In the UK, the Textile Service Association (TSA) recently commissioned its second value report on the textile services sector in relation to the country’s economy. Known as the Hatch report, it builds on the first report (2020) and highlights changes in the sector. By drawing on three key markets, hospitality, healthcare and manufacturing, the Hatch report demonstrates how they depend on the textile services industry. The aim in doing this is to protect the long-term sustainability of the laundry industry as well as raise awareness of its importance, which Hatch calls a “hidden sector”.
The new report also highlights the changes the industry has been through over the past five years. Some results: turnover is rising from £1.2 to £1.6 billion and the number of people employed by the industry has fallen from 23,000 to 22,000. These changes demonstrate how the industry has driven productivity. The report also shows that key areas of concern within the sector remain: downward pressure on prices, rising costs of production and significantly increased energy costs.
Raising awareness of the textile services industry, particularly to the UK government, remains a high motivator behind the work the TSA is hoping to continue for both its members and industry in general.
