Tag: Wester Hailes Post Office

Scott Arthur MP cuts the ribbon at Wester Hailes Post Office

  • Dr Scott Arthur MP performs the official opening
  • Open at Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
  • Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
  • 51 hours of Post Office service per week
  • Branch now open on Saturday afternoons
  • Experienced postmasters

Dr Scott Arthur MP for Edinburgh South West “cut the ribbon” (17/10) to mark the official opening of Wester Hailes Post Office at its new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW.

Experienced postmasters are father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad have run Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, since 2016. Previously they ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years. 

Dr Scott Arthur MP said: “I want to thank Mohammed and Aamir Arshad for taking on Wester Hailes Post Office inside their well-established store, close to the previous branch, meaning customers are already familiar with the shopping centre, parking and bus routes.

”This Post Office fits in well with the store design. The layout is spacious and accessible, and with Mohammed and Aamir’s experience running a previous Post Office, they’ve hit the ground running.”

Wester Hailes Post Office had been directly managed by Post Office. As part of Post Office’s wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters” with increased remuneration, the Post Office is franchising all remaining 108 Directly Managed Branches which will create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices across the UK. 

This branch in Wester Hailes is the first of the 108 to relocate. It remains within the same shopping centre. There is a car park at the shopping center with dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the new branch is located.

Wester Hailes Post Office has two open plan serving positions, neatly added to the line of retail counters. The store has wide aisles, designed to make it easier for people with mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walking frames, pushchairs or prams to manoeuvre.

Postmaster Aamir Arshad said: “Our existing customers were really pleased that we were taking on Wester Hailes Post Office under one roof. We have had lots of people saying that they are very grateful that the branch is here and we have also had thank you cards.

“People are happy with the spacious layout in the aisles, so there is room for someone in a wheelchair and a pushchair to pass side by side.

“We are also seeing lots of new customers who we had not seen before, who have also been impressed with our existing retail offer in our hardware and convenience store, so those sales have increased too.

“We are giving everyone a warm welcome. People are surprised to hear about my previous experience of running a branch. I was only young when I started with my Dad. Now my 20-year-old brother Adam, has just joined us too, so he is about my age when I started. He’s taken to it really well.

“Extra staff are also being Post Office trained ready for the really busy Christmas period.” 

Opening hours are: Monday – Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This is an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning, making it more convenient for customers to visit.

The same range of Post Office services are available, including an internal ATM. Customers have the choice of Royal Mail, Parcelforce, DPD and Evri services to buy in branch, drop offs and collections. It’s very easy for people to do their personal and business banking, bill payment and a full range of currencies on demand.

There is passport check and send, vehicle tax ID verification services and Western Union international money transfers.

Wester Hailes Post Office opens at new location

SAME SHOPPING CENTRE, EXTENDED OPENING HOURS

  • Opens at Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
  • Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
  • 51 hours of Post Office service per week
  • Branch now open Saturday afternoons
  • Experienced father & son postmasters
  • One of UK’s first new-look Post Offices

Wester Hailes Post Office opened yesterday (7/10) at a new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh.

Wester Hailes Post Office, which had been directly managed by Post Office, has new franchise owners – father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad.

The branch is still within Westside Plaza. It has however moved to Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, based in this shopping centre since 2016. 

Previously, Mohammed and Aamir ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years.

Post Office Limited recently announced it is moving to a fully franchised network, as part of our wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters”.

Over 99% of the Post Office network is already successfully operated on a franchise basis by carefully selected retail partners. We are confident this would create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, including Wester Hailes.

Wester Hailes Post Office is one of the first branches in the country using new colours and format for a new look and feel for today’s modern world. There is more internal signage which informs customers of the three key services we perform: Banking, Mails and Travel. 

Wester Hailes Post Office has two open plan serving positions at the retail counter. The same full range of services are still available, including an internal ATM.

The opening hours are Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This is an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning than previously offered for the convenience of customers.

The shopping centre car park has dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the new branch is located.

Wester Hailes Post Office: October move confirmed

  • Move to Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza
  • Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
  • 51 hours of Post Office service per week
  • Branch would open on Saturday afternoons
  • Experienced postmasters

Post Office has agreed to relocate Wester Hailes Post Office in October to a new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW.

Wester Hailes Post Office, which is currently directly managed by Post Office, will be run by our new retail franchise partner at the new location within the same shopping centre. 

Father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad have run Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, since 2016. Previously they ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years.

The current branch at 14A Westside Plaza will close on Monday 6 October at 5.30pm, with the new branch opening, at Plaza News on Tuesday 7 October at 1pm.

Post Office Limited recently announced it is moving to a fully franchised network, as part of our wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters”.

Over 99% of the Post Office network is already successfully operated on a franchise basis by carefully selected retail partners. We are confident this would create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, including Wester Hailes.

After careful consideration of the feedback received during consultation, we remain confident that the layout and location of the new branch will continue to meet customer needs and deliver an excellent service, whilst securing the long-term viability of Post Office services in the local community.  

The same range of services will still be available, including an internal ATM.

The opening hours will be Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This will be an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning than currently for the convenience of customers.

Wester Hailes Post Office will have two open plan serving positions at the retail counter.

There is a car park at the shopping center with dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the new branch will be located.

Current Post Office employees have the opportunity to TUPE across to continue to work at the relocated branch.

