Have you heard of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC)? The Brethren is an evangelical Christian group that seems to have links to 21 UK companies that have won at least 49 Covid-related contracts since March, worth as much as £1.1 billion. THREAD.

We have no evidence that the companies involved do not have appropriate manufacturing expertise, but in light of the revelations about a VIP track to Covid contracts, should we be concerned about the high number of contracts awarded to companies with links to a religious group?

In October, @allthecitizens reported on contracts relating to the Conservative-linked religious group. We said then the total amount accrued by the network and its associated companies sat at over £951 million.

At the time we reported on contracts spanning 11 companies affiliated with the Brethren: https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/status/1321142159882493955?s=20

This was based on work by @BylineTimes and us finding contracts for the following companies:

Accora
Blueleaf Ltd
Clandeboye Agencies
Denka UK Ltd
Medco Solutions
Orcagel
Oska Care Ltd
Techniclean Supply Ltd
Toffeln
Tower Supplies
Unispace

BUT WE HAVE FOUND EVEN MORE.

First, there’s Inivos, which won 3 contracts worth a combined £126.5 million for the supply of face-masks and gowns from Department of Health and Social Care

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/375ec1e7-6b3e-469f-95ff-fe98192d9c81?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/56a05ee5-5494-41f9-9e72-f0357540918c?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2ea4eae6-5de8-4cfc-a268-7ea449fd2ab0?origin=SearchResults&p=1

Inivos is run by the Fentiman family; Daniel, Elizabeth, Gordon, Mark and Warrick.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07183575/officers

In a successful libel action about a false allegation that Warrick Fentiman had been responsible for a hacking attack, a witness for Mr Fentiman noted that he was ‘well respected within the PPCC (i.e. Plymouth Brethren Christian Church) community’

https://www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/5d47cc892c94e019833b583f

Additionally, Gordon Fentiman’s LinkedIn lists among his two “interests” Inivios and the consultancy Universal Business Team (UBT). UBT is listed on a Brethren website as part of their network “providing advisory and group buying services”

https://togetherwearebrethren.com.au/our-network 

But there are other Brethren contract links.

CMT Equipment Ltd., a construction supply company in Lincoln & in Belvedere, have been awarded 5 individual/group PPE contracts for as much as £3.2 million.

3 were for CMT Group Ltd which is not on Companies House but is located in Belvedere, the home of CMT Equipment:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1b2e2172-d366-45f2-9bd3-b063c7475dbc?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7d50484f-3b24-4c25-85b8-c8a164bcefd4?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/56a9c033-c645-49cc-bbf2-07240d58d5de?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1f1b794a-2353-4951-bd4a-14681e11bf3d?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/68c07595-b227-410d-83cc-8334a87f18e9?origin=SearchResults&p=1

One of CMT Equipment’s three directors is Anthony Hazell. He’s also a director of Unispace - listed on companies house. Unispace have won 7 Covid contracts worth some £680 million.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/2pe7oTiZVuPwNh0pVQBDrJJ4kYY/appointments

https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/status/1321142159882493955?s=20

Anthony Hazell is the Chair of the Manor Gospel Trust, whose Stated Objectives are: "the advancement of the christian religion... known as the "plymouth brethren christian church". Their address is The Brethrens Meeting Hall in Swanley: …https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5050661/full-print

Among the Trustees of The Manor Gospel Trust is Garth Woodcock. He’s also director at Orcagel - a company that won a Covid contract for £416,000 from Leeds Council.

https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:492060-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0

And there’s more.

The Acopia Group, run by Russel Lynes, won a £249,400 PPE contract. His LinkedIn page lists work for the Rapid Relief Team - a programme by the Brethren often cited as an example of their community outreach.

https://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/living-our-beliefs-rapid-relief-team/

Another Director at Acopia is Timothy Malcolm Lynes. Timothy was, until 2017, a director of NPS Worldwide UK Ltd, along with Garth Christie, a high profile member of the Brethren. We don’t know if this Lynes is a member of the Brethren. But Garth is. https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/plymouth-brethren-member-clarifies-evidence-gave-mps/governance/article/1159137

Garth also runs a company called Gloves4U Ltd, which is a supplier to Unispace, the Brethren-linked company that won £680 million in PPE contracts - along with… Inivos (see above).

https://www.unispacehealth.com/ 

There are more Brethren-linked companies that have won contracts.

Ascot Signs got a face visor contract for £2.3 million. It is run by Roger Parsons and the White family - Laurence, Alan, Garth, Andrew and Terry.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/NI616201/officers

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a765eae4-dd13-4c8a-a990-62d756889b01?origin=SearchResults&p=1

The link to the Brethren? Roger Parsons is a Trustee and Laurence White on the management at Brethren-run Focus School Knockloughrim Campus.

