Recently, the Textile Services Association (TSA) UK Autumn Conference was opened with this message by Chair Charlie Betteridge:  “It’s a gloomy outlook but we will get through it.” David Stevens – TSA CEO – stated that TSA continues to lobby the Government for financial support. He also said that the results of two surveys of TSA members in August and September demonstrate the need for continued action on top of the Government’s promised six-month emergency price cap for businesses.

The organisation is conducting research projects with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)which come up with good results that enable the industry to further its reach. For instance, care home staff and managers are being asked to take part in a new study into how infection control with regards to laundry is managed in care home environments.

This survey aims to help care homes, nursing homes and sheltered housing spaces across the UK identify knowledge gaps, recognise best practice and support them to set the standard for care home laundry practices in the UK. The study is the biggest of its kind for dealing with laundry from residents and living spaces and may present opportunities for “sensible conversation with care homes – a market that is 4-5 times bigger than hospitals. ”