Conference and award season is here. A quick glance through the pages of this issue and you can see news pieces and features on annual meetings, conferences, exhibitions, awards ceremonies and upcoming events.

And just about the time you’re reading this, our very own Laundry and Drycleaning Awards – the LADAs 2022 – this sell-out event – will be taking place, on Thursday 3 November at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey. Not only are these key industry events.

These events are key to our industry. Large gatherings like these generate vital business. Whether that’s the volumes of linen used that flows through our commercial laundries, or the extra work generated by the ‘going out’ and black tie attire that comes through our High Street drycleaners’ doors. The UK hospitality sector is crucial to us, as we are to them, so the return of these large events is hopefully starting to show some glimmers of increased trade for our industry businesses.

A recent TSA survey on post Covid recovery in the industry reported some signs of optimism, indicating that 83 per cent of commercial laundries have returned to or increased their pre-pandemic turnover, and 79 per cent anticipated turnover to be on a similar trajectory in 2023. This is of course positive news. But against a volatile and uncertain backdrop that surrounds our energy supply and costs for the foreseeable future. A second TSA survey set out to take a snapshot of the concerns of the industry about this and the need for more pricing stability.

David Stevens, CEO of TSA said: “The government needs to take a big picture view of these situations. We cannot wait half a year to find out what is happening – we need a clear long term support strategy now, to allow us to plan for the future.”

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