Amazon opens its doors to help other firms reopen safely
New post lockdown measures in place
ONLINE retail giant Amazon has opened the doors of its huge East Midlands fulfilment centre to business owners to help them reopen safely following the coronavirus lockdown.
The company recently staged tours of its East Midlands Gateway hub, near Kegworth, Leicestershire, for members of East Midlands Chamber, which covers Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
Amazon, which is a member of the chamber, has continued to operate throughout the coronavirus pandemic, with volumes increasing sharply as more people turned to online shopping
During the tours, business owners were shown the measures the firm has put in place to allow workers to continue to operate safely.
Among those to join the tours was Ian Mincher, UK group health and safety manager at AGA Rangemaster.
He said: “Amazon presented a facility where the new working norm has been well received and accepted with minimal fuss and drama.
“This is testament to their engagement strategy and collaborative approach to change.”
Also on one of the tours was Paul Callum, director of Resilient World Solutions.
He said: “Amazon has placed during the lockdown. the well-being of their team at the centre of their Covid-19 policy.
“What I saw was clear leadership, flexible working solutions, reviews of the policy at regular intervals and, in light of new and developing information, a structured, two-way communications strategy - a people-first approach.”
Scott Knowles, chief executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “Businesses are taking a risk-based approach to returning to work to maximise safety in close consultation with their employees.
“However, for many this will be a completely new way of working going forward.
“Businesses of every size and sector across the East Midlands have appreciated the chance to see the practical reality of working within existing government guidelines first-hand at Amazon and apply this learning to their own operations as they begin to reopen and rebuild.”
Richard Thompson, site leader at Amazon’s Castle Donington centre, said: “We were delighted to be able to show members of East Midlands Chamber first-hand how we have implemented a range of measures to keep our people safe while continuing to serve our customers.
“We’re proud to be part of the East Midlands community and want to do all we can to help fellow chamber members return to work safely and effectively whatever their line of work or occupation.”