ICSM Credit’s Ian Carrotte backs the IPIA’s call to arms to save the printing industry and slams his local MP for not replying to his written concerns over Covid-19 lock downs
Following the publication of an open letter by Brendan Perring of the IPIA (Independent Print Industries Association) for members of the print and allied industries to contact their MPs to lobby for Government help, ICSM Credit’s Ian Carrotte has added his weight to the campaign.
“We have run Brendan’s letter on our website and social media platforms and wholeheartedly agree with his campaign, “he said. “The interview with Alasdair Brown of Abbot Print on Sky News articulated the views of those in the print industries who have seen orders collapse, workers laid off and business stifled by politicians in the pursuit of political gain rather than what is best for the nation.”
(The interview can be seen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6721882924578312192)
He recalled his own attempts to contact his MP in Somerset to raise legitimate points about the effects of lockdown on business. “My posted letter and email to Ian Liddell-Grainger MP was not even acknowledged which tends to support my fears that politicians of both main parties are playing games with each other and not facing up to facts. Retail, hospitality, manufacturing and logistics have all been hit and the continued lockdowns simply push down the level of infection for it to pop up again once the rules are lifted.”
One aspect of the crisis that angers Ian is the pressure it has put on business owners who have the livelihoods and welfare of their staff to consider along with cash flow and the knowledge they have no idea when business can resume as normal.
“Anecdotally some people have told me that they cannot go on and are looking for an exit strategy,” he said. “Some are literally calling it a day and closing what are viable and long established businesses or are seeking a buyer.”
Brendan Perring
In his letter Brendan writes: “ACT NOW to secure financial support for your business and the UK print industry. You CAN make a difference. Please see below where you will find information so that you can write both to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and your MP to request representation.”
One of Ian’s concerns is confirmed by many in business is the Government’s over-reaction to the crisis. He points out the ONS figures show extra deaths this year are over 60,000 while Covid deaths are around 40,000 suggesting 20,000 extra deaths are unaccounted for. “The lockdowns and fear factor created during this crisis is making people not attend their cancer scans, stay at home when having minor strokes and heart attacks and missing doctors’ appointments,” he said. “There is also the cost that unemployment creates from mental health to an increase in crime. We need to follow the example of Sweden and live with the virus as it’s not going away.”
He applauded the call for action from the IPIA who are members of ICSM Credit and encouraged all members in whatever business sector they are in to lobby their local MPS for greater support.
Brendan gave useful contacts in his letter:
Write Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS): In the first instance please write to BEIS with as much detailed information as possible about the impact that Covid-19 and social restrictions have had on your finances, the redundancies you plan to make, and the viability of your business without specific support for the print industry. You can do this at: intel@beis.gov.uk
Write to your MP: At the links below you will find a letter that you can use as a template and edit as you wish to send to your MP, and instructions on how you can identify and write to your MP. By both email and posted letter if at all possible please.
MP Letter Template: https://lnkd.in/ef2twNM
Directory of MP's and their postal + email addresses: https://lnkd.in/ddxVDER
Other ways to contact your MP: https://lnkd.in/eCkrqtE
For more about the IPIA visit: https://ipia.org.uk/
To see the LinkedIn post visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-print-industries-association/
About ICSM Credit
ICSM Credit has more than four decades of experience as a credit intelligence group whose members gain inside information about firms in trouble allowing them to avoid bad debts and rogue traders. To join costs less than a tank of fuel - while at the moment there's a special free temporary membership offer during the Covid-19 crisis which gives access to free legal letters. ICSM also has an effective debt collecting service which has a global reach - ask for details from Paul.
For details about ICSM Credit call 0844 854 1850 or visit the website www.icsmcredit.com or email Ian at Ian.carrotte@icsmcredit.com on how to subscribe and to join the UK’s credit intelligence network to avoid bad debts and late payers. Follow ICSM Credit on FaceBook, Twitter and YouTube and Ian Carrotte on LinkedIn.
To keep up to date subscribe to the FREE ICSM Credit Newsletter to hear all the latest insolvency news and to see who has gone out of business click on the orange panel on the top left of the home page of the website www.icsmcredit.com or send an email to Ian.carrotte@icsmcredit.com
For details for the work of the journalist Harry Mottram visit www.harrymottram.co.uk