The Textile Services Association (TSA) says it has a series of key questions for the UK’s Labour government to answer, and is to lobby the new influx of MPs.
The Association is calling on the government to focus on sustainability, particularly in two key areas: healthcare, where it says the UK can save £millions by switching to reusable PPE, and recycling, where government action could help the TSA’s initiative to stop thousands of tonnes of hospitality linens ending up in landfill each year.
Then there’s the fundamental need for help as the commercial laundry industry transitions to carbon net zero, and the TSA is also raising the question of labour shortages and apprenticeship levy fund spending. In a more targeted area, the Association is looking to government to help promote the understanding of safer laundry practices within the social care sector.
In recent years the TSA, via its Lobbying Steering Group, has had significant success with raising the profile of the laundry industry and engaging with both MPs and government officials. However, the TSA’s CEO, David Stevens, says there can be no complacency. He said: “We have to keep pushing at the door. For too long we were overlooked – as was underlined during the lockdowns. We need to continue to increase the awareness of the importance of our industry to UK Plc. A successful laundry industry can help the Government achieve its aspirations for economic growth.”
Nor is the TSA a lone voice. Stevens continued: “We will continue to work alongside our partners, such as UKHospitality and the CBI, to strengthen our lobbying message. We have a very close relationship with UKHospitality and will be coordinating efforts in areas such as the apprenticeship levy, where we are keen to see the funds being allowed to be spent on different types of training. We will also be contributing to the CBI’s campaigns on the future of work and skills and their drive for progress on energy and climate change.”
The TSA is calling on its members to reach out to their local MP and invite them to their laundries. Stevens added: “This proved to be a very successful initiative last year, resulting in several meetings with MPs, questions in the house and cross-party discussions. MPs learnt about the work we do and the support we need, and were happy to take up our cause. We need to ensure the 355 new MPs are equally well informed.”
To help laundries initiate contact with their MP, the TSA has put together a template invitation. The Lobbying Steering Group has also issued three tips for members engaging in the effort:
- Send the invitation both via email and as a physical letter in the post.
- Be persistent, if you don’t receive a reply make sure to contact them again and again.
- Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back as not all MPs will engage – but if we can find the ones that will, it will have a big impact.
The template is available on request from the TSA.
