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You and Yours: Christmas Preparation; Manufacturing Jobs; Jigsaw Star

23/11/2020

Christmas Preparation; Manufacturing Jobs; Jigsaw Star

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Christmas Preparation; Manufacturing Jobs; Jigsaw Star

The wholesalers struggling to prepare for an uncertain Christmas.

Why jigsaw puzzles are providing the missing piece for many people stuck at home.

Normally at this time of year, the hospitality industry would be gearing up for a busy festive season.  Lockdown number two has made that very difficult, not least for the wholesalers who would normally supply pubs and restaurants.  The uncertainty means difficulties decided on how much food to order and how much preparation to do.   We'll visit Brakes, one of the biggest food service wholesalers in the UK.

The North of England and the Midlands have been hardest hit by the Coronavirus.  Areas like Leicester, Liverpool, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Yorkshire all had tougher restrictions imposed as infections rose. These areas also have some of the most deprived communities in the UK - as a result of declining industries - like textile production.  For what remains of those jobs in factories it's been a tough time, with some reduced production, and working hours. We'll be speaking to Patrick Grant who owns clothing factories in the North and also Ben Fletcher from Make UK - a manufacturing association.

And... why jigsaws are rising in popularity.  In the first lockdown lots of people dug them out of their lofts while they were stuck inside, and then started to buy new ones. Now demand has gone up again. Ebay said sales of 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles jumped by 36 percent, when the new restrictions in England were announced. We'll speak to a company that makes them, and a online jigsaw making star.

Presenter: Winifred Robinson
Producer: Jess Quayle

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