Is post office part of royal mail
In the United Kingdom, the Post Office and Royal Mail are two separate entities, although they have a close relationship.
Royal Mail is the UK's designated universal postal service provider, responsible for delivering mail and parcels across the country. It is a public limited company (PLC) and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Royal Mail is responsible for collecting and delivering mail, as well as providing postal services to businesses and individuals.
The Post Office, on the other hand, is a retail network of branches that provides a range of services, including:
- Postal services: The Post Office sells stamps, offers mail services, and provides access to Royal Mail's services.
- Banking services: Many Post Office branches offer banking services, such as cash withdrawals, deposits, and bill payments.
- Travel services: The Post Office sells travel money, offers foreign currency exchange, and provides travel insurance.
- Other services: Some Post Office branches may offer additional services, such as lottery ticket sales, bill payments, and more.
While Royal Mail is responsible for delivering mail, The Post Office is responsible for selling stamps and providing access to Royal Mail's services. In other words, The Post Office is a retail network that offers postal services, while Royal Mail is the company that actually delivers the mail.
In 2012, Royal Mail and The Post Office Group (then known as Consignia) merged, with Royal Mail becoming the parent company of The Post Office. This merger aimed to improve efficiency and reduce costs by integrating the two organizations. Today, The Post Office operates as a subsidiary of Royal Mail, with over 11,500 branches across the UK.