TSA hails lobbying success as Government extends CCA scheme
Commercial laundries encouraged to sign up as industry receives massive rebates.
The TSA has welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the CCA (Climate Change Agreement) scheme for another two years. The decision follows timely consultation responses to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) by the TSA and its CCA sector partners. The Association argued that funding the investment in technology to help reduce energy consumption was increasingly difficult for commercial laundries, who had already been economically hard hit by Brexit and Covid, and that Government incentives were essential to help the industry meet net-zero commitments.
“As an industry, we have benefitted from millions of pounds worth of rebates of gas and electricity taxes thanks to the CCA,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “Over 140 sites have taken part. However, we are aware of several sites that have missed out on the last application deadline. With the current cost pressures on energy, this extension is welcome news and we encourage all TSA members – and indeed, all commercial laundries – to make use of the scheme.”
The new CCA entrant application window opened on 1 May 2023. This is a short window and laundries have until September 2023 to register and prepare for the scheme.
The TSA entered into an umbrella agreement under the CCA on behalf of the laundry industry in 2012. “This scheme has been a great incentive and motivation for industrial laundries to measure and optimise their energy usage,” says Stevens.
The laundry industry set itself an ambitious target of 25% energy savings in the CCA’s first four target periods, which ended in 2021. The industry’s overall performance was well on its way to meeting that target. Sadly, the inefficiencies caused by the Covid years, along with associated higher temperature requirements, put a dent in the figures.
Having said that, as a result of being part of the CCA, each participating site has several years’ worth of primary energy data available to them. With all the new carbon emissions commitments, this data gives the laundry industry a vital resource and an advantage to help build on the energy efficiency measures it has undertaken already.
However, as the TSA points out, at the start of the process improving energy efficiency was relatively easy, as industry operators picked the ‘low hanging fruit.’ Now laundries will need to aim for tougher, ‘higher branches’ of efficiencies to meet the current 4.5% targets – which is a key reason why the TSA urged the Government for the extension. Indeed, the TSA has been actively contributing to the Government strategy, to ensure the scheme is relevant to the laundry industry, and has succeeded in opening new entrant application windows and negotiating industry targets. Next, the Association will further engage with Government to negotiate targets and the terms of the umbrella agreement.
“Not everything in the CCA garden is rosy,” says Stevens. “We have raised several issues with DESNZ, such as the scheme only tracks comparative performance targets and does not factor in improvements in actual carbon emissions which is a key measurement when it comes to energy efficiency measures. Additional to addressing these concerns in the mid-long term, we are looking to the Government for guidance on future energy options. We are also asking for serious capital funding opportunities to plan future energy optimisation demands.”
For more information on the CCA scheme visit cclevy.com. For help and advice on the scheme, contact the TSA.
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TSA continues to develop strategy for recruiting new laundry employees
International Laundry Day is part of pan-European co-operation to raise profile of the industry
How does the laundry industry tackle staff shortages? It’s not just a UK problem, our European colleagues are dealing with the same issue. Not surprisingly, it was one of the key discussion points when the TSA attended the European Textile Services Association’s annual National Associations meeting on 26th-28th April in Bern, Switzerland.
The aim of the discussion around recruitment was to discover commonalities between the campaigns different national associations had been running to promote the laundry sector as an attractive employment prospect for potential recruits.
The TSA shared its recruitment strategy from working with its People Steering Group, including a recruitment information flyer for members to use at careers fairs. The flyer demonstrates the opportunities within the industry, and the vital role the industry plays in the UK economy. It was designed to answer the questions of young people moving into employment, showing that the laundry industry is committed to sustainability and environmental friendliness as well as providing a financially and professionally rewarding career with fantastic opportunities for progression.
The German Association (DTV) had also put together a portfolio of support material to help laundries recruit younger people and the Belgian Association (FBT) has started an education programme within schools. The meeting also heard about the successes of open days organised by the French Association (GEIST). Consequently, the Associations agreed to hold “International Laundry Day 2024” and will encourage members to host an open day to help educate potential employees about the industry.
“Our industry is a real hidden gem, and it can be a great career for many people,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “This meeting has really shown the work all the National Associations do to increase awareness of the industry and help their members showcase the opportunities it offers.”
As part of this campaign to raise awareness, recently the TSA met with Derek Thomas MP to discuss the concerns of the industry regarding labour shortages. They talked about the problems caused by Brexit and the pandemic, emphasising the need to attract local labour and school leavers in particular in order to mitigate these issues.
