The Neath Port Talbot company which makes uniforms for transport companies, hotels and many others including staff at the Royal Albert Hall in London, has now switched to making scrubs for front line medical staff working to fight Covid-19.
First Corporate Clothing Ltd, based at Llewellyn’s Quay, Port Talbot, turned to making the sanitary, re-usable medical clothing at breakneck speed, only receiving cutting patterns for its skilled staff to work on last week.
First Corporate have said: “Many of our staff have backgrounds in the old sewing factories which were prevalent in places like Port Talbot at one time so they are not only very skilled they are very adaptable and are used to working at pace.
“Obviously we have had to adapt our working practices very quickly to include social distancing alongside stronger hygiene practices, but we are very pleased to be able to play our part in helping our front line NHS staff in the fight against Coronavirus.
“We are working on producing scrubs in conjunction with the Welsh Government and two other clothing factories in Wales so it’s a collaborative project – working for a great cause.”
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Protection, Cllr Leanne Jones said: “It is fantastic to see the innovation and commitment of a number of our local businesses who have been able to adapt their operations to support this national emergency.”
First Corporate now has a reduced workforce of around 35 skilled and essential staff working on the scrubs project.
Prior to refocusing the company’s efforts onto scrubs, their clients came from a hugely diverse range of industries including airlines, hotel and hospitality, government agencies, councils and financial service providers.
First Corporate is also a leading specialist supplier to companies within the passenger transport services sector.
Scrubs are worn by surgeons, nurses, physicians and other workers involved in patient care in hospitals and are a vital part of the uniform provided to hospital staff.