Business Continuity COVID-19 Update

Business Continuity COVID-19 Update

Monday 23rd March 2020

Dear Customers and Colleagues

As the threat of coronavirus (COVID-19) increases, please find below information about the actions LARS are taking to maintain the continued delivery of our services and to support the wellbeing of our employees.

LARS Communications has a Pandemic Business Continuity Plan which includes resourcing plans for our key operational areas. Our Management Team will also review and adapt plans as the UK Government guidance changes.

Because of the recent developments in the spread of the virus in the UK, we have put in place a number of actions to protect the health and wellbeing of our staff, our customers and our suppliers. With immediate effect, we are dealing with this situation across four key areas.

Health and Wellbeing

• If a member of staff, or their household, display symptoms of COVID – 19 i.e. continuous cough, high temperature or both, they must self-isolate for 14 days
• Staff with underlying health conditions are also strongly advised to stay at home. Also, employees advised by their doctor to have a flu jab are advised to stay at home
• Employees must ensure they update their line manager should health issues escalate
• We are arranging for staff with childcare issues, because of school closures, to be able to work from home where their job role allows
• To support home work for employees who fall into these categories, their manager will be capturing information so we can prioritise remote working for them

Operational

• Non-emergency work at customer premises: Operations will contact customers prior to a visit to see if they require the work to go ahead in the current circumstances
• Site Engineers will be encouraged to be home start and finish wherever possible, only visiting the depot to collect materials
• When on-site, Engineers will observe social distancing guidelines, maintaining a distance of a minimum of 2m from others
• When visiting Stores or the Offices, social distancing guidelines will also be observed, maintaining a distance of a minimum of 2m from others
• When entering the depot, employees are advised not to gather in communal areas where possible i.e. kitchens

Visitor and Customer Meetings

• No access will be granted to customers, suppliers or visitors to our facilities and operational sites without prior approval (deliveries will be accepted as normal)
• Attendance at external meetings is cancelled. Customer meetings will be held over the phone or via online conferencing
• All non-essential, non-operational business travel around the UK is cancelled
• Travel to and between sites is restricted to essential operations only

We will provide further updates as and when required and when there is a significant change in our approach to report.

In the meantime, if you have any specific questions about the plans that are in place, please contact your manager if you are a member of staff, or any of the management team below if you are a customer or supplier.

Ian Turner – Managing Director
iturner@lars.co.uk
07765 236732 / 01524 727913

Lisa Mills – Finance
lmills@lars.co.uk
01524 727917

Donna Tyson – Operations
dtyson@lars.co.uk
07967 588613 / 01524 727912

Julian Cooper – Commercial
jcooper@lars.co.uk
07711 375956 / 01524 727914

Mark Lightfoot – Fabrication
mlightfoot@lars.co.uk
07967 588735 / 01524 727915