=27 June 2018 |publisher=Post&Parcel}}</ref> In October 2018, the Post Office announced that 74 more Crown branches would be franchised to WHSmith, including the 33 branches already operating in the company's stores under the 2016 agreement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/news/sydenham-campaigners-claim-that-crown-post-office-closure-is-a-national-scandal/ |title=Sydenham campaigners claim that Crown Post Office closure is a ‘national scandal’ |date=26 October 2018 |publisher=London Weekly News & Mercury}}</ref>

Perkins stood down as chair in July 2015 and was replaced in October of that year by [[Tim Parker (businessman)|Tim Parker]], a businessman who had led and restructured a number of companies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lea |first=Robert |date=2024-06-10 |title=Woman who put her stamp on Post Office quits |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/woman-who-put-her-stamp-on-post-office-quits-3bp53h86xg7 |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=[[The Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2015 |title=New chair of Post Office Limited appointed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chair-of-post-office-limited-appointed |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |language=en}}</ref> He at first worked one-and-a-half days a week, reducing to two days a month in November 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruddick |first=Peter |date=3 July 2024 |title=Inquiry hears from ex-Post Office chair Tim Parker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c98q7nrwwq0t |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Speaking in 2024, Parker described a business in "deep crisis":<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-03 |title=Transcript: Tim Parker |url=https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/hearings/phases-56-3-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry |page=48 |language=en}}</ref> {{Blockquote|text=
The Post Office has a turnover of just under £1 billion, which makes it a sort of medium-sized company, but in fact it is an incredibly complex business: it's complex because it operates a network of around 11,500 sites; it's complex because it has a very wide range of products; it's complex also because it deals with cash, and cash has a big security element to it; it's complex because it's in the public sector. [...] This is a business which had absorbed billions of pounds of taxpayers money and was still losing money. It was a business that faced significant challenges because it had an exclusive arrangement with the Royal Mail, and the Royal Mail itself was suffering from increasing competition in the parcels market and a declining letters market. The Post Office had previously had a significant amount of business from the Government, so driving licences, benefits, that kind of thing. That had all moved online and so the Post Office was bereft a significant chunk of its contribution. The Post Office had a range of products which it attempted to sell, with varying degrees of success, and it also had a very complex structure in terms of its overheads and management.
}}

In February 2019, the Post Office announced that Vennells would leave her role as CEO to become chair of the [[Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessleader.co.uk/post-office-ceo-leaves-role/|title=Post Office CEO leaves role|date=19 February 2019|newspaper=Business Leader|access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> It was subsequently confirmed that the new CEO would be [[Nick Read (Post Office CEO)|Nick Read]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://onepostoffice.co.uk/secure/latest-news/our-business/new-group-chief-executive-appointed/ |title=New Group Chief Executive appointed |date=18 July 2019 |first=Rina |last=Patel |website=One Post Office |publisher=Post Office Limited}}</ref> who had held senior roles at several customer-facing businesses and had been CEO of the [[Nisa (retailer)|Nisa]] convenience store group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/movers/nick-read-takes-over-as-post-office-chief-executive/595800.article|title=Nick Read takes over as Post Office chief executive|date=19 July 2019|newspaper=The Grocer|access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> Read promoted "click and collect" services for retailers, alongside parcel drop-off services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lea |first=Robert |date=15 January 2021 |title=Making the Post Office a complete package in new era of ecommerce |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/making-the-post-office-a-complete-package-in-new-era-of-ecommerce-bcz98qn0r |url-access=registration |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=[[The Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2021, the Post Office agreed to sell its broadband and home phone services to [[Shell Energy]] and exit the telecoms market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rai |first=Sharon |date=2021-02-01 |title=Post Office signs deal to sell Broadband and Home Phone business to Shell Energy |url=http://www.corporate.postoffice.co.uk/secure/latest-news/our-products/post-office-signs-deal-to-sell-broadband-and-home-phone-business-to-shell-energy/ |access-date=2021-05-09 |website=www.corporate.postoffice.co.uk |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509112652/http://www.corporate.postoffice.co.uk/secure/latest-news/our-products/post-office-signs-deal-to-sell-broadband-and-home-phone-business-to-shell-energy/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The purchase price was around £80{{Nbsp}}million, with around 500,000 customers transferring to the new provider.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kleinman |first=Mark |date=2021-01-31 |title=Shell dials up deal to connect with Post Office broadband arm |language=en |work=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/shell-dials-up-deal-to-connect-with-post-office-broadband-arm-12204442 |access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref>

