Business / ‘Big honour’ as Freefield postmaster joins Post Office board
A LERWICK postmaster has been elected to the board of Post Office Ltd as a non-executive director.
Brian Smith, who runs the Freefield post office and Clocktower shop within the Toll Clock Shopping Centre, said it was a “big honour” to get the position.
He said most of the other members of the board are “high flying executives – whereas I’m a little shopkeeper from Shetland”.
The 47-year-old is being joined on the board by fellow new addition Sara Barlow, who is also a serving postmaster in Merseyside.
In recent years the Post Office has begun to recruit serving postmasters for its board.
Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media
Smith described his non-executive role as akin to a consultant.
The postmaster, who has been involved in Freefield branch for nearly 20 years, told Shetland News he feels he has “plenty to say from the rural point of view”.
“The people who were in the roles before were from inner cities and had larger offices, so I put my name forward saying I come from a rural point of view and a small community,” he said.
“I got an interview, and then my name got put forward through that.
“It then went to an election of postmasters […] and I had a huge percentage more than any other candidate.
“I think my voice probably resonated because a lot of post offices are from rural areas.”
Smith also said he was the only candidate to get through to the final stage who was from Scotland.
He added that the process involved interviews with unions, with hustings which included politicians.
Finally the appointment had to be approved by the government.
Smith added the majority of board meetings will be face to face in London, although for smaller sub-committees he might be able to join remotely.
He said he has a “passion for community engagement, drive for innovation and a deep understanding of the retail landscape”.
It comes after Freefield Post Office moved into the former i’i shop in the Toll Clock earlier this year, improving accessibility to the branch.
Post Office minister Gareth Thomas said: “It’s absolutely right that postmasters should play a leading role in shaping the future of the Post Office, providing invaluable experience to ensure it serves the needs of communities across the country.
“Brian and Sara will make excellent additions to the leadership team, helping to further bridge the gap between branches and the board.”
Post Office chair Nigel Railton added he was “delighted” with the new appointments.
“We have an ambitious five-year transformation plan for the Post Office and both will bring critical real-life experience to the role helping us deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ that will also benefit the nine million customers that visit our branches every week and who rely on the essential products and services postmasters and their teams provide,” he added.
Post Office Ltd’s board includes a chairman, a senior independent director, seven other non-executive directors and two executive directors.
Meanwhile Smith said the feedback from the public regarding Freefield’s move within the Toll Clock shopping centre has been “amazing”.
He said the post office is enjoying its “busiest Christmas we’ve ever had”.
The lack of accessibility was the “big issue” of the post office’s former location upstairs in the Toll Clock.
Smith said the new location – on the ground floor – is making a big difference in terms of accessibility for customers.
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