KNUTSFORD-based family business Abbey England is making the most of its familial ties during lockdown to ensure the orders it receives are reaching their destination in good time.

This is proving an invaluable lifeline for many micro-crafts businesses and companies that have recently turned to making essential garments for the emergency services.

Abbey England, which is based at Parkgate Industrial Estate, is a wholesale supplier of premium British-made materials and tools.

There are 14 family members directly involved in the day-to-day running of the business, and during the Covid-19 crisis the warehouse is currently being staffed by nine of these, plus the company’s longest serving staff member, Mike Tipler.

Between them, the team is shipping up to 90 parcels a day.

The firm has been serving the equestrian and leather goods trades for almost 40 years.

Over recent weeks it has noticed a shift in demand for tooling leathers and items for small leather goods, as more people find themselves at home and wanting to be creative.

Richard Brown, Abbey England CEO said: “Looking after our customers is important to us, but so too is the safety of our staff.

"Like many businesses currently, this has meant we have had to furlough many of our team in our Walsall-based manufacturing hub, the foundry, and in the engineering and rubber moulding facility.

In our Knutsford and Walsall-based warehouses, over 50 per cent of staff are now also furloughed.

“However, with so many of the family working here, we have been able to meet the demand from our customers who are still ordering.

“This is particularly important for customers who have altered their production to meet the current essential needs of things like PPE. We are honoured to be able to help.”

One company that Abbey England is supplying is the Emergency Designer Network (EDN), which was set up in March 2020.

This network is making reusable hospital-approved scrubs and robes, and Abbey England’s webbing is being used for the drawstrings in the trousers.

The garments produced are for use by support staff and carers, allowing the government-backed PPE to go where it is most needed.