We at NIAB understand that we play an important role in supporting agricultural businesses and food production, both in 2020 and in the future, and we would like to update you on our response to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) situation. Having celebrated our Centenary in 2019 and realising the trials and tribulations of the last 100 years, we are confident that we have the resilience to ride this storm.
The welfare of our employees is our priority. Following government guidelines, a series of measures have been put in place to ensure that NIAB can continue to work with our customers, members and stakeholders. Our objective, as always, is to carry on our laboratory and field work and to continue to deliver our research projects and commercial services. Many of these activities can be carried out on our own farms with lone workers or social distancing.
We are operating differently due to the impact of the virus, but are adapting and finding alternative ways of working where we can. For example, training courses, field days and open days have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, but we are utilising technology to keep the information flowing including virtual meetings, workshops and conferences.
NIAB offices at Cambridge HQ, Cambridge Park Farm and East Malling will remain open, including for deliveries, from 9.00am to 4.30pm, but with reduced staff numbers on site until further notice. Please notify us in advance if you intend to come to any of the three main NIAB sites. Many staff will be working from home but you can still contact them by email (forename.surname [at] niab.com or, if NIAB EMR, forename.surname [at] emr.ac.uk) and mobile phone. Some departments, e.g finance and IT, are also contactable on their office phone number. Contact details are available on our website www.niab.com. Our regional centre offices will be closed, but staff will still be working and again are contactable by phone or email.
We thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support during this time. We will continue to review the situation and will remain in contact as circumstances change.
UPDATE (December 2020):
NIAB HQ reception hours
Monday-Thursday - 8.30am-4.30pm
Friday - 8.30am-4.00pm