As you are aware Post Office is advertising for a retail partner to apply for the Post Office service in Shoreham By Sea and I have attached a link below to their recruitment website. In Shoreham the Post Office are seeking a franchise partner to provide a Post Office service from alternative premises:
https://runapostoffice.co.uk/home/result/show/shoreham-by-sea-post-office-shoreham-by-sea-bn43-5xn
It may be helpful to advise that the majority of the 11,600 Post Office branch network operates from a retail business on a franchise type basis, this model creates an opportunity for operating sustainable services when compared to a standalone Post Office service. With consumer habits changing and the high cost of maintaining premises in high street locations, franchising the Post Office with a retail partner helps to keep Post Office services where customers want and need them now and into the future.
The Post Office do not yet have a confirmed proposed retail partner for the Shoreham branch so I am not able to share any detailed plans, however, many of the Post Office’s franchises operate longer Post Office opening hours and typically they also offer the same products and services. I have also been assured that any proposed premises meet Post Office accessibility standards.
With regards to the Royal Mail sorting office, I have been informed that the franchise opportunity is for the Post Office service only. You may know that Post Office and Royal Mail operate independently and the Post Office would not be aware of any plans that Royal Mail have for their premises or services.
The franchise application and recruitment process can take some time to complete, typically this can take up to a year or longer. The Post Office are confident that they will attract a franchise partner for the Post Office service in Shoreham and when they have a proposal in place they will launch a public consultation and notify all local stakeholders, as well as placing information in branch for customers. The consultation is genuinely focussed on gathering all feedback which is fully considered before making a final decision on the proposal.