Parker completed a second term as chair in September 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2022 |title=Henry Staunton appointed as new chairman of Post Office Limited |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/henry-staunton-appointed-as-new-chairman-of-post-office-limited |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |language=en}}</ref> He was replaced in December by [[Henry Staunton (businessman)|Henry Staunton]], who had held senior board roles at a number of companies and had chaired [[WHSmith]] until June of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devlin |first=Ed |date=8 June 2022 |title=City Snapshot: WH Smith appoints new chairman to succeed Henry Staunton |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/people/city-snapshot-wh-smith-appoints-new-chairman-to-succeed-henry-staunton/668195.article |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=The Grocer |language=en}}</ref> He was removed on 27 January 2024, following disagreements with the Business Secretary [[Kemi Badenoch]] on matters including the appointment of a new independent director.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kleinman |first=Mark |date=2024-01-27 |title=Post Office chairman Henry Staunton ousted amid row with government |url=https://news.sky.com/story/post-office-chairman-to-leave-amid-row-with-government-13057745 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127175419/https://news.sky.com/story/post-office-chairman-to-leave-amid-row-with-government-13057745 |archive-date=2024-01-27 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2024, CEO Read was "exonerated of all the misconduct allegations" in relation to claims made by a whistleblower, revealed in Parliament. This followed an investigation by an external barrister.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jolly |first=Jasper |date=17 April 2024|title=Post Office chief Nick Read cleared of misconduct in separate inquiry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/17/post-office-boss-nick-read-cleared-of-misconduct-allegations-horizon |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Nigel Railton]], previously CEO of [[Camelot Group|Camelot UK]], was appointed interim chair in May 2024 for a 12-month term.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68928326 |title=Post Office: Ex-Camelot boss Nigel Railton named as chairman|date=1 May 2024|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=27 August 2024}}</ref> In September 2024, it was announced Read would step down as CEO and leave the Post Office in March 2025. He was replaced by Neil Brocklehurst as acting CEO,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2024 |title=Nick Read to step down as Post Office CEO in March 2025 |url=https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/blogs/2024_09/nick-read-to-step-down-as-post-office-ceo-in-march-2025/ |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=Post Office Corporate}}</ref> with the role being made permanent in April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 April 2025|title=New Post Office CEO announces landmark new banking deal for postmasters on first day in post |url=https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/en/media-centre/#/pressreleases/new-post-office-ceo-announces-landmark-new-banking-deal-for-postmasters-on-first-day-in-post-3383555 |access-date=4 June 2025|website=Post Office Corporate}}</ref> Railton's position as chair was subsequently extended to a three-year contract beginning in May 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2025|title=Ministers appoint Nigel Railton as permanent Post Office Chair |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministers-appoint-nigel-railton-as-permanent-post-office-chair |access-date=4 June 2025|website=gov.uk}}</ref>

In November 2024, as part of a strategic review led by Railton, the Post Office announced it was considering the future of its Crown network,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Uddin |first=Rafe |date=13 November 2024|title=UK Post Office to close 115 branches, putting hundreds of jobs at risk |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6710bd41-7448-4a13-ab0f-295e9e041121 |url-access=subscription |access-date=13 November 2024|work=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2024|title=Post Office could close 115 branches with jobs at risk |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24028d2dwo |access-date=13 November 2024 |website=BBC News}}</ref> equating to up to 115 post office branches or around one per cent of the company's retail footprint.<ref name=":0" /> In April 2025, the Post Office confirmed plans to transfer its remaining 108 Crown branches to franchises.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2025 |title=Post Office to offload all directly-owned branches |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd02nr0y0rjo |access-date=9 April 2025|website=BBC News}}</ref>

==Services==
[[File:Oxford StAldates PostOffice.jpg|thumb|The Crown post office in [[Oxford]]]]
[[File:Otley Post Office.jpg|thumb|The post office in [[Otley]], West Yorkshire]]

