UK
The Textile Services Association (TSA) spring at St George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent, celebrated getting a long-term ambition over the line. According to CEO David Stevens, it seems lobbying is beginning to pay off. “One of the new steering groups for the TSA this year is lobbying and when we put the programme together it was still in its early days and we weren’t sure we would have much to say. But I think we have made some great progress,” said Stevens.
After years of trying to persuade Parliament that the laundry industry needs its voice to be heard by the Government, there has been a breakthrough. After a focused and dogged effort by a TSA member to connect with his local MP the TSA met with Derek Thomas, 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.
TSA’s Emma Andersson, taking up the story, explained: “TSA member Luke Edwards from Mounts Bay Laundry in Penzance helped to set up, and also attended, the meeting. Having pitched the case for the industry, the TSA is delighted that Mr Thomas has agreed to sponsor and to help organise a cross-party meeting in Westminster with an invitation to be sent to TSA members' local MPs.
“Thanks to the Lobbying Steering Group, which has driven response from MPs we are raising awareness – even Grant Schapps (Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) commented on the amount of letters he has received from MPs approached by their local TSA laundries. Also, members have been inviting their local MPs to their laundries and they will then understand the scale and importance of our industry.
Derek Thomas MP is “super-excited about laundry”, said Andersson, “and is happy to support us. There is a pot of money available for a sustainability task force and he is keen for this to happen and has sent data.”
