A SHEET metal work business has used its design and manufacturing systems to create bespoke screening products and sanitising stations for schools and businesses in the area.

Enterprise UK, based at Moss Industrial Estate, has lots of well-known clients across the North West, including McDonald’s Restaurants for which it manufactures all the outdoor furniture and internal fittings.

But, when COVID-19 hit the UK work dried up and the majority of its staff were furloughed.

With workplaces and schools gearing up again, Enterprise UK has put its expert design skills and precision machinery to good use and has created a range of products and solutions that will help schools, offices and industrial workplaces to provide a safe environment with strict social distancing and infection control measures in place.

Dean Hodgkinson, co-founder of Enterprise UK, said: “There is a real pressure on schools and a whole range of industries now to make significant changes really quickly and we were sat here with all the skills and tools to help so I just started designing solutions that would work for a range of different industries and environments.

“The internet is awash with companies exploiting the situation and trying to charge a massive amount for really simple things that we can make at cost price. We started sharing our concepts on social media, and through friends and family, and we have been inundated.

“Over the last few weeks, we have been flat out designing solutions to help schools provide screening and sanitising stands but we have also been asked by regional business to make screens for their offices. I’m even in the process of designing a mobile screening system for offices, workshops, leisure and warehouses that rolls up into a cardboard tube and can be post out to anywhere.

“Some of our usual materials are now really difficult to get hold of, due to the current global demand, but we have adapted our designs in really innovative ways and are using materials that are in good supply.”

Enterprise UK has been based at Moss Industrial Estate, on St. Helens Road in Leigh, for more than 20 years.

The estate is owned by family-run business, George Moss & Sons Limited, which is celebrating its centenary in 2020. Throughout its centenary year, George Moss & Sons is highlighting the innovative, inspiring and diverse businesses based there.

Sebastian Moss, managing director of Moss Industrial Estate, added: “Enterprise UK is working incredibly hard and using their expertise to support others in our community as we continue to support them, and all our tenants, through this challenging time.

“Many of our customers, just like Enterprise UK, have been based here for decades and we have seen them grow from single person start-ups in to SME’s, employing a large teams and trading nationally and even globally.

“Since my great, great grandfather, George Moss, started the business 100 years ago, we have been supporting the growth of local businesses and, alongside it, supporting our community in many different ways. I am really proud to see such fantastic innovation coming from the businesses based here on the estate, particularly because there is also a real benefit the wider community.”