southport, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found

WANTED: YOUR NEWS AND STORIES FOR SOUTHPORT
Email local news to us including image(s) southport@qlocal.co.uk
Follow / Report to us on Twitter @SouthportQlocal
Follow / Comment with us on Facebook qlocalsouthport
  1. Published on: 25/11/2020 05:54 AMReported by: roving-eye
    A family-run Merseyside company had to lay off one fifth of its employees after its offer to supply PPE to the government was first ignored and then refused.

    The owners of Knowsley Business Park-based 'Florence Roby' say they've been frustrated by the government’s procurement process which handed out contracts worth millions of pounds to brand new companies, some owned by people with close Consetvative Party connections, but overlooked UK-based businesses with years of experience in the field.

    Owner Jan Roby said: “If we had been given just one contract we could have got more jobs going for local people.

    “There’s a lot of local raw talent around, we could have brought them in. But we’re struggling to keep going and it’s heartbreaking because only last year we were picked out by the government as one of four model successful factory firms. Yet we weren’t 'model' enough to even quote for a contract for PPE.”

    'Florence Roby' has been in business for 50 years. When the government appealed for UK companies to help supply protective equipment to the NHS, they immediately came forward offering to supply reusable surgical gowns.

    Jan’s son, Ben Roby, says: “Before the pandemic, they were paying £1.30 for a disposable gown.Our gowns cost £15, but you can use it 100 times. That was the NHS price we were charging. We were offering it at that price, which means that at 15p a use, it was significantly cheaper than the gowns they were using." But despite the huge national demand for PPE, Florence Roby heard nothing after making their initial offer to the body handling PPE procurement for the government.

    Ben adds: “We never heard from them for about two months. No contact at all, other than the initial one to say they had received my offer.” And when, eventually, the government did respond to Florence Roby’s offer, more problems followed. Ben said: “At every stage they were just asking the same questions - who you were; what your offer was; how quickly you could produce. Someone would ring me two weeks later and it would be the same questions again.”

    By the time, eventually. Florence Roby’s gowns WERE finally approved for sale to the NHS, the first lockdown was ending and the government told them their services were not required. Without a government contract and with their usual clients closed down or struggling, the company had to lay off five of their 25 workers. Jan says: “If we could secure just one contract for some PPE, whether it’s making scrubs or gowns, then we could take those people back on. But at the moment things are not looking good. We’ve got this massive skills base on our doorstep that we are not able to use for the good of the country.”

    Meanwhile, a cross-party group of MPs led by Caroline Lucas, Layla Moran and Debbie Abrams, working with the 'Good Law Project' are taking the government to court about alleged misuse of their personal contact network to benefit their buddies in what has become known as the 'CRONEYvirus scandal which has led to instant amassing by some individuals of massive PPE fortunes:
      
    You may comment here but news always gets more discussion at our facebook.com/groups/southportnews


    Useful links: Report Cyber Crime | Stop Nuisance Calls & Mail | Daily Covid Stats (updated 4pm) | Covid excess deaths in your area | Local NHS Resources | What 3 Words
  2. WANTED: YOUR NEWS AND STORIES FOR SOUTHPORT
    Email local news to us including image(s) southport@qlocal.co.uk
    Follow / Report to us on Twitter @SouthportQlocal
    Follow / Comment with us on Facebook qlocalsouthport





    Check Todays Deals on Ebay.co.uk      Check Todays Deals On Amazon.co.uk

    Your Comments:


  3. birdbath says:25/11/2020 02:55 PM
    Corruption and cronyism openly flourishes at huge cost to the taxpayers.

  4. Likes donkey22, Nash, Kafoozalum liked this post
  5. local says:25/11/2020 08:32 PM
    Gosh you lot are gullible for anything anti-government.

    The whole world wants/ed PPE the price has gone through the roof and a firm can't make money doesn't anyone not think something else was going on?

    Thousands of nursing homes,private hospitals,dentists,vets,beauty salon,etc etc

  6. Dislikes donkey22, onehorsetown2 disliked this post
  7. donkey22 says:26/11/2020 01:09 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by local View Post
    Gosh you lot are gullible for anything anti-government.

    The whole world wants/ed PPE the price has gone through the roof and a firm can't make money doesn't anyone not think something else was going on?

    Thousands of nursing homes,private hospitals,dentists,vets,beauty salon,etc etc
    The procurement procedure for PPE has been an utter shambles from start to finish, culminating in the purchase of £252 million pounds worth of masks that were useless. The independent newspaper printed an interesting article detailing the many cock ups.
    https://www.ft.com/content/9680c20f-...c-0e9554a8e0a7

  8. Little Londoner says:26/11/2020 08:55 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by local View Post
    Gosh you lot are gullible for anything anti-government.

    The whole world wants/ed PPE the price has gone through the roof and a firm can't make money doesn't anyone not think something else was going on?

    Thousands of nursing homes,private hospitals,dentists,vets,beauty salon,etc etc
    The thing is the Tory Party are well known for repaying Donations many times over it is a fact of life and obviously in your eyes perfectly reasonable.

  9. Likes Nash liked this post


Custom Search

Search Qlocal (powered by google)
You are in: UK / Southport / North West
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Southport

User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Privacy & Cookie Policy



   Check Todays Deals On Amazon.co.uk
   Check Todays Deals on Ebay.co.uk

Also website at southportnews.co.uk

Southport Music & Piano Academy


Qlocal Supports Woodlands Animal Sanctuary

Woodlands Animal Sanctuary Charity

Booking.com

Firewood suppliers in southport
Replacement Stove Glass in southport
Supporting Local Business
Supporting Local Business
Be Seen - Advertise on Qlocal






UK, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Vouchers, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
southportsouthport News


Supporting Local Business
486 Liverpool Road, Birkdale, Southport, PR8 3BD
We manufacture all types of Memorials and Cremation Tablets in marble, granite and stone. Existing monuments renovated & restored. Additional Inscriptions available on request
WEBSITE     TEL: 01704 578854
Supporting Local Business
25-27 Forest Road, Southport, PR8 6JD
Come to visit Wallpaper John@ Forest Road Wallcoverings today for Southport's finest range of wallcoverings with over 1000 designs always in store.
WEBSITE

Supporting Local Business
127 Wennington Road, SOUTHPORT, PR9 7AH
Our team of Veterinary Surgeons, trainee and qualified Veterinary Nurses and Receptionists aim to provide the highest possible standard of a personal, caring and friendly service.
WEBSITE     TEL: 01704 214460
Supporting Local Business
33 Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5AB
Awnings, canopies and continental security shutters with manual or electric operation, complete our exterior range.
WEBSITE     TEL: 01704 514333


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)