Post Office has opened its second Post Office Plus concept store in Barnsley, bringing additional advice and support services to the high street alongside traditional Post Office services.
The new branch at 4 Pitt Street, Barnsley, was officially opened by Dan Jarvis MP and follows the launch of the first Post Office Plus at Derby City Post Office in July.
The concept transforms selected Post Office branches into multi-service community hubs, with specialist partners providing face-to-face advice and support on dedicated days throughout the week.
Post Office said the model has been developed in response to demand for in-person support during important life moments, with consumers increasingly feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information available online and uncertain about which sources to trust.
Research commissioned by Post Office found that 53 per cent of people would be likely to use digital skills training if it were available in person locally, while 49 per cent would use energy switching services and the same proportion would use will-writing guidance.
The Barnsley branch was chosen for the second Post Office Plus location because of its prominent high-street position, strong customer footfall and available space for a dedicated consultation room.
Founding partners at the branch include Utility Warehouse, Octopus Legacy and Good Things Foundation.
Utility Warehouse will offer support on energy, mobile and broadband services on Mondays and Tuesdays. Good Things Foundation will provide digital skills training, internet safety guidance and help with everyday online tasks on Thursdays, while Octopus Legacy will provide later-life planning support, including wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts and estate planning, on Fridays. A Wednesday slot remains vacant and is expected to be filled by another partner.
Dan Jarvis, MP for Barnsley North, said Post Office Plus builds on the role post offices have traditionally played in providing trusted face-to-face support in communities.
“Post Office Plus builds on that strength, bringing a wider range of services together under one roof and creating greater convenience for local people,” he said.
“This government is determined to help the Post Office thrive in the years ahead. Backed by £500 million of investment, we are supporting its modernisation while ensuring it continues to play a central role in communities and high streets across the country."
Daniel Rogers, head of financial services innovation at Post Office, said the concept was designed to provide reassurance to customers making important decisions.
“Post Office Plus builds on the trust that communities have placed in their local post office for generations, creating a destination where customers can access a range of specialist services under one roof,” he said.
He added that the model could strengthen communities, improve access to advice and create new opportunities for branches to thrive.
For postmaster Tan Musa, who has operated the Barnsley branch for seven years, the concept provides a new way for the branch to respond to customers' demand for personal support.
“Customers regularly tell us they value the opportunity to speak to someone face-to-face, ask questions and get the reassurance that comes from personal support, particularly when making important decisions,” he said.
“Post Office Plus gives us an exciting new way to meet those needs, bringing more services into the heart of the community and demonstrating how local post offices can continue to evolve and play an even greater role on the high street.”
The launch forms part of Post Office's wider plans to strengthen UK high streets. The company said the concept aims to bring services back to communities following the loss of banks, advice centres and other face-to-face services from many town centres, while also increasing footfall and encouraging local spending.
Post Office plans to open additional Post Office Plus locations across the UK this year, with ambitions to expand the concept further in the years ahead.