The TSA will continue to work with its People Steering Group to further develop this outreach scheme, as well as continuing with its apprenticeship scheme and the “Giving People a Second Chance” initiative which can also play a key role in attracting new staff.
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Government responding to needs of commercial laundries – at last
TSA Gains the Support for Cross-Party Meeting in Westminster
TSA met with Derek Thomas, the MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (St Ives), in Westminster this week, to discuss the ongoing issues facing the commercial laundry industry. Association member Luke Edwards from Mounts Bay Laundry in Penzance helped to set up and also attended the meeting, as Mr Thomas is his local MP. Having pitched the case for the industry, the TSA is delighted that Derek Thomas has agreed to sponsor and to help organise a cross-party meeting in Westminster with an invitation to be sent to TSA’s members’ local MPs.
“We are hugely grateful to Derek for his help and for being such a strong advocate for our industry,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. Derek had previously visited Mounts Bay Laundry and so had a good understanding of the scale of the industry and its challenges. The Westminster meeting covered a lot of ground, including energy support, labour shortages and, more generally, what the industry can do to ensure that it is visible to the Government going forward. Also, demonstrating the industry’s role it plays in supporting the UK economy and how it can help the Government achieve its sustainability targets.
Stevens emphasises the work of the TSA’s members and the new Lobbying Steering Group in helping raise the industry’s profile. “The work has resulted in many MPs visiting laundries and recognising the importance of our industry.”
The rise in the industry’s profile is evident in the questions being raised in Parliament – just last month SNP member Martyn Day and Conservative Anne Marie Morris raised the issue of the need to support commercial laundries under the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme. Even Grant Shapps the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, mentioned the issue in his recent letter, saying, “I recognise the ongoing challenges for the commercial laundry sector due to significant increases in global energy prices and other cost of living pressures.”
The aim of the upcoming cross-party meeting will be to provide an overview of the commercial laundry industry. It will underline the value it brings to the UK Economy and the reliance of both hospitality and healthcare on the industry. In addition, it will look to develop a strategy to allow the industry to engage fully in the newly formed Energy Efficiency Taskforce.
“At last, after all the lobbying by TSA and its members, the Government is starting to listen to commercial laundries,” says Stevens. “The support from Derek and other MPs is critical if we are to drive the messages home. But this is just the beginning, we can’t let up. There is much work to do.”
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
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Update from the TSA
TSA strengthens relationship with TRSA in America
TSA’s stateside trip heralds a new phase in the partnership between the two associations
The Textile Services Association (TSA) has announced an important new stage in its partnership with its American counterpart, the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA).
Both associations have agreed to working closer together to share knowledge with each other across key areas, which will help to drive improvements in the services provided to both TSA and TRSA members. The areas include training and certification as well as aligning future global industry strategies and policies.
The TSA recently sent a team over to America to the TRSA’s head office in Alexandria, Virginia. While there they met with Joe Ricci, the president and CEO of the TRSA, and other members of the association’s leadership. A key element of the trip was the opportunity for the TSA’s team to examine the certification system and methodology the TRSA has developed. TRSA quantifies the industry’s commitment to cleanliness and sustainability through its Clean Green and Hygienically Clean Certification programs. as well as professional qualification Certified Professional Laundry Manager (CPLM) designation. ‘You can only be impressed with what they have built’, says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA.
Alongside this, the TSA’s director of finance and membership was able to sit in on a meeting of the TRSA’s diversity and inclusion committee, discussing approaches and sharing ideas on this vital topic.
They also attended the TRSA’s 13th annual legislative conference at the Westin City Center in Washington DC. There Shyju Skariah, the TSA’s director of programmes and projects, gave a keynote presentation to the Next Generation Committee which focussed on the TSA’s sustainability roadmap. He also explained how the TSA supported by the TRSA, has been collaborating with De Montfort University to support its research into subjects relevant to hygiene management in the commercial laundry industry, including comparisons with the domestic and OPL markets.
The final day of the conference was focussed on face-to-face meetings with federal legislators and key staff members. “This kind of contact between the government and the laundry industry is something we would love to arrange in the UK,” says David. “Kevin Schwalb, vice president of government relations at the TRSA, has kindly agreed to support this agenda with us in the UK.”
“Throughout my tenure with TRSA, we shared information about industry trends and best practices,” said Joe Ricci. “Since the pandemic, we have increasingly worked closely with the TSA in the UK and have formed strong working relationships. The recent visit from the team has further built on this partnership.“
David is confident that the trip marks an important new phase in the relationship for both organisations. “It was fantastic to meet with Joe and the rest of the team at the TRSA. While their operation is ten times the size of the TSA we have so much in common – after all, laundry is laundry wherever it’s processed,” he says. “It was great to watch and learn from the TRSA Team and also share some of the work we have done. It really felt like a win-win trip! Going forward we are going to have regular meetings to build further on the relationship, and we are delighted that Joe agreed to speak at our Spring Conference about how we can continue to develop this partnership.”
The conference takes place on 3rd-4th May 2023. Booking information can be found on The TSA Website.
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Christeyns runs Friends and Family Day
18 April 2023
Group of young visitors to the Christeyns site at Bradford
Following on from the successful facility visits hosted during Bradford Manufacturing Weeks and The Christeyns Experience, hygiene specialist Christeyns last week invited Friends and Family to an ‘Introduction to the World of Work Day’ at their headquarters in Bradford.
The firm provides a lot of support to students and young people around the Bradford district through various company and council initiatives, but this event was for relatives or friends of employees between the ages of 13-18 who might be interested in finding out more about how Christeyns works.
The day was a great success, with the visitors participating in ‘The Apprentice’ task of creating a washing up liquid product with set challenges around market research, negotiation of raw materials, calculation of price and profits, creating visuals for their product and the pitch.
“It was an enjoyable day, providing insight into potential career opportunities and a better understanding of what we do,” explained Lucy Duckworth, HR & Marketing Administrator. “I’m sure the young people were keen to see what their parent or relative does at work and how a ‘real-life’ workplace works.”
For further information visit:
Techie Fibres
PPE is critical for the protection of workers in a variety of different professions and industries – but in order to do its job it has to be specified correctly and looked after properly, throughout its life.
The UK’s Textile Services Association (TSA) is the trade body representing commercial laundries and textile suppliers. Many of its members have specialist expertise in PPE, supplying, managing and maintaining protective workwear for a variety of industries and the healthcare sector. Here Shyju Skariah, Director of Programmes and Projects at the TSA, considers the issues.
These days there is a huge variety of personal protective equipment (PPE) available in industry and healthcare to protect workers and the public. From hi-vis jackets for civil engineers, to garments designed to guard against hazardous chemicals in factories, to PPE to protect doctors and patients in healthcare, each has its own application and is manufactured specifically to meet that need. Typically these garments are constructed from fabrics which are formed by blending multiple fibres of natural or synthetic origin, which are then treated with chemicals by surface spraying, immersion or penetrative procedures to provide maximum protection and to enhance long-life functionality.
To read the full article, please click here.
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Laundry Cost Index: 2022/2023 FYQ4
Laundry Cost Index
Please see our latest published Laundry Cost Index for 2022/2023 FYQ4 below:
Please see the previous annual increases below for comparison to the latest cost index with an annual increase of 9.34%:
If you have any queries or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
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E: tsa@tsa-uk.org
Packed TSA Spring Conference set for magical record
Stimulating programme covers variety of key issues, from the environment to wellbeing
3-4 May 2023, Hilton St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent
The TSA Spring Conference has brought together a cornucopia of talented speakers and stimulating presentations – so perhaps it’s not surprising that it’s set to beat all records in terms of numbers attending.
Presentations will cover topics as diverse as the environment, including a keynote address from award-winning environmentalist and author Natalie Fee, laundry fire safety, the energy market, and wellbeing. The ‘people matter’ section includes a talk by Matt Bowes of Vision Linens, who shares his story of leaving prison and being given a second chance, and a discussion on menopause awareness, its effect on the workforce and how best to approach it.
Christoph Geppert of Grain Sustainability is joined by Carmen Cardenal Pac of Ecolab to look at where we are as an industry on the TSA’s Sustainability Roadmap as well as, more specifically, the issues around microplastics and PFASs.
In the arresting titled ‘1+1=3’ presentation, Joe Ricci, president and CEO of the TRSA, will join conference to show how the UK and USA textile associations are working together and what they are achieving and hope to build in the future.
A fantastical keynote address from Keith Barry will look at wellbeing in the workplace. As a world-renowned ‘mentalist, magician and subconscious mind specialist’ his approach is likely to be thought-provoking and distinctly left-field.
Keith is also providing the pre-dinner entertainment for the Industry Dinner, taking place on the evening of May 3rd. Other networking events include a new members reception before dinner in the Sir Bobby Robson Lobby.
Conference bookings are already at over 140, so anyone thinking of coming should contact the TSA as soon as possible. Email events@tsa-uk.org for information or visit The TSA Website.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
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