✓ Royal Mail Authorised Inspector since 2008 | Trading since 2005
Post Office Ltd is a UK retail post office business that was founded in 1986 and is owned by the UK Government through the Postal Services Holding Company Limited. It provides postal services across the UK through a chain of more than 11,000 branches, offering everything from postage stamps and banking to bill payments and government services.
About Post Office Ltd
Post Office Ltd is headquartered in London and provides a postal service throughout the UK, offering useful services such as postage stamps and banking facilities. It delivers these services up and down the country via a chain of branches and is owned by the UK Government through the Postal Services Holding Company Limited.
Post Office Ltd history
The term Post Office has been used as early as the 1650s, and today refers to a postal facility provider. Post Office Ltd was formerly part of the General Post Office in the UK, just like Royal Mail. In 1986 the Post Office Counters Ltd company was created as a subsidiary of Royal Mail, and in 2001 the name changed to Post Office Ltd.
In recent years, Post Office Ltd reported large losses, which raised questions about the company’s stability. In response, the UK Government provided 1.7 billion pounds to Royal Mail Group to help invest across the Royal Mail, Post Office Ltd and Parcelforce network.
Between 2007 and 2009, 15 Crown Post Offices were closed, 70 Crown Post Offices were sold to WH Smith, and 2,500 sub-Post Offices closed. On 1 April 2012, Post Office Ltd became independent of Royal Mail, though a 10-year agreement allowed Post Offices nationwide to continue issuing stamps and handling mail for Royal Mail. On 27 November 2013, the UK Government added a further 640 million pounds to help modernise the Post Office network.
Post Office Ltd services
There are over 11,000 Post Office branches in the UK, 370 of which are owned by Post Office Ltd; the rest are run by franchise partners or local sub-postmasters. Services include:
- Postal services
- Postage and savings stamps
- Banking services
- Savings products
- Telephone service
- Internet service
- Insurance services
- Financial services
- Bill payments
- Government services
- Other services including the National Lottery, currency exchange and a Drop & Go service
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Frequently asked questions
When was Post Office Ltd founded?
Post Office Counters Ltd was created in 1986 as a subsidiary of Royal Mail, and the name changed to Post Office Ltd in 2001.
Who owns Post Office Ltd?
Post Office Ltd is owned by the UK Government through the Postal Services Holding Company Limited, and has been independent of Royal Mail since 1 April 2012.
How many Post Office branches are there in the UK?
There are over 11,000 Post Office branches in the UK, 370 of which are owned by Post Office Ltd, with the rest run by franchise partners or sub-postmasters.