AN ULVERSTON manufacturer says the new 14-day quarantine period for travellers coming into the UK has the potential to cost the country thousands of jobs.

The Government has introduced the quarantine in a bid to prevent a second wave of coronavirus but Darren Cavan, chief executive of Oxley Group in Ulverston, said the blanket quarantine would impact upon international trade and made little sense.

Oxley Group is a specialist in LEDs and other items for the military and aerospace industries. It said 75 per cent of its turnover was export-related and it dealt with 43 countries.

Mr Cavan said: “We are asking the Government for clarity. If this was at the start of the coronavirus lockdown, or the R rate was increasing, it would be completely understandable.

“But at this stage, when other countries are relaxing their restrictions – like New Zealand for example – it seems like it is too late to introduce a blanket quarantine.

“We would prefer to see a more targeted approach. If there are people coming into the country from places that are affected by coronavirus, then there should be measures in place.

“But if there are places where there haven’t been any cases, then that’s when air bridges should be introduced.”

Air bridges are routes between countries where no quarantine is required.

Jayne Moorby, marketing manager for Oxley, added: “Potentially we could have an engineer that needs to go to Germany to repair something, but they cannot because of the quarantine.

“The Government has not given a time limit for the quarantine and it’s not clear. There’s no consistency and we have no real confidence in its interpretation.”

Mr Cavan said: “We have followed every piece of government guidance to make sure we are working safely throughout the lockdown. Now it feels like they have just decided to add this extra layer of uncertainty to the future.”

Ms Moorby added: “It absolutely has to be about safety and we are very aware of our responsibilities. But it’s bigger than that. We are agile enough and innovative so we have continued to work, but if there’s no air travel, then there is no demand for new-build planes, maintenance or repair.”