As of March 2024 there were 11,805 post office branches across the UK, of which 115 were directly managed by Post Office Limited (known as Crown branches).<ref>{{cite web |title=Post Office Ltd Network Report 2024 |url=https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/media/vidhy5vw/network-report-2024-final-5.pdf |publisher=Post Office Limited |access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> The majority of other branches (9,250 in total) were agency branches, run either by franchise partners or by local subpostmasters (who may be members of the [[National Federation of SubPostmasters]] or the [[Communication Workers Union (United Kingdom)|CWU]] Postmasters Branch). Of the remaining branches, 1,834 were outreach services – typically small, part-time branches, perhaps making use of a mobile van or a village hall – and 606 were 'drop and collect' branches, focussing on pre-paid parcels and bill payments.<ref name="POBriefing">{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Harriet |last2=Booth |first2=Lorna |title=The Post Office |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7550/CBP-7550.pdf |website=UK Parliament |publisher=House of Commons Library |access-date=30 October 2023}}</ref>

The Post Office rolled out the 'ParcelShop' scheme in summer 2019, allowing retail stores to accept Royal Mail Internet returns, in order to expand Post Office facilities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.betterretailing.com/retail-services/post-office-parcelshop-network-trials-revealed/|title=Post Office 'ParcelShop' network trials revealed|newspaper=Better Retailing|date=28 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref>

In some villages an outreach service is provided in village halls or shops. There are also "mobile post offices" using converted vans which travel between rural areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/Post-Office-mobile-service |title=Post Office® mobile service &#124; Royal Mail Group Ltd |website=Royalmail.com |access-date=11 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417112058/http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/Post-Office-mobile-service |archive-date=17 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/61649287@N03/6296006870/ |title=Mobile Post Office &#124; A lifeline for small rural communities … |publisher=[[Flickr]] |date=30 October 2011 |access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref>

===Postal services===
[[File:Post Office interior.JPG|thumb|Interior of [[Trowbridge]] post office, showing available merchandise]]
The Post Office provides information on services and accepts postal items and payment on behalf of the two collection and delivery divisions of Royal Mail Group, [[Royal Mail]] and [[Parcelforce]], plus parcel services on behalf of [[Evri]] and [[Geopost|DPD]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-07 |title=Post Office to send and receive Evri and DPD parcels |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67336778 |access-date=2024-08-01 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parcel Collection Drop Off Service {{!}} Posting {{!}} Post Office® |url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/dropoff |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=www.postoffice.co.uk}}</ref>

==== Royal Mail Group ====
Services provided include a variety of new ordinary and guaranteed services both for delivery within the United Kingdom and to international destinations. [[Postage stamp]]s (including commemorative stamps and other [[philatelic]] items) are sold, while applications for redirection of mail are accepted on behalf of Royal Mail. Post Office Local Collect is a scheme whereby undelivered mail can be redirected at customer request to a post office for convenient collection. ''[[Poste restante]]'' mail can also be held for collection by people travelling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/poste-restante|title=Poste Restante – Pick up your post whilst in the UK|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=www.postoffice.co.uk|publisher=The Post Office|access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref>

==== Other couriers ====
Since March 2021, Post Office no longer works exclusively with Royal Mail Group and offers parcel services from third party couriers including [[Evri]] and [[DPD Group|DPD]], at selected locations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cambridge |first=Lyndsey |date=17 December 2020 |title=Post Office and Royal Mail no longer working in exclusive partnership under new deal |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/convenience/post-office-and-royal-mail-no-longer-working-in-exclusive-partnership-under-new-deal/651522.article |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=The Grocer |language=en}}</ref>

