Face mask collaboration creates 26 jobs and raises £10k for hospital

Brilliant Masks, the Manchester-based sustainable mask company, has created 26 jobs and raised more than £10,000 for Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, as people turn to buying reusable masks rather than disposables.

The company, whose masks are designed in conjunction with doctors from the innovation team at Liverpool’s Alder Hey, are now producing 30,000 masks a month from a standing start since launching in September.

This demand has created 26 new roles across the UK supply chain to keep up with demand.

Noting the collaboration with the doctors at Alder Hey, the company pledged a percentage of sales from every mask sold to give back to the hospital and support its frontline workers in their efforts against the pandemic.

More than £10,000 is to be donated to Alder Hey, with that value set to grow going forwards.

The demand for these masks, which are entirely manufactured in the UK, has seen the business and its partners rapidly scaling up their operation covering spinning the cotton, printing the fabric, sewing the masks and picking and packing.

The soaring demand is being put down to an interest from the public in switching from disposables or cheap imported masks, to more effective, more comfortable, reusable and sustainably produced high quality face coverings.

Simon Turner, marketing director at Brilliant Masks, said: “Our mission all along has been to ensure that we create best in class face coverings which are comfortable, effective, clinically backed and sustainable while ensuring we support the NHS.

“We’ve experienced unprecedented demand and it’s fantastic to be creating and securing jobs in the current climate as the supply chain scales up to meet the fantastic response from customers.

“As face coverings continue to be a vital tool in controlling the pandemic, the business is in strong position to deliver, plus continue our financial support to Alder Hey and fund vital research and healthcare innovation.”

Claire Liddy, director of innovation at Alder Hey, said: “We are delighted to see such a fantastic response from the general public to our face masks.

“It was really important to us to develop an effective, sustainable and locally produced face covering. The money raised will be a huge help to the Hospital, being used to fund vital research and healthcare innovation making a real difference to patients and staff.”

Brilliant Masks have been worn by Coronation Street star, Jack Shepherd and Cold Feet and Fast Show comedian John Thomson.

The range of masks is completely sustainable, coming in ranges to suit adults and children and specifically designed to be worn with glasses preventing them from steaming up.