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Media centre /
Press releaseLORRAINE KELLY PRESENTS HONOURS TO TOP POST OFFICE® BRANCHES16 November 2006
The overall title of Best Post Office® branch 2006 went to a subpostoffice in Hungerford Road, Crewe. Customers of the branch voted it “the best in every way” stating that the team offered great customer service which was both caring and efficient. The team at Hungerford Road also came top of the category for best Town and City Post Office® branch. Award winners included two branches located in rather unusual locations. The winner of a special award for innovation in providing Post Office® services went to Cnwch Coch branch near Aberystwyth, where the Post Office® is run from what used to be “the smallest room” in the house. The winner of the best Rural Post Office® branch award went to a Post Office® branch based in The Wheatsheaf Pub in Crudwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. TV Presenter Lorraine Kelly said “I’m amazed at the lengths that people in Post Office® branches go to, to provide a great service to their customers and community. I’d like to congratulate them on their efforts, which range from opening up their homes to offer Post Office® services from the “smallest room”, to raising hundreds of thousands of pounds in support of local charities.” The 2006 Best Post Office® Awards received a record 172,600 votes from customers across the UK. Commenting on the awards Alan Cook, Managing Director, Post Office Ltd said “The winners of the 2006 Best Post Office® Awards are a tribute to the dedication and hard work of people across the entire Post Office® network. I’m delighted that our customers have voted in record numbers this year, an indication of just how much they appreciate and value the service they receive.” This year the awards were run in association with National Savings and Investments (NS&I). Jane Platt, NS&I’s chief executive, added: “These prestigious and unique awards, which recognise the achievements of the entire Post Office network, are special because the winners have been nominated by the very people who use Post Office services every day – their customers. It is testament to the value that individual people and local communities place on their Post Office.” The special award for Community Action went to the team at Llangadog branch in Dyfed, Wales in recognition of their tireless efforts to support a wide range of community activities, ranging from charity fundraising to establishing a community group to provide free computer training to people in the area. A further special award for going Above and Beyond the call of duty went to Withycombe Raleigh branch near Exmouth, which certainly goes the extra mile for its customers through providing a service to collect and return housebound customer who need to visit the Post Office® branch. The title of Best Directly Managed Crown Office Branch went to the Post Office® branch in Cleveland Street, Redcar. -ENDS- Issued by: Notes to Editors Customer votes for the 2005 Best Post Office® Awards totalled 163,000. A full list of award winners and runners up is provided below: Overall Winner Best Post Office® branch 2006 Best Rural Post Office® branch: Best Town and City Post Office® branch Best Directly Managed Crown Office® branch Special awards: Above and Beyond – for people and branches which have gone the extra mile for their customers Charity Fundraising/Community Action – for people and branches which have taken part in charity fundraising or community actions projects Most Innovative Post Office® branch – this award recognises innovation in meeting individual community needs About the Post Office® With around 14,300 branches across the country, the Post Office® is the largest retail and financial services chain in the UK. Its network is larger than all of the UK’s banks and building societies put together. Around 94 per cent of the UK population lives within a mile of a Post Office® branch and 25 million customers visit every week. The Post Office® offers over 170 products and services including travel and financial services (including personal loans, car, home and travel insurance and a new “two in one” credit card), banking services, bill payments, HomePhone (its home telephone service), gift vouchers and cards, lottery products, licence applications, phonecards and mobile phone top-ups, and postal services. It is the largest supplier of foreign currency in the UK and is a leading provider of travel insurance. The Post Office® is also the biggest cash handler in the country with more than £92 billion passing through its hands each year, 17p in every £1 in circulation goes through a Post Office® branch and around 400 million household bills are paid at Post Office® branches each year. To find out where your nearest Post Office® branch is call 08457 22 33 44. About National Savings and Investments National Savings and Investments (NS&I) is one of the UK’s largest savings and investments providers with around 26 million customers and £75 billion invested. NS&I provides a wide range of savings and investments, including Premium Bonds, Savings Certificates, Income Bonds, Children’s Bonus Bonds, Guaranteed Equity Bonds and the Easy Access Savings Account. NS&I is able to offer a 100% capital guarantee on all the products it offers because it is backed by HM Treasury. NS&I, formed in 1861, is a government department and an executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 50 years of Premium Bonds – during 2006 and 2007, NS&I will be celebrating 50 years since Premium Bonds were launched in 1956 and the first draw took place in 1957. To celebrate NS&I will give away five £1 million prizes in each of its two anniversary draws in both December 2006 and June 2007.
Media team The numbers below are for media use only. Customers wishing to contact NS&I can find details here.
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Top Post Office® branches from across the UK have been presented with awards for great service, dedication and community spirit by GMTV’s Lorraine Kelly, in the finals of the 2006 Best Post Office® branch Awards, run in association with National Savings and Investments. |
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