7th May 2020

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Essential Information

Phased return to work planned for  May 11th 2020. Please check your email or login to the Client Support section for further details.

20th April 2020

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Hello to all customers, staff and suppliers.

Hopefully you, your family and friends are well and virus free?

As you will all be aware, last week was the end of the first period of Government lockdown. I waited until the latest Government advice came in to the public domain last Thursday evening before I updated everyone, as to the situation going forward at John Fredericks Plastics, regarding our return to manufacturing.

Our primary concern is the wellbeing of our fantastic staff, and that of our loyal customers and suppliers. With this in mind, and following discussions with our supply chain, without whom we are unable to produce our windows, doors and associated product range. The majority of our key supply chain, have all informed us that they have elected to continue their lockdown for a further 3 weeks in-line with the UK Governments recommendations for social distancing. The consensus of opinion amongst our suppliers suggests a staged return on Monday 11th of May. This is obviously reliant on the Government’s advice at the time not changing the situation.

As you can imagine our suppliers manufacture an array of different products, in a variety of manufacturing facilities. Each supplier has investigated the best methods of restarting their businesses, whilst adhering to the social distancing recommendations set out by UK Gov. This is an extremely complex process as in many situations certain areas of a business can meet the Government guidelines, yet another part of the company is unable to comply. In the short term this will affect the availability of certain product lines and inevitability extend lead times on certain items. So, customers will have to work with us, and be patient. We will be trying our best in very difficult circumstances, with many decisions totally out our hands.

No doubt customers will have read the press and seen claims from a very small minority of window manufacturers that they are returning to work immediately. Whilst it is head line grabbing the reality is the majority of the UK’s PVC extruders, glass unit suppliers and fittings suppliers such as Yale are all closed. Therefore, these manufacturers will be offering a very limited product range.

Having spoken to a number of retail installers, it is obvious that they are also thinking sensibly and are considering the potential response from retail customers regarding the prospect of having installers, surveyors etc in their home and the wellbeing of their installers and other staff members. Currently the opinion appears to be, there is little appetite for an immediate return given the situation, even when we do return this will also be dependent on a number of factors, including age and any other vulnerable groups. Therefore, a start date in line with the supply chain in May appears a sensible strategy.

We have been contacted by customers regarding new build project they are awaiting products for. Whilst we appreciate the frustration, that some remote sites with no occupants are not as problematic as refurbishment projects, the fact that our suppliers are not delivering products makes the prospect of fulfilling these contracts virtually impossible, and a partial return to production may also have a potentially negative effect on our Government “furloughing” scheme. So, apologies to those affected, but we are led by our supply chain.

With all the above factors taken into account, we are proposing a potential return to work on Monday, 11th May 2020. We will be giving further updates, regarding delivery dates and lead times, plus any limitations on our product range due to supplier issues. All staff updates, regarding start times/dates, will be on the staff webpage, so please ensure you visit this site regularly especially at the end of week 8th May 2020.

This update along with any further updates will also be added to our Facebook page: @JohnFredericksPlasticsLtd.

If anyone has any questions arising from this update, please email the following people.

HR Issues: phil@jfpl.eu

Customer Service: customerservice@jfpl.eu

Accounts: Hannah@jfpl.eu

We thank you all for your support and understanding during this truly unique experience, hopefully people have been sat at home looking at their shabby windows, thinking it’s time for a new house full of Freddie’s finest windows and doors! Let’s think positively.

Kindest regards

Mark Dicconson
Managing Director