The owner of Clydebank Estate Agents has launched a new business installing hand sanitisers and distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in a bid to support his furloughed staff.

Tom Sheridan plans to pay his workers the additional 20 per cent of their wages not covered by the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme through profits from his new venture Dr. Sanitiser.

Tom is now delivering PPE to elderly people and businesses in preparation for when restrictions ease.

Tom has already supported the Atlantis Bar, on Kilbowie Road, several local churches, including St Mary’s, in Duntocher, and businesses in Bellshill and Stirling, and he has even travelled to Manchester to pick up PPE and sanitiser dispensers.

Tom said: “The PPE hasn’t been particularly expensive to buy, so I have bought it out my own pocket and then company’s contact me to install it in their premises in line with government guidelines.

“Any profit I make will hopefully go towards making sure my staff at the estate agents are financially stable.”

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The Scottish Government has announced that phases 3 and 4 of easing lockdown restrictions will include allowing non-essential businesses to re-open. This includes retail, pubs and restaurants, schools, gyms, cinemas and museums.

Tom aims to support these businesses who will be preparing to re-open. He added: “A number of elderly have also contacted me to deliver masks and sanitiser for when they are allowed back out. I haven’t charged them though as they have no other route to access these supplies.”

Tom has been inundated with requests to install and stock venues with the correct PPE equipment, he has also invested in a van to ensure he can travel to any business who requires his support.

As lockdown restrictions ease, Tom expects to return to work in his estate agents on Kilbowie Road on June 18, but doesn’t see the need for Dr. Sanitiser to ease anytime soon.

Instead, he hopes to employ someone to continue working on his new business venture and deliver the vital equipment across the country in preparation for normality resuming later in the year.