===Financial services===
{{main|Post Office Money}}
The Post Office provides [[credit card]]s, [[general insurance|insurance products]], access to high street banking services and [[saving]]s through the [[Post Office Money]] umbrella brand which was launched in 2015. Most Post Office Money branded products are provided by [[Bank of Ireland]] (UK) plc with Post Office Limited acting as an appointed representative and credit broker. However, with the sale of the Bank of Ireland's UK assets to Jaja Finance in 2019,<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629123924/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-boig-sale-credit-cards/bank-of-ireland-sells-uk-credit-cards-for-530-million-idUKKCN1TT0T3 |publisher=Reuters |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-boig-sale-credit-cards/bank-of-ireland-sells-uk-credit-cards-for-530-million-idUKKCN1TT0T3 |archive-date=2019-06-29 |title=Bank of Ireland sells UK credit cards for £530 million |date=2019-06-27}}</ref> Post Office branded Credit Cards are now issued by Capital One UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/credit-card|title=Credit Cards |website=www.postoffice.co.uk}}</ref> Life insurance is provided in partnership with Neilson Financial Services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-03 |title=Neilson Financial Services forms life insurance partnership with Post Office |url=https://www.lifeinsuranceinternational.com/news/nfs-life-insurance-partnership/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Life Insurance International |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Branch banking===
[[File:Mobile Post Office - geograph.org.uk - 848566.jpg|thumb|A mobile post office visiting [[Borrowby, east North Yorkshire|Borrowby]], North Yorkshire]]
Personal banking services are offered on behalf of a number of "partner banks" that the Post Office has agreements with. Although different services are available on behalf of different institutions, these may include cash withdrawals, paying in cash and cheques, and balance enquiries. Some post offices have [[cash machine]]s, mainly provided by [[Bank of Ireland]]. Business banking services are also offered for customers of twenty different UK banks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-business-banking#tab-1 |title=Branch Business Banking |website=www.postoffice.co.uk }}</ref> 

===Bill payments===
[[File:Corsham Post Office.JPG|thumb|The post office in [[Corsham]], Wiltshire]]
A number of bill payments can be accepted on behalf of a variety of organisations including [[Public utility|utilities]], local authorities and others. These are in the form of automated payments (barcoded bills, swipe cards, key charging). The [[Santander UK|Santander]] Transcash system, which had been a [[Girobank]] service, enabled manual bill payment transactions, but this service was discontinued by Santander in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cipp.org.uk/resources/news/potcsbw.html|title=Post Office TransCash service being withdrawn|website=www.cipp.org.uk}}</ref>

===Directory enquiries===
Post Office also runs its own flat-rate 118 [[Directory Enquiries]] service (118 855). Mobile phone top-ups are also available in Post Office branches on behalf of all the major UK mobile networks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/jan/30/internetphonesbroadband.phones|title=Post Office launches directory enquiries service|date=30 January 2006|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

===ID services===
A passport check-and-send service is available for passport applications, where post office staff check that a passport application is filled in correctly and has an acceptable photograph accompanying it. The service is not affiliated with [[HM Passport Office]] and does not guarantee a successful application.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/passport-check-send |title=Passport Check Send |publisher=Post Office |access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref> Branches also offer a photocard driving licence renewal service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/uk-driving-licence-photocard-renewal |title=UK Driving License Photocard Renewal |publisher=Post Office |access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref>

Selected branches issue [[International Driving Permit]]s. In 2019, availability of this service was expanded from 89 to approximately 2,500 branches due to increased demand associated with the possibility of a [[Brexit negotiations#The "no deal" scenario|"no deal" Brexit]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Calder |first1=Simon |title=British motorists must apply for 70-year-old permits to drive in EU after no-deal Brexit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/brexit-eu-uk-motorists-70-year-old-permits-no-deal-british-drivers-a8757531.html |access-date=15 April 2019 |work=The Independent |date=1 February 2019 |location=London }}</ref>

==Horizon scandal==
{{main|British Post Office scandal}}

In April 2015, the BBC described a confidential report that alleged that the Post Office had made "failings"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32377013 |title=Post Office 'failings' over cash shortfall investigations |website=BBC News |date=20 April 2015 |access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref> with regard to accounting issues with its Horizon IT system, which were identified by subpostmasters as early as 2000.<ref name="Glick">{{cite news |last1=Glick |first1=Bryan |title=Vilified then vindicated – victory for subpostmasters in Post Office trial shows risk of tech hubris |department=Editor's Blog |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/blog/Computer-Weekly-Editors-Blog/Vilified-then-vindicated-victory-for-subpostmasters-in-Post-Office-trial-shows-risk-of-tech-hubris |access-date=9 February 2020 |work=Computer Weekly |date=11 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1bd5tbMKvP1qXG3XVlR4VmS/the-scandal-that-rocked-a-village-post-office |title= The scandal that rocked a village Post Office |work=BBC Radio 4 |date= 25 May 2020}}</ref> The shortfalls could have been caused by criminals using malicious software, by IT systems or by human error, the report said. An earlier article by the BBC had claimed that a confidential report contained allegations that the Post Office had refused to hand over documents that the accountants felt they needed to investigate properly, that training was not good enough, that equipment was outdated, and that power cuts and communication problems had made things worse.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29130897 |title=Post Office IT system criticised in report |website=[[BBC News]] |date=9 September 2014 |access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref>

