Bags of help for the NHS from leading Tunbridge Wells-based business group

Friday 17 April 2020

FTA, the leading business group based in Tunbridge Wells, is lending its own direct support to NHS workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing healthcare workers with “laundry bags” in which to safely wash potentially contaminated clothing at the end of a shift.  And while FTA’s members, logistics businesses across the country, keep the nation supplied with all the products and materials it needs to continue operating during the lockdown, the chance to provide direct help to NHS workers around its Tunbridge Wells head office was one which the organisation jumped at, as Sian Brady, FTA’s facilities manager explains:  

“Many of the training and information events which we would usually run for our members have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus lockdown, and so the delegate bags produced for attendees would have been rendered useless.  They are colourfast and easily hold a full set of clothing in the washing machine, so it seemed the perfect opportunity for us to ensure that they did not go to waste.  We are delighted to be able to help the NHS heroes working for all of us across the South East in this way.” 

The 1,500 bags have been donated to be used by staff at East Surrey Hospital, Pembury Hospital, Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Pembury and Tonbridge Healthcare Hub, as well as individual healthcare workers across Kent.    As Ms Brady explains, this has been a great opportunity for the association to give back to those working so hard to combat the spread of the virus: 

“If we had not been able to donate the bags in this way, they would simply have been discarded as they had no other purpose – it is a great opportunity for FTA to give back to our NHS heroes, and we are thrilled to be able to help.” 

FTA is one of the UK’s leading business organisations, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and the more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods.  With Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. FTA supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.