Proposed move for Wester Hailes Post Office

  • Move to Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
  • Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
  • 51 hours of Post Office service per week
  • Branch would open on Saturday afternoons
  • Experienced postmasters

Post Office is proposing to relocate Wester Hailes Post Office to a new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW.

Wester Hailes Post Office, which is currently directly managed by Post Office, would be run by our new retail franchise partner at the new location within the same shopping centre. 

Father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad have run Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, since 2016. Previously they ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years.

Post Office Limited recently announced it is moving to a fully franchised network, as part of our wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters”. Over 99% of the Post Office network is already successfully operated on a franchise basis by carefully selected retail partners.

We are confident this would create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, including Wester Hailes.

The same range of services would still be available, including an internal ATM.

The opening hours would be Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This would be an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning than currently for the convenience of customers.

Wester Hailes Post Office would have two open plan serving positions at the retail counter.

There is a car park at the shopping center with dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the proposed branch would be located.

Current Post Office employees have the opportunity to TUPE across to continue to work at the relocated branch.

Consultation will close on 13 August. Customers can share their views during the consultation online at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 018824.

Submissions can also be made via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, by post to Freepost YOUR COMMENTS, or by telephone 03452 66 01 15 or Textphone 03457 22 33 55.

A third of Scots struggling with their energy bills are too embarrassed to seek help

FREE POP-UP DROP-IN EVENTS AT WESTER HAILES POST OFFICE

More than 30 per cent of Scots struggling with their energy bills have never asked for help, new research has revealed.

A new poll, commissioned by British Gas as part of its independent charitable trust British Gas Energy Trust (The Trust), has found 42 per cent have difficulty managing their energy bills, but 31 per cent have never sought assistance – whether that is by turning to loved ones or seeking professional advice.

It comes as British Gas and British Gas Energy Trust have partnered with the Post Office and local community-based charities to offer free, drop-in events across the UK this winter.

The pop-up events offer 1-2-1 confidential practical support from trained specialists about budget planning, energy debt advice and energy efficiency measures, as well as help with accessing energy debt write-off grants including The Trust’s Individual and Families Fund, and Energy Support Fund.

The next pop-up events are taking place in Edinburgh and Glasgow on the following dates:

  • Wester Hails Post Office – 12th,13th,19th, 20th, 26th and 27th of November (between 11am – 2pm each day).
  • Springburn Way Post Office – 3rd,4th,10 and 11th of December, and 14th, 15th,21st and 22nd January 2025 (between 11am – 2pm each day).

When it came to the reasons why Scots don’t seek support, almost half (40 per cent), thought they wouldn’t qualify, a third (34 per cent) cited stigma or embarrassment and a quarter (26 per cent) said that there’s a lack of information.

A fifth believe there isn’t enough energy advice support out there. And almost a third (31 per cent) are worried about how they are going to keep on top of things this winter.

Abi Robins, Director of Responsible Business at British Gas, said: “We know the colder months can be tough on a lot of people and there isn’t always advice readily available.

“Our British Gas advisors will be on hand to help individuals navigate energy and financial challenges and access the range of support we offer – not only for our customers but also people who use other energy suppliers.

“The pop-ups are just one part of how we are supporting customers this winter. Grants, fund money and energy advice services are available through the Trust – with donations from British Gas topping £200m since 2004 – as well as providing direct support to struggling customers with matched debt repayments and non-repayable credit.”

The study also found rising costs, difficulty managing finances, and fear of disconnection were among the main concerns when it comes to paying energy bills this winter.

When speaking to someone about getting support, 21 per cent would want a face-to-face conversation. But 33 per cent admit they find it difficult to talk about the struggles they face when paying their energy bills.

Of those who have previously got help, 31 per cent used energy provider payment plans, 29 per cent turned to friends or family, 25 per cent used Government schemes, and 21 per cent sought financial advice or counselling.

Over 50 per cent of all respondents think there should be more support programmes to help people managing rising energy costs.

Jessica Taplin, chief executive of British Gas Energy Trust, said: “We know some consumers really want face to face advice, so these pop-ups are just one way we’re helping those already struggling with rising living costs this winter.

“These pop-ups, hosted at post offices across the country, provide free, confidential advice directly to communities to help individuals navigate energy and financial challenges this winter.

“We offer energy debt write-off grants through our Individuals and Families Fund, and Energy Support Fund, both open now, to households facing fuel poverty, among other criteria.

“We’d encourage anyone needing support to come along and find out more at their local pop up.”

Since the partnership between British Gas Energy Trust and the Post Office was established in 2022, there have been 178 in-person pop-ups in 95 locations from Saint Leonards-on-Sea to the Scottish Isles.

Thousands of people have been provided with step-by-step money and energy advice, checking benefits entitlement, and providing energy saving tips as well as follow up appointments for more in depth conversations.

Simon Lambert, Commercial and Operations Director at Post Office, said: “Every week, more than a million energy customers visit our branches to pay bills or top up.

“These pop-ups – held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Leeds, Newport and Stockport – are a fantastic way to connect customers with the additional support they may need this winter.”

Additional support available through British Gas Energy Trust includes the Individuals and Families Fund, which is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers, with grant payments of up to £1,700 available to households in England, Scotland and Wales. This fund is open to applications now.

Additionally, the British Gas Energy Support Fund is available to British Gas customers only who have debts of £250 to £2,000 on their energy account. This fund opened to applications on 4th November.