In 2019, the Post Office was lambasted by the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] for its 'institutional obstinacy or refusal to consider' that its Horizon computer system might be flawed. The judge, [[Peter Fraser (judge)|Mr Justice Fraser]], characterised this stance as "the 21st-century equivalent of maintaining that the earth is flat".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/post-office-attacked-and-disparaged-sub-postmasters-judge-finds/5102542.article|title = Post Office 'attacked and disparaged' sub postmasters, judge finds|work=The Law Society Gazette |first=Jemma |last=Slingo |date=16 December 2019 |access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref> In spite of the court action against its subpostmasters, which was described by a judge as "aggressive and, literally, dismissive", the Post Office's chief executive [[Paula Vennells]], who had in the meantime left the Post Office and taken up posts in the [[NHS]] and the [[Cabinet Office]], was controversially awarded a [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] in the [[2019 New Year Honours]] for "services to the Post Office and to charity".<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Strictly business |magazine=[[Private Eye]] |issue=1487 |location=London |publisher=Pressdram |date=11 January 2019 }}</ref> On 19 March 2020 she was harshly criticised in the House of Commons, particularly by [[Kevan Jones]], MP for [[North Durham (UK Parliament constituency)|North Durham]], who said:<ref>{{Cite Hansard|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-03-19/debates/03E48E18-4B5E-4A42-84C3-684E6B58495D/HorizonSettlementFutureGovernanceOfPostOfficeLtd#contribution-EE71F640-3384-4747-81C6-EF9CE639272A|title=Horizon Settlement: Future Governance of Post Office Ltd |volume=673|column=1226|speaker=[[Kevan Jones]]|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>

{{blockquote| Obviously, as a board member she knew what was going on, including the strategy in the court case and the bugs in the system. What happened? She got a CBE in the new year's honours list for services to the Post Office. That is just rubbing salt into the wounds of these innocent people. There is a case for her having that honour removed, and I would like to know how she got it in the first place when the court case is ongoing. Added to that, she is now chair of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Again, I would like to know why and what due diligence was done on her as an individual.}}

On 8 January 2024, Prime Minister [[Rishi Sunak]]'s spokesman said he would "strongly support" the Honours Forfeiture Committee if it decided to look at removing Vennells's CBE appointment. Vennells issued a statement on 9 January 2024, stating that she would "return my CBE with immediate effect".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=2024-01-09 |title=Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to hand back CBE with immediate effect in wake of Horizon scandal – UK politics live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/jan/09/post-office-horizon-scandal-fujitsu-rishi-sunak-conservatives-labour-uk-politics-live |access-date=2024-01-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This had no formal effect, as only the monarch, on the advice of the [[Honours Forfeiture Committee]], can annul honours.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-09 |title=Paula Vennells: Ex-Post Office boss handing back CBE over IT scandal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67925304 |access-date=2024-01-10 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=[[Cabinet Office]] |date=30 September 2021 |title=Having honours taken away (forfeiture) |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/having-honours-taken-away-forfeiture |access-date=8 January 2024 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> Vennells's appointment as CBE was formally revoked by King [[Charles III]] on 23 February for "bringing the honours system into disrepute".<ref>{{London Gazette | issue = 64326 | date = 23 February 2024 | page = 3758 | title = Honours and Awards: Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=List of individuals who have forfeited their honour (since August 2023) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individuals-whose-honours-have-been-revoked-by-the-sovereign/list-of-individuals-who-have-forfeited-their-honour-since-august-2023 |access-date=23 February 2024 |author=[[Cabinet Office]] |website=GOV.UK}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |agency=Press Association |date=2024-02-23 |title=King strips CBE from former Post Office boss Paula Vennells |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/23/king-strips-cbe-from-former-post-office-boss-paula-vennells |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Royal Mail#Penny Post Credit Union|Penny Post Credit Union]]
*[[Consumer Futures#Postwatch|Postwatch]]
*[[Communication Workers Union (United Kingdom)#1st Class Credit Union|1st Class Credit Union]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{UK postal system}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Department for Business and Trade}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1987 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Department for Business and Trade]]
[[Category:Financial services companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Postal system of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Mail]]