Outdoor equipment firm under fire after staff told to carry on working

The Prime Minster said on Monday that only essential workplaces should continue operations to try and limit the spread of the deadly infection.

But Vango staff from Inverclyde claim they have been forced to work in the company's warehouse in Westway in Renfrew, even though they produce non-essential outdoor equipment such as tents.

They say bosses at the company - owned by the locally-based AMG Group -  closed its offices in Kelburn Business Park in Port Glasgow, pictured, but told warehouse staff it's business as usual.

The man, one of several employees to contact the Telegraph, said the way people are being treated is 'a disgrace'.

He said: "Warehouse staff who were moved up to Renfrew two years ago have been ordered to go to work because there are orders coming in, in containers from China.

"They're expecting us to unload these tents which will be sent by parcel to shops around the country.

"It's absolutely scandalous - there isn't a tent shop in the whole of Britain that's opened at the moment."

He said that as per government instructions on Monday night, a manager closed the warehouse the next day.

But he added: "The management blew a fuse and ordered everyone to come in the next day."

Staff were then sent an email saying: 'Those staff wishing to and are fully set up and capable of working from home, should continue to do so, whilst those who are not i.e. Westway staff and AMGS DC/Inspection staff, should continue to report to their respective places of work, until further notice.'

Sources claim the warehouse manager quit on Wednesday morning in protest and a minibus from Inverclyde picked up workers and took them to Renfrew.

The insider said: "It is a 15-seater and there were about seven or eight people on the bus - they shouldn't be travelling on a bus together.

"It also takes two people to lift the tents when they are unloading them, so people can't stay two metres apart.

"They are saying it is business as usual but people working at the Kelburn offices are being allowed to work from home.

"The lowest paid people in the whole company are being forced to go to work."

The Tele was told two shifts are operating and there are normally 25 people working across them.

The source said: "What about the risk of infecting our families?

"We have been told to stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary.

"People buying tents isn't happening for the foreseeable future.

"There was a board meeting and they were trying to hide behind the fact that they sell dried food for camping as essential - they're not a supermarket."

Bernard A McGown, HR and operations director for the AMG Group, told the Telegraph that the firm was operating within the government's advice.

He said: "For clarity, AMG Group Ltd, is not flouting any government guidelines, particularly regarding social distancing; in fact, due to our adherence, this is actually preventing us from fully unloading some incoming containers, as they hold product more than 30 kg, that stock is currently being left within the container.

"The distribution centre management team were previously advised, by the board, to ensure that social distancing was fully adhered to on the minibus; a minibus that is provided completely free of charge, by the business, to our DC employees, a significant benefit to this group of employees.

"At the same time, they were also advised that should numbers of passengers breach social distancing then the business would reimburse fuel costs to those staff who were required to take their own, personal, vehicles.

"AMG Group attracts and employs staff who commute on a daily basis, from as far as Motherwell, under their own expense; the DC staff are the only group who are given complimentary transport, from Inverclyde to Renfrew and back again, thereby ensuring that 15 local jobs were retained in an area,renowned for its levels of unemployment.

Mr McGown said that the company's products are being sought by front-line companies.

He said: "Being an outdoor company, many of our products are being sought after by numerous front-line companies, for example health services.

"We currently have a sizeable order of 1,000 camp beds for a health service, which requires immediate despatch.

"In addition, we are also seeing a significant spike in the demand for food, with lengthy best before dates."

He described the local firm as rallying to calls for help during this difficult time.

Mr McGown said: "Surely, this is what you would expect from a local business, of such strong ethical grounding, as opposed to simply ignoring the cries for help, from some of the most beleaguered and essential workers, this country currently has, who will continue to deal with unimaginable events throughout this pandemic, and who will do so with great dignity, composure and in silence."