Jesus De Sousa
All work

PARTNERSHIPS & PURPOSE

Testing a New Way to Support Local Businesses

Post Office Senior Marketing Manager 2024–2025

A partnership pilot designed to bring practical business support closer to local SMEs through trusted Post Office branches.

Partnership Development · B2B Marketing · Proposition Development · Test & Learn

3
Pilot branches
32
Support sessions
c.200
SME owners supported

01The challenge

Where it started.

Test whether Post Office branches could become credible destinations for local business support, not just transactions.

02What I led

What I led.

Helped shape the partnership model and supported the test and learn approach across partner, branch and internal teams.

The pilot journey

Testing whether branches could do more for local businesses.

  1. 01

    Identify

    Recognise the need for more practical local SME support.

  2. 02

    Partner

    Bring together Post Office reach and Grow London Local expertise.

  3. 03

    Test

    Pilot the support model in selected branches.

  4. 04

    Learn

    Evaluate engagement and what worked locally.

  5. 05

    Scale

    Use the learning to inform wider rollout.

Partnerships work when each side brings something the other cannot create as well alone.

The partnership model

Two organisations, one practical offer.

Post Office

Trusted local presence and high street access.

Grow London Local

Business support expertise.

Practical SME support

Advice delivered closer to local businesses.

In market example

Turning partnership strategy into visible local support.

To bring the pilot to life, we created clear branch level communications that made the partnership tangible for small business customers. The leaflet helped explain the offer simply, show credibility and drive local engagement.

Grow London Local and Post Office leaflet offering free tailored support to small businesses, with session times, a branch address and a registration QR code

Initial pilot locations

  • Clapham
  • London Bridge
  • Roman Road

The pilot model was later extended to additional locations, including Croydon, Barnet and Stamford Hill.

03Impact

What it delivered.

3
Pilot branches
32
Support sessions
c.200
SME owners supported

04What I learned

What worked
Combining trusted local access with specialist business support made the partnership more relevant and practical for SMEs.
What I would strengthen
Build a more consistent measurement framework around repeat engagement, business outcomes and longer term value.
What it reinforced
A strong partnership works when each organisation contributes something distinctive and useful to the customer.

What people say

Jesus was creative and passionate, and a strong leader able to pull the teams together to go from discussion, to idea, to execution.

Xavier White FRSAMarketing & CSR Leader

LET’S CONNECT

Let’s talk about what I could bring to your team.

I’m currently exploring senior marketing leadership opportunities where marketing has a meaningful role in shaping customer strategy, commercial growth and the wider business.

London, UK