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Based in Greater Manchester, Richard Haworth typically produces luxury bed, bath, and table linen for hotels and restaurants. Since a nationwide lockdown was issued, the company has shifted its attention towards the PPE shortages within the NHS.To support healthcare workers battling COVID-19, Richard Haworth is producing approximately 400 scrubs each week for hospitals across the country. In addition to this, they have donated 10,000 slippers and face cloths to Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and 400 towels to the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
Marketing Manager, David Stockton, explains how they quickly rose to the challenge:
"Once it became clear that there was a PPE shortage around the country, we looked at how we could help. Using the fabrics available to us, our team quickly came up with a design that could be produced knowing that time was limited and could be used by those that need the equipment as soon as possible."
In what he described as a "crazy few weeks", the production team used their existing resources and skills to provide UK hospitals with the much-needed scrubs. Production manager, Kathryn Longworth, describes the challenges behind this incredible initiative:
"Our manufacturing facility is set up to produce luxury bed linen and to move to producing garments, in many cases without the correct machinery, did make it challenging. However, our amazing team used their years of experience and we quickly came up with solutions so we could produce the scrubs efficiently yet still of the quality we produce for our luxury hotel clients."
The hospitality industry has been hard hit by the pandemic. Companies like Richard Haworth have seen an unprecedented decline in demand due to social distancing measures, as hotels and restaurants close their doors for business. And yet as demand in the hospitality sector plummets, the need for protective equipment has soared.
Managing director Raj Ruia said: "We’ve just been inundated with enquiries from hospitals and care providers. Normally we’re a supplier of bedding and linens for the hospitality industry. But we’ve had PPE enquiries from existing customers and new customers."
He went on to add that Richard Haworth was also observing strict distancing measures, despite working at full capacity. The large mill in Kearsley spans 240,000 square feet, allowing production staff to maintain a suitable distance.
About Richard Haworth
Established in 1876, Richard Haworth has a track record second to none in meeting the needs of restaurants, hotels, event organisers, cruise ships and airlines. For more information about Richard Haworth, please contact David Stockton on 01204 702300 or by email to david_stockton@ruia.co.uk. Please address any postal queries to Richard Haworth Ltd Kearsley Mill, Stoneclough, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 1RH and check out their website https://www.richardhaworth.co.uk/ for any further information.
Contact Info:
Name: David Stockton
Email: Send Email
Organization: Richard Haworth
Address: Richard Haworth Ltd Kearsley Mill, Stoneclough, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 1RH
Phone: 01204 702300
Website: https://www.richardhaworth.co.uk/
Release ID: 88954334