ImagesMagUK_February_2021

www.images-magazine.com FEBRUARY 2021 images 35 IS DECORATOR PROFILE supplier of PPE although, in the past, this was more mainstream safety gear rather than specifically medical. “We had medical PPE on the website, but we did only bits and bobs. We weren’t really aware of it. But Covid came along and conversations were about medical PPE: face masks, visors, disposable aprons, gowns.” Working with its suppliers, MyWorkwear was ideally positioned to supply medical PPE for people working in healthcare as well as other essential sectors such as supermarkets. Doubling the workforce After starting 2020 with 14 staff, MyWorkwear began 2021 with 24, plus three more joining this year under the government’s Kickstart scheme providing placements for under-25s. With the appointment of a marketing manager, Gayle Parker, over a year ago, the company has benefited from more marketing activity. Towards the end of 2020, it underwent a complete rebranding, revealing an elegant new blue, yellow and white logo. “We have invested a lot and have a couple of prestige customers on board,” James explains. “We wanted our branding to be a bit more modern and portray a more professional image to get some bigger customers.” As Britain reels from ongoing lockdowns, James says he remains optimistic about 2021 as the Covid-19 vaccination programme rolls out. “In the next six months, I hope we are pretty much back to normal,” he says. Brexit is another challenge although, for MyWorkwear, it will mainly affect its suppliers who are sourcing from overseas, including manufacturers in the EU. “We don’t know if prices will rise or not for suppliers. I like to think they won’t react.” Despite all these challenges, James is upbeat about the long-term future for manufacturing in the UK. MyWorkwear is involved with various organisations promoting the manufacturing and engineering sectors in the Midlands and nationally such as FactoryNow, Made in the Midlands, Make UK, Training & Manufacturing Group and UKMfgUnite. It also supports apprenticeship schemes and efforts to boost STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) in schools. “UK manufacturing is getting smaller and smaller. It’s a ticking time bomb. It’s important for industry in the UK and the economy to invest in getting younger blood coming through. But, in the long term, I feel a sense of pride [coming] back to the UK. We’ll see more manufacturing coming back to the UK rather than relying on China.” MyWorkwear has been growing at around 20% for the past three years, hitting £1.3m in 2019/20. James is confident it will reach £1.8m for 2020/21, putting it on course for £5m in the next three to four years as part of its five-year strategy. With no plans for acquisitions, it has room to grow within its Halesfield premises. “We still have space to use and also our machines are only being used 14 hours a day. There’s no reason they can’t be used 24 hours a day. Operationally we are confident we can meet demand now. We are very ambitious and we want to grow. It’s all about investing in our staff and our technology. “ www.myworkwear.co.uk If somebody is spending £50 or £50,00, we give them good service The company uses Tajima embroidery machines and enjoys a good relationship with UK distributor AJS MyWorkwear started receiving many smaller orders during the early days of the pandemic, which was “fantastic although operationally it was a headache” Embroidery capacity was increased last year by 35%