Coronavirus update: the latest news from East Midlands businesses
Berry bpi recycled products, based on the Heanor Gate Industrial Estate, has made the first delivery of clinical waste sacks to the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in London.
Built over 10 days with the assistance of the UK Armed Forces, the temporary hospital, housed in the Excel Exhibition Centre, has the capacity to treat up to 4,000 patients affected by Covid-19.
The Berry bpi Heanor facility received a call from the NHS to urgently despatch 150,000 clinical waste bags directly to the hospital. Production was rescheduled and the following morning a delivery was arranged with the company’s logistics partner XPO, who has been working tirelessly with the bpi recycled team to ensure that critical supplies are reaching customers.
“We have been working closely with the NHS at the highest level to ensure that we meet the increased demand for clinical waste bags,” said Berry bpi sales director Lorcan Mekitarian. “However, given the speed of development of the Nightingale Hospital, we were asked to deliver these sacks in less than 24 hours. I am deeply proud of the efforts from everyone at bpi and XPO who have helped us in meeting this challenge in very difficult circumstances.”
MTM Products has been enlisted to supply nurse call handset overlays to a leading NHS equipment supplier.
The Chesterfield-based business is manufacturing large quantities of front fascia overlays for the nurse call handsets used in the temporary hospitals being built in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
In total, MTM Products is manufacturing over 14,000 overlays for one of its longstanding medical sector customers. The first 5,000 have already been delivered.
MTM managing cirector, Ian Greenaway, said: “We are proud to be able to play our part in ensuring that the NHS and emergency services receive supplies necessary to fight the COVID-19 virus. We are part of a supply chain for many essential medical and life safety products and will do everything we can to maintain continuity of supply.”
Ashley Oates
Locked in with… Ashley Oates, Ward
Ashley Oates, head of sustainability at Derbyshire-based metal recycling and waste management specialist, Ward, gave us an insight into what it’s like being locked-in with the family.
Who are you locked in with?
My husband Peter and our three children who are 8, 6 and 2.
How has the lockdown and working from home been for you so far?
Busy! My husband and I are both still working so we are tag teaming childcare duties. He works the mornings and I work afternoon/evenings. It has been easier since the school holidays have started. Trying to teach children of varying abilities and entertain a lively two year old at the same time has been interesting! Getting to disappear off into our home office to work is actually a bit of respite.
What has been the best thing about staying in?
Spending lots of time with each other and not having to sit in traffic. I can constantly be available at the end of my phone for calls, messages and emails and I can be in the office at my desk within five steps from the back door. Great for my carbon footprint.
And what have you missed the most?
Checking out what everyone is having for lunch! I finding it tricky to come up with interesting lunch ideas each day.
What previously essential thing have you realised is not actually essential?
A desk in an office. We can 100% manage to work from anywhere in the world with a decent internet connection.
What are the changes you’ve made that you plan on continuing when restrictions are lifted?
Making more use of technology such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom for meetings to reduce travel. It’s more time efficient and it’s better for the environment. I think handshakes might be a thing of the past too.
Have you made progress on any of your bucket list items?
For years I’ve wanted to improve my flexibility in order to be able to do a backwards walkover like when I was a child. I’ve been able to do more yoga during all this time at home and so now I can!
What is the first thing you will do when isolation ends?
I can’t wait to hug people again! I’ll visit my parents and go for tapas at our local pub with friends. Yum! I’m hoping lockdown ends on a sunny day.
