June 2021 – TSA

IT’S BACK AND IT’S BOLD: TSA CONFERENCE 2021

Diversity, sustainability, HR, Covid, and more on exceptional conference programme

It’s live, in person: the TSA Conference returns, after a hiatus of 24 months, in September 2021. Taking place at the Ardencote Hotel and Spa, Warwickshire, 28-29 September, this is the TSA’s first live conference since Autumn 2019, following the cancellation of the Spring 2020 event due to Covid. So there’s plenty of catching up to do and the conference agenda offers an exceptionally bold, strong and insightful programme.

With its Diversity and Inclusion campaign very much in mind, the TSA has secured an outstanding speaker for the keynote address. Nigel Owens MBE is widely regarded as Rugby Union’s best ever referee. He was also the first openly gay man to come out in professional rugby. He’ll talk about diversity, equality and mental health and his presentation is not to be missed.

Need advice on the subject of negotiation? Whether with employees, business partners or customers, for people in the know Suzanne Williams QPM is the go-to choice. The former Scotland Yard detective has worked with governments at the highest level in cases of kidnap and abduction. She’ll bring all her experience and expertise to explore the themes of listening effectively and how to get the best outcomes out of business situations.

Olivia Flattery’s presentation covers HR, keeping compliant and getting the most out of your team. She’ll also give Conference an update on the latest HR trends and regulations, as well as talking about her role with the TSA, providing members with HR support.

Sustainability is a key challenge for the textile industry and Matt Hanrahan, CEO of Reskinned Resources, will outline plans to provide a 100% solution to textile recycling. Reskinned has been working with the TSA to develop the circular textile economy, using innovative recycling processes.

Adding to the Conference mix is a variety of shorter, informative presentations covering subjects as diverse as textile industry knowledge networks and public relations. There will also be a panel discussion covering Covid.

The main conference is on Wednesday 29^th September. On Tuesday 28^th the TSA will host the industry dinner including entertainment, with a debut gig for the industry band ‘Mark Stains and the Rejects.’

For more information and to book spaces, visit the events section. Places are limited so early booking is strongly recommended. Costs are £80 for the conference only and £120 for the conference and dinner. For accommodation contact the Ardencote Hotel direct. TSA has secured a room rate of £90.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:

E tsa@tsa-uk.org

T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600

Women in the Industry Initiative – Our next two brilliant Success Stories

Success Stories

Our working group Women in the Industry is leading the way for our Diversity and Inclusion topic. One of TSA’s first action points and as part of Women in the Industry’s initiative we are sharing and highlighting success stories of our laundry employees. Following our first entries last month, please see our next two fantastic entries below, congratulations!

Michelle Doyle
Loading Manager
Johnsons Hotel Linen Division, Leeds

Michelle has been in the industry for thirty years in various Operator/ Supervisory roles – starting at Brooks Service Group and moving to Whiteriver/Afonwen before JSG. She works extremely hard to ensure she achieves whatever specific target she is set and contributes to the team.

This hard work has finally paid off, and she now has the recognition she thoroughly deserves as she takes on the role of Loading Manager at our new £10 million facility in Leeds. I am sure her dedication, and experience will come to the fore, and she will make a success of her role, and be an integral part of the Leeds Management team.

Michelle has worked for me over three decades, and as well as experience, and dedication 100% support she brings true loyalty, which is a rare commodity. I am so pleased her efforts have finally been rewarded with this role.

Jorden Burton
Account Development Manager,
Technical Solutions
Micronclean Ltd

Jorden joined the business in 2011 as a Customer Service Coordinator. At age 18 she was completely new to the industry following a travel apprenticeship she entered upon leaving school. Jorden worked in Customer Service for 6 years and progressed to be Customer Service Supervisor within that time.

Jorden managed the Customer Service Team through a departmental merge of Microncleans’ textile and consumable divisions. In May 2019, Jorden branched out into the field and became an Account Development Manager for the Technical Division of Micronclean where she consults an extensive portfolio of some of the world’s largest companies advising the highest level of GMP solutions. Jorden is a rising star at Micronclean and the next stage of her career will be to be a part of the Management succession programme and will play an integral part to take the business into 2030 and beyond.

How to send your entries

With help of the group we have created a template in order for you all to send us your entries. It may be recognising a ‘Rising Star’, a long service award, a significant retirement or a member of the team who has contributed outside work with a local charity, whatever the story we want to hear from you and tell the industry about some of the amazing people we have in it.

Please note all genders can of course be entered but as this is part of the Women in the Industry initiative we do encourage you to enter your successful female colleagues in particular.

