Mayor Meets Local Firm Producing Face Masks For Teesside International

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has visited a Thornaby-based clothing and garment decoration firm who have worked to produce hundreds of face masks for staff at Teesside International Airport.

Motif8 Embroidery and Print was established 18 years ago and offers a variety of garment decoration services, including embroidery, screen printing, vinyl and bespoke sublimation products.

It supplies clothing to the private and public sectors, with the 40-strong staff working with both global and independent brands to deliver its service to more than 100 local sports teams, as well as being one of the biggest suppliers to the British Armed Forces.

The firm previously worked with Teesside International to produce uniforms for staff, and have now created 200 branded face masks to the airport for workers following the coronavirus pandemic.

The use of face coverings while travelling through the terminal makes up one of the six steps to staying safe at Teesside International, a scheme to ensure the wellbeing of passengers and staff at the airport during its phased reopening.

Mayor Houchen said: “Teesside International has worked with Motif8 in the past, and delivered us some brilliant staff uniforms shortly after I revealed Teesside International would be flying once again.

“That hard work helped secure this latest contract, for individual face coverings which will continue to ensure our airport is a safe place to work. The wellbeing of our staff and passengers is paramount now that we have reopened our doors after coronavirus lockdown, and masks are a key part of our health and safety plan.

“This is also another example of how our airport can and should be working in the interests of local businesses since it was brought back into public ownership. We’ve announced partnership after partnership with local suppliers and professional services companies over the past 12 months and this is the latest way we’re supporting jobs and investment in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“It was great to meet Chris and his team, and I wish them the very best for the future.”

Chris Pomfret, Motif8’s Managing Director, said: “We are working diligently to supply businesses nationwide with embroidered and printed clothing and uniform to maintain the all-important corporate image.

“Supporting local sports clubs, schools and businesses is very close to our heart at Motif8 and to be able to develop our partnership with Teesside International Airport even further, is fantastic news for all concerned.”