WH Smith has instructed the BBC the submit places of work inside its outlets will stay ought to the sale of its Excessive Avenue enterprise go forward.

The retailer issued the assertion following questions over the way forward for the 195 submit places of work inside its shops.

The corporate is in talks over a possible sale of its Excessive Avenue shops as its enterprise has turn into extra targeted on its outlets in airports and prepare stations.

It mentioned its “partnership” with the Submit Workplace was an “essential half” of the enterprise and “will proceed ought to a sale of our Excessive Avenue enterprise to new house owners proceed”.

Since information of WH Smith’s potential Excessive Avenue shops sale emerged over the weekend, the BBC has been contacted by many individuals asking concerning the destiny of submit places of work inside the shops, which it has featured since 2006.

In addition to posting letters and parcels, submit places of work are increasingly handling more cash deposits and withdrawals following the closure of many bank branches. In addition they cope with driving licence or passport renewals and invoice funds.

WH Smith has mentioned its Excessive Avenue shops, which make use of round 5,000 individuals, stay a “worthwhile and cash-generative a part of the group”, and it’s exploring numerous choices, “together with a attainable sale”.

It added: “There will be no certainty that any settlement will likely be reached, and additional updates will likely be supplied as and when applicable.”

However the retailer later instructed the BBC that WH Smith was “pleased with its partnership” with the Submit Workplace and that it could stay ought to a sale undergo.

The BBC understands the industrial relationship between each the retailer and the Submit Workplace is robust, with advantages for each events, due to this fact any new potential purchaser would possibly keep the present association.

For instance, having a submit workplace inside the retailer drives footfall and might result in a lift in gross sales for WH Smith outlets, whereas the Submit Workplace can profit from cheaper working prices.

The Communication Employees Union (CWU), which says it represents Submit Workplace employees within the outlets, had raised considerations over the way forward for its members, warning any potential closures can be “devastating”.

A spokesman for the Submit Workplace instructed the BBC mentioned contact had been made with WH Smith over its plans, including the corporate was “maintaining us up to date repeatedly on their future enterprise plans and the way they might evolve”.

“There have been no modifications to Submit Workplace providers in these places,” they added.

The primary of WH Smith’s 500 shops opened greater than 230 years in the past, working as a information vendor. It has since grown into a serious Excessive Avenue and journey retailer.

The journey retail enterprise aspect of WH Smith – which operates from airports, prepare stations and hospitals – now accounts for greater than 85% of its revenue and operates 1,200 shops throughout 32 nations.

The announcement of a sale comes amid a troublesome financial outlook for Excessive Avenue retailers.

Louise Martin, 55, from Bognor Regis, works in finance for an impartial animal charity with 9 shops. Three of those depend on their native WH Smith submit workplace counter for banking, as different branches within the space have closed.

She mentioned shedding the native submit workplace would have an effect on “most shops” within the space, together with her enterprise.

“We don’t have a neighborhood financial institution department, so the store managers must drive (as strolling additional would not be protected with money) to the choice submit workplace,” Ms Martin mentioned.

She believes plans ought to be put in place to make sure related in-town replacements within the occasion of any closures, “or not less than a facility to financial institution money and get change for the tills”.

The state-owned Submit Workplace has been beneath strain in recent times. Final November, it introduced it was reviewing the way forward for 115 branches it owns. One possibility again then it was exploring was a deepening franchise arrangement with WH Smith.

The Submit Workplace’s popularity has additionally been significantly broken due to the Horizon IT scandal, which noticed tons of of postmasters and mistress wrongly convicted when defective software program made it seem like they had been stealing cash.

In addition to internet hosting submit places of work, some WH Smith shops additionally home Toys R Us concessions.

Income from WH Smith’s Excessive Avenue shops dropped by £17m in 2024 in contrast with the 12 months earlier than. Nevertheless, earnings remained the identical after the enterprise closed 14 of its shops final 12 months.

Shares in WH Smith rose on Monday as buyers ready for a possible money increase from a sale, with experiences suggesting personal fairness suitors are eyeing a deal to take management of the retailer’s Excessive Avenue outlets.

Analysts have predicted the enterprise could possibly be bought for £100m or extra within the coming months.

The federal government mentioned whereas any sale can be a “industrial matter” for firm, the Submit Workplace had “contractual obligations” and it could be “monitoring” the scenario.

The Division for Enterprise and Commerce added it was “dedicated to making sure there are sustainable submit workplace providers for native communities”.