It doesn’t need to take a pandemic for me to tell you – I am truly proud to be part of the automotive industry

Although many of you may have seen me diversifying my talents with my new partner in crime Tom Allen here in my feather boa, I have also been so delighted to see the energy behind some of the most wonderful actions being taken this week.

I have witnessed true leadership and team work in seeing the largest hospital in the UK being built in just two weeks. TWO WEEKS! I’m proud to be a part of a nation that can do all of these things. Yet what really resonates with me, here, is that we clearly forget during our “normal” daily lives just how good we are. And how good we can be.

This leads me to the next proud moment – the blue sky thinking behind reverse-engineering. Automotive truly holds a wealth of talent so rich that, amidst uncertain times, has brought out the best in productivity from some of the industry’s leading engineers to create life saving equipment. Now, I take my hat off to our incredible NHS doctors, nurses, paramedics, carers – those fantastic “front line” individuals who are working tirelessly to help beat this virus. But my commendation also goes to the inventors, the deliverers of dreams and the creators of some of the world’s most sought after products – the electricians and engineers who help make our lives easier each and every day. How amazing they have been to dig deep and de-construct components and rebuild them to help save lives. They’re the ones that may be forgotten when it comes to the ultimate “thank-you” – yet I hope they know somewhere how instrumental they’ve been to the cause. And how proud we are of them, as a nation.

Having spent a lot of this week speaking to many leaders finding themselves in very turbulent and testing times, I know so many people have been bombarded with information from left, right and centre. People are trying to muddle their way through a mist of uncertainty right now – and the last thing we need is more preachers telling them how to do it. And this is something I wholly agree with, as I believe our time is still precious. It should be conducted in the right way, with the focus being in all the right areas.

We count ourselves very lucky at Ennis & Co, that we have work and assignments to crack on with. We’re still going, all looking after each other as much as we can from afar – and know we’re all in this together. In this case, my team and my work is of vital focus for me, meaning you might get a bit of peace and quiet from me for a while. Yet this doesn’t mean I’m not here if you need me.

As I sign off for now, I want to wish you and your family happiness, safety and sanity (I think lockdown can sometimes magnify annoying behaviours a little too much!) and all the optimism I can muster to assure you we will get through this. We need to be optimistic about our future. And I hope you join me in thinking this too.

If you do miss me too much – don’t forget to check out Tom Allen’s latest videos – I’ll be there with him raising a glass on lockdown! 

Tom Allen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomindeed/?hl=en

Tom Allen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomallencomedy