Working through Lockdown 3: April 2021 update.
8 April 2021
Dear customers,
I hope everyone has enjoyed the Easter break. I was fortunate to have time off the week before Easter weekend when the sun was warm. It is a bit chilly again now, but the longer brighter days are very pleasant. As restrictions continue to ease for us all we remain diligent in our approach to being a COVID secure business. Seeing the children go back to school has been a welcome relief both for them and the parents and being able to meet with more people in our gardens has been a breath of fresh air! Again, I am pleased to say our teams have remained well and to date we have had no positive cases of Covid. Some of us here have been fortunate enough to receive our 1st and some of the team their 2nd vaccination jabs.
The following is reminder of how we are actively pursuing COVID secure protocols.
As a gardening business we continue to be able to continue our work. However, in order to safely continue with our services, we need to adhere to our Covid secure protocols, and follow Government advice, regularly reviewing and updating our procedures as is necessary. We continue to encourage our team to take responsibility both in and outside of work. As the Governments restrictions change over the coming weeks and months, we will remain diligent in reviewing our policies and implementing the findings.
To help protect our staff and our customers please can we ask you to help us by remembering Hands Face Space
Hospitality
Under normal circumstances we all appreciate it when drinks or food are offered to us by our kind customers, especially when the weather is extreme- whether it be cold, hot, blowing a gale or tipping it down! However, during this period please respect that we cannot accept any hospitality, unless of course in an emergency. Please do not offer us any drinks, but please remember we do so appreciate the kindness and look forward to being able to enjoy this again when safe to do so.
Meetings
Please do not think us rude if we do not interact with you as we would normally do. If you could please see to a two-metre social distancing to help protect our staff and yourselves. Please wear a face covering if you are not exempt, and don’t be offended if we should need to remind you of our policy. There will be times when we will need to meet and discuss our work, look over plans and designs with you. At these times, please join us in being extra diligent with distancing and face coverings. We ask that all meetings are held outside if feasible, and online or on the phone. We will not come into your property unless it is essential. If we do, we will don face coverings and sanitise our hands. We will aim to keep to a 2-metre social distance. We may ask to use your toilet facilities, but only with your and our safety in mind.
To reassure you here is a reminder of some of the protocols that we have in place.
If any member of the team is showing symptoms of coronavirus, they will cease work, directly return home and follow government procedure for isolating, testing and tracing. If any member of the team is told to self-isolate and or take a test this is a legal requirement and as a business, we will support this.
Whilst working we have social distancing in mind. A two-metre social distance is being adhered to when feasible. If it is not for more than a few minutes, then a face covering is too be worn. We are regularly washing/sanitising our hands. We have allocated additional time each day and each week for daily and deep cleansing of our tools, vehicles, and workstations. Hand sanitisers, cleaning products and masks are readily available to us all. Currently we are working as teams of two when we can. We of course need to travel around with our work, and so whilst in confined spaces such as vehicles we will wear a face covering and ventilate the space.
To reduce the risk of transmission we will not be using postcards as we did prior to lockdown 1. It maybe that in the future we reinstate this service for those who want it. If you should need to contact us about the works achieved, please feel free to contact the office via email or a call.
We are grateful that we can continue trading, but unfortunately the new ways of operating our business are inevitably having a negative financial impact on us. No doubt this will continue to be difficult for us for some time, but we continue to retain all jobs and we are looking for extra staff. We aim to create more jobs and do what we can towards the country’s economic recovery.
Whilst we continue to tackle cash flow, please could you continue to be conscious of invoice payments as we need to continue with the 7 days repayment terms. We are working on implementing a new invoicing software package, and additional training which we anticipate will help get invoices out to you sooner.
The office remains closed for customers to meet with us, but we hope to be able to return to an appointment only arrangement in the future. In the office environment we are staying Covid secure with lone working, good hygiene and face coverings when not. We are facilitating as best we can the times when we need to be at home to help our children and support our loved ones.
Contact Us
If you have concerns/queries/suggestions, please feel free to contact us. We believe this situation is best managed with everyone understanding and supporting the protocols. We would all like to thank you for your custom, for your understanding, encouragement, and support; it is appreciated.
Business News
We are continuing to be busy with new enquiries coming in, with landscaping bookings now being taken for 2022, and design work for late summer. This year we anticipate further business growth and so we continue to advertise and interview to find new team members to help us reach our current and new customers’ expectations.
To take on more work we also have to invest in equipment and vehicles. With this in mind a new vehicle has been ordered for delivery later in the summer. Alongside this we have also invested in our first electric vehicle. This should be charged and ready to roll soon!
As mentioned in an earlier letter Hayley will be with us until the end of April. We have been busy interviewing and will soon be able to disclose who her replacement will be.
Next week will see restrictions easing again, so let us get ourselves a haircut and enjoy some local and non-essential shopping! Stay safe and well.
Best wishes,
Craig Ratcliff and all the team at C.A.R. Gardens.
