NEW: A few UK factories are making PPE - NOT Govt orders. Govt told me “Whilst we are confident supply now reaching frontline, WE APPRECIATE THERE WERE LIMITED DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS TO BEGIN WITH WHILE WE DEALT WITH THE NEW DEMAND CAUSED BY THIS EMERGING EPIDEMIC. Factories (1)

. @SpecialCanvas was approached by care homes & GPs desperate for PPE. Were about to close factory. They prototyped faceshields & gowns. Sampled. Producing. Orders coming in. 2 local hospitals now ordered. Made in UK eliminating Asia supply chains.Delighted to be helping (2)

Fashion Enter @JenniferHollowa was approached by 3rd party supplier who can’t get scrubs from Asia because supply restricted. Normally she makes womenswear. Now this London factory making 5k sets of scrubs by Monday for NHS and want to do more. IT’S ON! Made in (3)

“I THINK IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO TO BE HONEST". As I reported previously, this factory responded to @cabinetoffice survey saying they could help. STILL NO GOVT REPLY. Now employed by 3rd party, but very happy help NHS workers get what they desperately need (4)

But lots of factories still sit EMPTY desperate to help NHS & care staff. @ChapmanBags has 25 machinists & makers sat at home. They contacted @cabinetofficeuk twice and heard nothing. Same story for others in the NW. They say they could be making a thousands units a week. (5)

. @MakeItBritish trade body "there have been delays but we are working with the government and UK textile industry now to bring everyone together and make it happen". Lots of drive from this organisation to really push the profile of UK factories to prove this can be made (6)

HERE IS ONE OF THE FIRST SET OF SCRUBS TO BE MADE FOR THE NHS IN THE UK. Fabric arrived from Yorkshire, rolled out, cut, overlocked and 1st sample in 30mins. Super fast supply operations. 5,000 sets to be made in days at this North London factory for the NHS (7)