The UK’s largest yacht maker has donated all its protective gear to health, care and council workers after shutting down production.
Princess Yachts, which has sent home the majority of its 3,000 workforce in a “controlled shutdown” of its five Plymouth factories, said it has recognised the “challenges” faced by the NHS, and local government in obtaining enough safety equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Antony Sheriff, chief executive of Princess Yachts, met Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans to discuss the crisis and offered the firm’s unused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the local authority.
The council will now distribute the gear to those on the frontline in the fight against the virus pandemic.
Beneficiaries in the South West will range from the NHS, through to those who are “working tirelessly to keep society functioning”, such as care workers and other teams.
Cllr Evans and Mr Sheriff discussed the “critical gap” facing medium-sized business in terms of current support to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the health secretary’s statement that there have been challenges in the supply of PPE, especially to NHS staff.
The yacht manufacturer said it wanted to help ensure essential services receive much-required protective equipment that is in short supply across the world.
Mr Sheriff said: “We hope this donation of our PPE goes some way to helping NHS staff and other such services in these incredibly difficult times.
“We are in regular discussions with Plymouth City Council and if we can find other ways to help in the collective effort against COVID-19 we will do whatever we can to support.”
Cllr Evans said: “I am extremely grateful to Princess Yachts for this act of kindness and community spirit. I would encourage more companies locally to follow their example and think about how they can contribute in the battle against COVID-19. The fastest way for us to recover from this is if we all come together now.”
Plymouth City Council has said its employees are working “flat out” to manage the impact on COVID-19, maintaining services, protecting the elderly and vulnerable, while implementing fast-changing directives from Government.
It stressed it had been keeping customers and staff safe and making a “phased retreat” to homeworking and closing down services in line with Government guidance.
Last week, Princess Yachts, which has an order book of £0.6billion, has told most of its workers to go home immediately and that they will be classed as on “furlough”.
They will remain in the manufacturers’ payroll and will be sent further details regarding pay and conditions.
Princess took the unilateral decision to close its operation, but some staff with roles critical to safety at the plants will remain in the factories, however, with safety measures in place.
Princess Yachts has already allowed workers who can work from home to do so.
Princess Yachts stressed: “The health and safety of our employees is of paramount importance and is our main priority, along with our network, suppliers and international clientele.
“We also take our role and responsibilities within the local community very seriously.”
