The Bridge Blog

Dear customer,

I am sure you are extremely concerned about the current crisis, which is why I am writing to let you know how we are responding and the actions we are taking to keep our colleagues and customers safe.

On 22nd March the Prime Minister announced new social distancing measures which will have a profound impact on our way of life over the next few weeks, and maybe longer.

Following the announcement, the Government published a list of businesses that are considered essential. This list included suppliers for the medical and care sector.

As a result of this, whilst we have paused ongoing work on our divisions supporting other sectors such as Leisure and Hospitality, we have a number of healthcare clients which are therefore considered essential businesses in supporting these organisations and their residents, patients, and service users during this time.

In this note, I will address why we have chosen to support the essential status and, importantly, set out the steps we are taking to provide our services in the safest way possible. As you’ll see, it’s anything but business as usual.

Decisions that would normally take months have had to be made in a matter of hours. Throughout this process, our guiding principle has been to do what is right – right for our colleagues, right for our customers, and right for society.

I am 100% behind Boris Johnson and his decisions, without his help the sustainability of our business and retention of our wonderful staff and customers would be very much in doubt.

I am confident that the decisions we have taken in the past 48 hours and the measures we are putting in place today will help support essential mobility whilst protecting the safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues.

How can Bridge Contracts justify keeping operations going in a time of crisis?

Bridge contracts exists for one reason – To serve our customers.

In order for our customers to provide the health services required to thousands of members of our country in need, they require the services of Bridge Contract Interiors as a supplier they can depend upon.

We cover multiple healthcare sites for many organisations, ensuring they can rely on us as a dependable supplier, to keep their residents, patients and service users with the required levels of dignity and comfort whilst under their care.

Is it essential?
Yes. For many reasons such as:

• Curtains must be fire retardant for resident safety.
• Curtains get soiled or contaminated and must be replaced to reduce the spread of infection.
• Additional beds are required, meaning the utilisation of redundant spaces and curtaining for windows and cubicles.
• Blackout curtains or blinds are essential for peace and rest for people needing care.
• Patients may become a higher risk, require anti-ligature fittings.

As part of our service, and especially for items such as Cubicle tracking and anti-ligature fittings, it is essential our own installation teams are mobilised ready for our client’s requirements.

How are we keeping customers and colleagues safe?

It goes without saying that we are taking care to ensure that vulnerable colleagues who should not be working at the present time are able to stay at home.

As a consequence of this crisis, however, it’s important to share how we’re fundamentally changing the way our services operate.

To keep our colleagues and customers safe, we will be offering an online meeting proposition for essential meetings.

Where possible we ask for installation spaces to be cleared of other people, so our install teams can work in solitude.

Essentially, we will be minimising contact with anyone inside and outside of our offices, all within the social distancing rules. And, as you’d expect, we’ll be enforcing a strict two-metre rule and ensuring that our colleagues have the cleaning materials to support hygiene guidelines. These are just some of the steps we are taking to keep colleagues and customers safe.

I give you my personal guarantee that we will only operate our mobile services, where we are able to implement these measures fully. We are doing all we can to be accessible to those who need us most at this time.

When can I expect the usual service from Bridge?

Our intention is that you will receive the same service throughout this period. It is our customer’s responsibility to ensure only essential requests are made which we will fulfill to the utmost of our ability.

We will experience delays from suppliers who do not have enough business in essential services.

All staff are either working from home, so can be contacted by email and phone. Or, where furloughed, their emails are being monitored, and you will receive a response albeit slower than usual.

I am really proud of my co-workers and how they have adapted so quickly in these incredibly difficult times. I give you my personal commitment that we will only stay open as long as we can keep you and our colleagues safe. We have been serving our loyal customers for 7 years. Now, more than ever, you can rely on Bridge to provide essential and safe services for your clients.

Our hearts go out to those affected, and those selflessly caring. Careful consideration has been given to the ongoing operations, to ensure what we are doing is focussed on those who would be at a loss without us. We are ready and prepared to change should the current situation and advice adjust the light in which our decisions have been made.

I wish you all a safe journey through these troubled times. I am sure we will come through in solidarity and you can rely on Bridge across the torrent of change.

Brendan Pocock
Managing Director