If you have any queries or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

T: +44 (0)20 3151 5600
E: tsa@tsa-uk.org

Diversity and Inclusion: TSA calls for action

Commercial laundries commit to re-balancing the gender and racial ratios

“The numbers speak for themselves – in commercial laundries, on the shop floor, the gender balance is 50:50. At board level it’s 80:20, in favour of men,” says Emma Andersson, membership manager of the Textile Services Association (TSA), which represents commercial laundries. “The race ratio figures also are being reviewed and we expect to see a similar imbalance.”

The TSA is launching a series of initiatives designed to help re-balance the industry, to get more women and BAME employees into management and board positions. The association has established a Diversity and Inclusion working group. Its vision is to change the face of the industry, pushing a more diverse and inclusive approach, where balanced leadership is the new norm. Andersson is taking a leading role in the initiative. “By educating and empowering individuals we can create an environment where everyone can thrive.”

The TSA is backing its concept with action. At a recent Diversity and Inclusion workshop, attended by directors and managers representing commercial laundries across the UK, a series of tools and strategies were discussed that could be initiated within their own organisations. The workshop was led by the CBI’s head of diversity and inclusion, Adeife Onwuzulike. Areas that were considered included what language to use, unconscious bias, data collection, and the need for leaders to engage in and encourage the process.

“Over 70% of the industry was represented at the workshop and the feedback has been 100% positive,” says Andersson. “I am delighted that members are on board with the initiative and acknowledge the action that needs to be taken.”

Rebecca Morgan is head of HR at Johnson’s Hotel Linen and is on the TSA’s Women in the Industry Group. She says, “We at Johnsons Hotel Linen are proud to support the TSA’s project groups on Women in the Industry and Diversity and Inclusion. The TSA has recognised that, as an industry, we need to promote and encourage representation across all levels of the business. We are keen to fully support the Association on this journey.”

In other moves, the TSA signed up to the CBI’s ‘Change the Race Ratio’ back in November 2020. Now the association is undertaking an industry survey to get a proper understanding of the situation. Once that’s analysed, TSA will be using the information to focus on areas where a positive change can be achieved.

At the upcoming TSA Conferences and events there will be more focus on a diverse guest speaker programme, and profiles of successful inclusion stories will be shared. There will also be a drive to get women and BAME employees to attend, as well as a campaign to encourage them to take part in training courses to advance their careers and personal development.

“We have to acknowledge that there is work to be done here,” says Andersson. “These are the first steps on a long journey. But we are moving in the right direction.”

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:

E tsa@tsa-uk.org

T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600

TSA OFFERS UKHOSPITALITY ADVICE ON TEMPORARY LAUNDRY SUPPLY ISSUES

The situation is getting better; meanwhile Association works with CBI to lobby government

The Textile Services Association (TSA) has wholeheartedly celebrated the bounce back of the hospitality industry, saying that commercial laundries have seen a dramatic increase in demand. However, it has warned that while the recovery is welcomed, it is bringing supply issues. Consequently it has partnered with UKHospitality to issue advice for hospitality operators covering some temporary actions they can consider to alleviate the pressure on their laundry provider.

“The problem is that we’ve been asked to jump from dead slow to full speed overnight,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “To be fair, we’ve been warning that there could be issues for several months. The total lack of government support for the laundry industry means some of our members are really struggling with staffing, the shortage of drivers, supply chain issues, capacity issues due to operating covid-secure factories, and so on.”

Here is the TSA’s advice on temporary actions hospitality operators can take to support their laundry providers:

Talk to your laundry provider to consider how to manage the situation and temporarily reduce your linen requirements. For example:

Encourage multi-night stays

Review bed change policy

Reduce linen required for room make up

Sell up to the occupancy levels your laundry supplier can deliver linen at
Send back any unused stock
Keep the laundry informed of upstream occupancy levels
Give plenty of notice for events and F&B requirements, such as weddings
Understand some laundries may have cash flow issues; prompt payment may really help
If possible, give the laundry time to adapt to the increase in demand

The TSA says that the laundry supply issues are not being felt throughout the UK – some regions have been able to get up to speed more quickly than others.

“Where supply issues do exist, we expect the situation to improve rapidly over the coming weeks,” says Stevens. “With good communication and cooperation, we expect laundries to recover quickly. We are incredibly grateful for the hospitality industry’s understanding during this difficult time.”

In common with many other sectors, especially the hospitality industry, laundries are struggling with staffing issues – a combination of problems created by both the pandemic and Brexit. The TSA is working with the CBI to lobby government to get laundry operatives to be added to the Shortage Occupations List.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:

E tsa@tsa-uk.org

T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600