Post Office Allocations To Help Diversify

19th September 2011

Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing today announced £1 million in allocations under the Scottish Government's Post Office Diversification Fund which will help to support business activities around local post offices

The Fund, which recognises the vital role that post offices can play in supporting communities, will award up to £25,000 to 48 post offices in 24 areas. Successful applications include plans to create a community enterprise office and internet cafe.

Mr Ewing said:

"The Scottish Government's Post Office Diversification fund recognises the important role post offices play in many of our communities.

"The Fund will allocate up to £25,000 to 48 post offices in 24 local authority areas. From Pollok to Papa Westray - communities across Scotland will benefit from this innovate scheme, which will help to launch new business activities built around post offices.

"Postmasters have come forward with a variety of strong proposals to develop new revenue streams such as retailing, selling different goods, or providing a business service not already available in their locality. This fund will support them as they take forward their plans.

"This initiative complements the recently announced Government Economic Strategy to accelerate sustainable economic growth and builds on our comprehensive support for small firms in Scotland. Through measures including the continuation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme, we are helping to strengthen small firms, including the local post office network, enabling them to go from strength to strength and play their part in building strong and sustainable economic growth."

Mervyn Jones, National Federation of SubPostmasters Commercial Director and Executive Officer for Scotland, said:"The National Federation of SubPostmasters warmly welcomes this announcement from the Scottish government on the latest round of grants for post offices. This crucial support will allow scores of subpostmasters across Scotland to invest in their businesses, to offer additional services to their customers and to help safeguard the future of the post office in the local community."

Post Office Ltd Managing Director Paul Vennells said:"Post Office Ltd is delighted that the Scottish Government is continuing to support SubPostmasters through this fund. This will help SubPostmasters in Scotland to diversify and build footfall in their retail businesses, which helps the local economy and viability of their overall business including the post office within it.

"Post Office branches throughout Scotland provide a service recognised by their customers as vital to each community and to the Scottish economy as a whole."

There are successful applicants in Argyll & Bute, Highland, Edinburgh, Fife, South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders, Comhairle Nan Eilean Sar, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, Aberdeenshire, Inverclyde, Aberdeen City, East Lothian, Dumfries & Galloway, Orkney, Perth & Kinross, Falkirk, Glasgow City, East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian.