A lot has happened since I last posted a blog to this site. I was only reminded of it when I received the notification for the annual subscription. My first grandchild has joined the family tree, my father has died and his estate affairs have been largely resolved and the business has grown in turnover and profit. We still have a long way to go and then there is Brexit!

The latest events, of course, are all in the shadow of the Coronavirus pandemic and our jolly prime minister’s decision to “lock down” to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed. Today we have been in this condition for two or three weeks, depending on your definition of the start.

In the factory we kept a day or two ahead of events as the crisis unfolded and drafted policies, prepared for people to work from home, where they can, and managed to avoid being “bounced” into decisions and keep on the front foot.

By the time Boris was telling us to stay at home, it was clear that we had a vital contribution to make. We have a massive and on-going demand for the powder blend that is used in crematoria to absorb the mercury oxides emitted from the incineration of old-fashioned mercury amalgam fillings. (Apparently this is the most significant route for mercury to enter the environment and is therefore subject to restrictions, except in the USA of course). Our customer tells me that he needs to ship a container load to Italy which I presume is a direct consequence of the many virus related deaths in Italy. We also have received many enquiries for packing sanitising fluids which we are now producing a fast as we can. Then there is our on-going work to support the farming and horticultural sectors which provide food. On those three fronts we have important work to do and we are running two shifts to do it.

I say all this because every day as I brief everyone “socially distanced”on the shop floor plus those logged in by “Microsoft Teams” who see me remotely, I feel it necessary to justify why we are asking people to come in to work and seemingly defy the instructions of the cabinet ministers who tell us all to stay at home. Our people are afraid. They are afraid for themselves and for their loved ones at home who fear them returning home with the virus that might kill them. Some, of course, like the idea that they could be at home watching television and being paid 80% of their wage and expecting their job to exist when the all-clear is sounded. So in addition to the constant self-questioning I am also looking to enhance their safety at work by maximising the separation, encouraging the hand-washing, the cleaning of surfaces and the keeping outsiders’ and their virus risk at bay. What more can we do? We have started producing hand sanitising gel for ourselves and our employees’ families.

The fear also leads to previously un-witnessed anger and aggression in people as well as a host of other symptoms of stress that need to be recognised for what they are and managed accordingly. All of it in the midst of learning to cope with a new way of working with colleagues and others by Skype, Teams and Zoom, not to mention the juggling of the phone manager mysteries. These new skills and systems will have long-term benefits and implications for managing staff in the future but I am not one of those who believe that a video meeting is a wholly adequate substitute for a face to face one even if it is usually quicker.

Despite all the pressure and change we did manage to get through our ISO9001 audit which was done remotely and this was a big tick for our Quality Assurance Manager.

It has been a surprise to find that apart from the many spivs who are keen to obtain supplies of sanitising gel in improbable quantities we have been pursued by both new and old customers for repacking work that has never been on our radar before. Is this a result of Brexit, the pandemic or our newly improved website now properly under our control by our recently returned Digital Manager?

Today I worry that the unfolding crisis of the NHS need for PPE will finally extinguish our efforts for the lack of our own PPE. We also need gloves and masks. Let’s see what next week will bring.