A DREGHORN postmistress has been praised after making the finals of a national award.

The great work by Dreghorn Postmaster Pam Kaur was highlighted last week at the Post Office’s ‘We’re Stronger Together’ awards for Scotland.

She made the finals in the Better for Customers category, with Ms Kaur praised for singlehandedly keeping the branch open during the ongoing crisis.

The awards recognise the efforts made by postmasters across Scotland to keep branches open during the COVID-19 pandemic and serving their local community.

Postmasters who operate branches in Scotland had the opportunity to share their experience of running their branch during the pandemic and hear directly about the Post Office’s future growth strategy.

Post Office Area Manager Christine Boyle, said: “The Postmaster for Dreghorn has been nominated for the Better for Customers award due to running her post office singlehandedly during the pandemic.

“Dreghorn Post Office was the only Post Office in the local area to maintain full working hours during the pandemic, and managed to keep strict social distancing measures in place, even with the increased customers through her branch.

“Pam has kept her customers safe and shown great dedication to providing essential services during this difficult time”.

Nick Read, Chief Executive at the Post Office, said: “I have heard many inspiring stories of postmasters going the extra mile and I have welcomed the opportunity to hear first-hand how postmasters in Scotland have fared during the pandemic including Dreghorn.

“All retailers have been affected and Post Office was no exception. The next few weeks and months will be a critical period as we try and return to a sense of normality.

“Post Office branches have a vital role to play in supporting their customers and communities, as well as helping small businesses and independent retailers get back on their feet.”

Postmasters heard more about three areas of their business that could help them recover some of the lost trade as a result of the pandemic – Mails and Parcels, banking – cash withdrawals and deposits, and the return in demand for foreign exchange.

· Many people rely on easy access to cash. To spend that cash, businesses need to continue to accept it, and be able to conveniently deposit it into their business bank accounts. That ‘cash cycle’ will play a vital part in our economic recovery from Covid-19. Post Office branches are often the last counter in town where businesses can deposit a day’s takings. Business deposits are growing between 10 - 20% week on week

· For small businesses, being able to get goods out to customers is key. Post Office’s ‘Drop and Go’ parcel service has seen a 70% increase in use month on month.

· Last month, Post Office reactivated its online foreign exchange service and its branch pre-order operation. Customers planning trips abroad can order over 60 currencies online for next day home delivery or collection from all 11,500 Post Office branches. The option to collect in-branch helps increase footfall at our branches and on the UK’s High Streets.