FIFTH COVID-19 UPDATE – REASSURANCE FOR OUR CLIENTS

24 April 2020

Amazingly it has been three weeks since our last client update. At that point things were changing so rapidly we seemed to be dealing with almost hourly disruption to normal routines and business but now, three weeks on, the massive changes have become almost normal and our new routines are settled.

Social distancing, hand sanitising and remote conferencing are now part of our daily routines. It’s the new interim normal.

So, what has happened since we last communicated?

Workload shift…

The rapid speed of cancellations of orders and suspension of regular publications made it feel like we would very quickly be left with little to do. Fortunately, the resilience and determination of some clients to keep going and the fortune of others (operating in less affected sectors) has meant that an encouraging proportion of clients and therefore publications have remained.

Our workload appears to have stabilised at around 40% of what we would normally expect to see at this time. To deal with the lower demand we have reduced capacity by furloughing around 50% of our work force and we have taken other steps to secure the immediate financial needs of the business.

Following a dramatic drop off in work at our sister company Cambrian, manufacturing at that plant is now furloughed. However, the small amount of work which continues is now being produced here at Pensord and handled by the Cambrian client facing staff.

The upshot of this is that we remain operational with a willing, fit and able workforce and can provide business as usual to our fantastic group of clients.

Fantastic Clients

I can say fantastic clients, not in sickly PR way, but because the overwhelming message from clients irrespective of the reason for communication has been one of support, concern and best wishes for us.

They say ‘you get what you deserve’ and at the moment we feel very lucky to have the relationships we have with so many loyal and genuinely kind people and businesses.

Of course, this doesn’t happen by accident. We’ve always worked hard to be true to our values and honest in our promises. It’s fair to say that sometimes in the past we have wondered if the way we are actually makes a difference but now, without question, we know that it does.

Ongoing Communication

Sadly, some of our client facing staff have had to be furloughed. This was a tough process as each and every one of our team wanted to play their part in helping ‘their’ clients through this difficult period. In truth, by agreeing to be furloughed they are helping, even though they won’t see it or feel it.

As a result, this message may not be coming through to you via the usual contact but that doesn’t mean our determination to support you over the coming weeks will be any less focused. Different name perhaps but the same Pensord approach.

In time we may begin to see clients considering a return to normal, albeit possibly a phased return to normal, so please do keep us posted on your plans so that we may move in tandem and continue to support your requirements.

Should you wish to talk further or raise specific questions or queries, then please do not hesitate to pick up the phone or drop me an email on darren.coxon@pensord.co.uk or speak to one of our team who are ready, willing and able to support.

As always, stay safe.

Kindest regards

Darren Coxon
Managing Director