Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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New Master for the WCEC focuses on the fight against Coronavirus
The chairman of a business which has been repivoted to make hospital gowns for the NHS during the Coronavirus pandemic has been appointed as the new Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners.
John Shonfeld founded laundry and garment manufacturing and rental business, Tibard, with his wife Sue in 1979, from a bedroom in their family home. The company now has a turnover of £18.5 million annually, employs 150 people and exports to the Middle East, Asia, Europe, China, the Mediterranean and a fast-growing market in the Caribbean.
In the past six weeks, Tibard has switched from producing chefs' wear and uniforms to making up to 10,000 gowns a week - along with some shrouds - for use by medical staff in the UK and South Africa.
John has replaced Barrie Torbett as Master of the WCEC for 2020 -21. There have also been several other new appointments for the year, with Barrie becoming Deputy Master, Gary Fage becoming Senior Warden, Jim Melvin the new Junior Warden and Past Master Philip Morrish as the new Clerk.
"Staff and colleagues at Tibard have rallied to the national cause to keep the NHS supplied during the pandemic," says John. "In the space of just a few weeks, we have found new suppliers and changed our product lines and we are now working 12 hours a day to meet demand.
"I am delighted and honoured to become Master of the WCEC and looking forward to performing the role over the next year but, for the immediate future, we are firmly focused on doing our bit to help the fight against Coronavirus."
John is also a past Master of the Worshipful Company of Launderers.
The WCEC is one of 110 Livery companies in the City of London. It is a membership organisation for those who work in (or used to work in) environmental cleaning or associated businesses.
The WCEC encourages and maintains high standards of practice and integrity in the industry and promotes and supports education and training, research projects and charities.
7th May 2020