A Thornbury company has won a million pound contract to provide winter uniforms for staff working at Covid testing centres.

Workwear company Alexandra has secured the winter uniform contract for staff at more than 100 Sodexo-managed drive and walk-through centres.

The contract involves supplying around 80,000 items ranging from thermals, boots and body warmers to hi-vis jackets, coats and fleeces.

Janette Bowman, sales manager for national accounts at Alexandra, said: “This is a major order, the bulk of which is the winter uniform replacements for people who will be outside in all weathers this winter helping in the frontline fight against coronavirus.

“The uniforms are going to all Sodexo-managed sites and, given the quantities and tight turnaround time, it has been a massive operation across the organisation and I am so proud of what our team has achieved.

“We have worked closely with all our suppliers to ensure the quality and design requirements are met.

"Achieving this is a testament to the excellent relationships we have, in some cases built over many years but in others developed during the current pandemic.”

There are now more than 78 drive-through, 200 walk-through and 258 mobile testing units in Britain.

Neal Gisborne, Sodexo healthcare divisional director, said: “We are proud to be playing our part in the national fight against Covid-19.

"Our employees are at the heart of our organisation so we wanted to ensure they were warm and comfortable as they help people across the United Kingdom in all weathers this winter.”

Last month Alexandra secured national Supply Chain Excellence Award in recognition of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, winning the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical category.

The company, which employs 1,500 people, also hosted a virtual visit from Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer who heard how Alexandra transformed its operations during the Covid crisis.

More than 90 per cent of manufacturing capacity in its UK and international factories was temporarily switched to producing scrubs for the NHS.

Alexandra also used its supply chain network to source millions of pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, nitrile gloves and aprons to support frontline NHS and care workers.