UK
The Textile Service Association (TSA) continues to press the Government for action to aid hospitality laundries in need of assistance. The association has had some success in pushing forward plans to supply the NHS and healthcare establishments with reusable PPE (see LCNi report ).
In his 11th newsletter to TSA members, the association's CEO David Stevens reported: “At least this newsletter can start to talk about hospitality plans to reopen, we don’t yet know when, how or if it will work financially – let’s hope this proves to be good news for everyone. We as an industry are in unprecedented times and many of us will be wondering about our futures as we are about to enter week 14 of lock down. How can we continue to survive with no income and virtually no support? It is a question we will keep asking the Government.
“I just want to comment on what an incredible industry we are, we somehow just seem to be getting on with it and I truly hope that in the next few weeks we will at least start to get a feeling of what the ramp up may look like and we can see some light at the end of the tunnel (not CBW). At the TSA the whole team is passionate about continuing to support you in whatever way we can, you all deserve to come out of this together. Lots has been happening and most is covered below but please let us know if there is anything else you think we should be doing.
Hospitality Grant
“We have been trying to increase the lobbying activity around our industry getting recognised as part of the hospitality industry. While we have had some success it has only been a few operations so far and until the guidelines are changed, we are going to struggle. Therefore, with the support of Mark Woolfenden (board member) we have requested guidance from an experienced lobbyist.
“Following his advice last week, we asked specific members in Tory MP constituencies to compose a personalised letter to their local MPs requesting to raise these concerns with treasury department ministers. The key to the success of the campaign is that the members follow up the letter and try to get copies of it so we can then engage the lobbyist in direct follow-up with the Minister. We have been warned that there is so much lobbying activity at the moment amounting to hundreds of letters a day, we should not be over optimistic although he did feel our case was strong if we can get the right audience. Please, if you have been asked to write a letter, do the follow up and keep TSA administrator Emma informed.
“We are also planning on sending a further open letter from the TSA to plead your case and to add additional pressure on the Government. We will share a copy of this letter and please circulate this with your contacts in local and central governments and the mainstream press to help us re-emphasise the pressing needs of our industry.”
