June 2020

How has your access to getting materials
been with regards to lead times, prices,
deliveries etc.?
We have been warned that further down the line
there may be material shortages and also price
increases due to supply and demand. So far we
have been ok as we also have our own Merchants
so have stockpiled certain materials in order to
weather the storm, but for how long we do not
know.
The Government has had to convey a vast
amount of information to individual
sectors, whilst meeting the financial needs
of businesses. What have you made of their
response and advice with regards to the
requirements of construction in particular?
The guidance at best was very generic with many
grey areas and quite frankly I feel they have put
the onus onto the business owners to call the
shots and make very, very difficult decisions. Our
trade federations have done the same which I
have been very disappointed with.
What do you feel they should have done
differently to assist businesses such as
yours?
The trade federations should have all come out
with a joint statement that unless they’re
absolutely essential works, ALL works should
cease in the interests of the staff, employees,
clients and the NHS.
Has the pandemic highlighted a solidity in
the supply chain or shone a light on the
very real issues that exist with regards to
relationships within the supply chain?
We have experienced very good relationships with
our main suppliers who I am pleased to say all
shut up shop in the first week and have been very
good with updates regarding supplies and
deliveries.
We will cease to use certain PPE suppliers who we
feel have exploited the situation and I would
assume this will be the same right across the
sector.
Has this pandemic provided an
opportunity for roofers and tradespeople
who do things correctly when it comes to
health & safety, training and interacting
with customers to really set themselves
apart from the less professional outfits?
Or am I being bit optimistic and price will
be the main the key driver on projects?
We like to think we have put extra measures in
place which will become second nature and feel
we were already quite good when it comes to
general site H&S and SOP, so yes I do believe the
companies which are responsible and are up to
speed with training should set themselves apart
and be more professional.
What are your concerns for the sector and
supply chain as we move forward?
Our concerns are if Central Government do not
provide the Local Authorities with the extra money
to plug their finances then inevitably the LAs will
have to cut back on budgets which will affect us
and many others who rely on these for the
majority of their income.
What have you learned about your
business from this situation, and how
might you adapt things going forward to
protect against such situations?
“We will cease to use
certain PPE suppliers
who we feel have
exploited the situation”
The key thing I have learned was not from this
current situation, but from the last recession
which left my company and me personally very
exposed with key clients going under and owing
us several hundred thousand pounds, and our
suppliers at the time calling in our debts with no
thought of loyalty – I have since not bought one
nail off them! – and our bank wanting to close us
down. We survived by the skin of our teeth and
since then I have made sure both my company
and myself are always in a sound financial
situation in order to weather any situation for up
to 12 months.
Not only are we in a strong position financially but
also in terms of our long-term frameworks and
having key and loyal staff and qualified
employees to come out of this current situation
stronger and more humble. I hope a lot of other
companies will be able to do the same.
Contact J Wright Roofing
www.jwrightroofing.co.uk
JUNE 2020 TC 19