Covid-19/Coronavirus Notice

Summary:  

• We are maintaining operations throughout this difficult period. 
• Our UK headquarters is currently operating on a reduced ‘skeleton’ staff.
  
• Our Czech Republic volume manufacturing facilities are maintaining operations at approximately 70%.
  

• We currently expect orders to be delayed by approximately three weeks. For the latest update on your specific order, please contact you local Pickering sales office or representative.
• We have taken extensive precautionary measures to maximize employee safety.

• We have substantial financial resources to withstand long periods of disruption. 
  
  

The following notice will be updated regularly as and when information becomes available:

The team here at Pickering understands that there is a great amount of concern, uncertainty and anxiety around COVID-19 or the "Coronavirus". The safety and wellbeing of our customers and our employees is of the highest priority. We are prepared to make sure we can continue to support your applications without delay and with outstanding service.

Pickering Group Coronavirus Manufacturing and Supply Chain Resilience 

• We operate design, production and distribution facilities in both the UK and Czech Republic.
• We are a vertically integrated manufacturer, nearly all production processes are carried out “in-house”, which reduces our vulnerability to external disruption.
• We generally have high stocking levels, therefore our vulnerability to short-term components shortages caused by Coronavirus are minimized.
• We have a very strong balance sheet (equivalent to one years annual sales revenue) and high cash reserves (equivalent to 35% of annual sales revenue) with no borrowings at all, therefore we expect to have more than the required financial firepower to withstand potential shocks due to the Coronavirus pandemic over the coming year.
• We have taken extensive steps to fully support our staff and to maximize Coronavirus safety at all of our facilities as well as to enable home working whenever required.
• At the present time, 26th March 2020, there is limited disruption to our operations.

Our commitment to our employees’ safety and well-being drives our day-to-day operational practices so we can provide the unparalleled service to our customers. As such, the present COVID-19 outbreak presents a unique challenge in meeting two overriding concerns, protection of employee safety and customer satisfaction. To limit the potential impact of COVID-19 on our employees, company operations, customers, partners and suppliers, we have taken the following cautionary measures:  

1. All non-essential international travel for business has been postponed or cancelled for the foreseeable future. 
2. Employees working from home where possible. 
3. Enforcement of social distancing of 2 meters at all times.
4. Any employee who has visited a country subject to Center for Disease Control (CDC), UK Foreign office and World Health Organization (WHO) coronavirus travel advisories within the previous two-week period, whether for business or personal purposes, is instructed to stay away from their office for 14 days, and if able, work remotely during that period. Prior to returning to their office, the employee must receive a physician’s clearance. 
5. All international travel within the last two weeks by employees, including travel by household members, or planned international travel through 2020, is to be reported to Human Resources. 
6. Increased use of Video Conferencing (both PolyCom and Zoom) in all Pickering facilities worldwide. We also strongly encourage this for communication with customers, partners and suppliers.
7. All employees have their temperature taken daily, any employee with a temperature over 37.3 c is asked to isolate at home. 
8. Two marquees (tents) have been erected outside to allow meetings to take place with fresh airflow.

In addition, we have recommended that employees follow the same simple hygiene habits that protect against the seasonal flu virus in order to protect against exposure to COVID-19, including: