UK
David Stevens, CEO of the Textile Services Association (TSA) is encouraging smaller independent laundries to sign up with the association as the industry gets to grips with the effects of Covid-19 and looks to the future. In his ninth catch-up message to the industry he also reports on the progress of initiatives designed to alleviate the effects of the lockdown.
Stevens reports: "The main focus over the last few days has been on producing the re-opening guidelines for hospitality laundries. "The TSA is maintaining its lobbying efforts for attaining hospitality status and finally, just possibly, is starting to make some progress with the re-usable gowns project although with virtually no support from the Government. We are also now ready to share the industry economic report which has been updated," he said.
Hospitality Grant
"The number of companies that have been acknowledged as part of the hospitality sector (or other eligible sectors) has increased to 14. If you have been accepted, please get in touch as it will help us with our lobbying message. In case you would prefer to stay anonymous or if you would only like us to share your council/region please let us know. Therefore, if you are accepted or equally if you encounter a push back from your council please email."
Re-usable gowns
"We are slowly making progress, in spite of virtually a total lack of Government support. What in principle has been agreed, if we do all the work, they will give it a stamp of approval and publicise it as a recommended arrangement. This week we have started working more closely with NHSI which is supporting the project and PCIAW which is a trade association for garment and fabric manufacturers which has also had similar experiences as ourselves when working with the Government. The aim is that they will look at the procurement and we will look at the servicing element and then go back to Government with the solution. We have a further project call this Friday so more next week."
Membership push
“Since the beginning of lockdown, we have opened our communication to the industry as a whole to ensure we can all work together and get through the crisis. As we are likely to be in this new world for some time it has been agreed with the Board that we should put a time limit on this,” he said.
“We are now communicating with over 50 non-members which is fantastic and hopefully everyone is benefiting in some way from the work the TSA has been doing. As a trade association we are desperately keen to have all the industry on board, so we want to try and persuade all the smaller independent laundries who are not yet signed up as members to join.
“We are also aware that now may not be the best time to invoice you so we have agreed that subject to you signing up from the end of July we will issue you full complimentary membership for May and June. We will be contacting you all with a turnover declaration so we can let you know how cheap it will be! Once you have made a commitment, we will issue you with your membership log in for our website which will give you full access to all the resources and benefits. Remember all the income we get is spent on promoting and supporting the industry so the more members we have the more we can do.”
Webinar for small indpendent laundries
The next set of webinars will be hosted tomorrow, Thursday 21 May. If anyone has not had a chance to register and would like to join please do so by emailing by close of business today with the following:
1. Any new key concerns you may have
2. Which region’s web conference you would like to join:
Midlands: 9am-9.45am
North: 11am-11.45am
South: 2pm-2.45pm
