Birmingham Post Office trials free internet access to council services
Thursday 31 January 2013
- Post Office and Birmingham City Council initiative to offer local people internet access to council services
- Two free access terminals are available in the Birmingham City Centre Post Office branch
As part of a six month trial to help customers get online the Birmingham City Centre Post Office has installed two computers for customers to access Birmingham City Council’s online services, transactions and information. Branch staff are on hand to support customers, and representatives from UK Online – who co-ordinate a network of 3,800 community based UK online centres across England – also provide free one-to-one training. The public can book sessions in branch.
The introduction of internet access to Birmingham Post Office branch is part of Post Office’s commitment to promote digital inclusion and encourage customers to reap the benefits from getting online. As founding partners of Go ON UK the Post Office is committed to putting online skills at the heart of its people and services throughout its network of over 11,500 branches nationwide.
Martin Moran, Commercial Director at Post Office said “Internet access in the Birmingham branch is an important stepping stone to bringing the internet and regional services closer to our customers. Our partnership with Birmingham City Council means customers can now access all web-based Council services and those that are not digitally enabled will receive full assisted support.”
“For many, the Post Office is the most important and sometimes the only means of accessing public services so we want to make this provision as easy to use as possible and we believe this access will further enhance the service we provide to the local community.”
Cllr Ian Ward, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "We want to make our services as accessible as possible, and by working with organisations like the Post Office we are coming up with innovative ways to do this.
“Instead of people having to make two or more council-related journeys to do different things, they will be able to use an easy online service as part of this trail. I'm sure this will make every-day tasks much simpler for Birmingham residents."
Ends
Notes to editors:
Post Office Ltd is undertaking the largest investment and network support programme in its history with £1.34billion committed to new, more modern branches for the next three years and no further programme of branch closures.
As part of the programme, approximately 6,000 will be transformed to new style branches with longer opening hours and a brighter more modern environment.
Issued by:
Post Office External Relations
1st Floor, 148 Old Street
LONDON
EC1V 9HQ
Tel: 020 7012 3456 (24 hours)
Email: pressoffice@postoffice.co.uk