Focus School Knockloughrim Campus is listed on the Northern Ireland Education Authority website as part of the OneSchool network, endorsed by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church

https://www.eani.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-11/DP%20631%20OneSchool%20Northern%20Ireland%20-%20for%20website.pdf

Another Trustee of the Focus Knockloughrim Campus is Nick Walker. He’s a director of Clandeboye Agencies, which won 2 Covid PPE contracts for £108 million and is based in Antrim, 22 miles from the school:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9c2282f4-ba1b-4b9e-bf1f-7a057eeb99d9?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/baad5d4b-bdfb-4c96-a70c-2ef3754fe68e?origin=SearchResults&p=1

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/NI617785/officers

It doesn’t end there.

There’s the Yewdale Corporation, an Essex-based company focused on “manufacturing interior shading and privacy solutions” that won £570,000 for the supply of IIR facemasks to Calderdale and Huddersfield on the 12/05/2020.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07333683

Yewdale’s links to the Brethren? It’s run by the Parsons; Garth, Matthew, Ryan, and Michael.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/54mS_etpf7B8DTNdU40u-DrOcUA/appointments

Not only are they possibly related to Roger Parsons of Ascot Signs, Michael Parsons was a director of Wellgrove School Ltd, once run by the Plymouth Brethren in London. The School shut in 2014.

https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/134509

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3174/pdfs/uksi_20123174_en.pdf

Matthew and Ryan were both educated at Brethren Schools, the Focus School Wellgrove Campus and ‘Focus School’ respectively.

Ryan Parsons is also a trustee of the Brethren-linked Chelmsford Gospel Trust:
…https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5050919/charity-overview

http://opencharities.org/charities/1159234

Additionally, Garth Parsons has volunteered for the Brethren Rapid Relief Teams since 2018:

Then there’s Total Protection (UK) Ltd - a Northamptonshire-based safety supply company which won £287,800 as part of a group deal, for which they supplied respirator masks.

They won that contract along with a number of other companies, two of which also have reported links to the Brethren (Agile Medical and Toffeln Ltd)

https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?noticeId=499812964

Total Protection’s MD is Matthew Calder. Amos Calder also works there. Mathew claims on LinkedIn he works for BACA Workwear & Safety Ltd, which part-bought Total Protection in 2017 . BACA is run by Benjamin, Marcus, and Lewis Calder.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05199730/officers

Amos Calder lists on Linkedin his place of education as Brethren School OneSchool Global Europe.

Ben Calder also lists among his LinkedIn interests the Brethren Charity Rapid Relief Team as well as the PPE contract company Unispace.

Then there is Ureka Global, a Bristol-based adhesives company awarded a £375,542 as part of a group contract along with two other Brethren-linked companies; Arrow County Supplies, and SMI Int.

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cfec318f-966e-4694-8a5e-8a3476e221ce?origin=SearchResults&p=1

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08499525

Ureka Global is run by the Nunn family; Alan, Alex, Daniel, Mary, and Richard. Alex is listed on Companies House as Alex Michael Nunn - the same name of the Treasurer of the Brethren owned Cardiff Gospel Hall Trust.

…https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5050915/trustees

Ureka Global’s Richard Nunn also has listed among his LinkedIn interests; Rapid Relief Team and the Brethren OneSchool Global.

Then there is Agile Medical. They received £18.4 million as part of a ventilator group award, with Toffeln and Total Protection also on the contract.

https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?noticeId=499812964

Agile are based in Grimsby, and run by the Glass family: Anita, Christopher, Conran, Daniel, and Nicola.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10983766

Christopher is a trustee of the Haven Gospel Hall Trust, a fifteen minute drive away from Agile’s HQ.

http://opencharities.org/charities/1159235

Contracts of up to £495,684 were also given to Arrow County Supplies, who run a cleaning and janitorial supply service (this total includes a group contract that also features SMI Int. and Ureka Global).

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cfec318f-966e-4694-8a5e-8a3476e221ce?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c1767a78-29ca-4866-9a34-2159d7b882e1?origin=SearchResults&p=1

Arrow is operated by the Blackledge Family: Bruce, Richard, Edward, Rebecca, Robert, and Sam.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06355141/officers

Robert and Richard are both trustees of the Holyhead Road Gospel Hall Trust, and Robert sits on the board of OneSchool Global Atherstone Campus as a UK representative.
http://opencharities.org/charities/1159235

Finally, SMI Int Group Ltd, won 4 contracts worth up to £5,855,542 (including 3 group contracts). They are a workwear supply company.

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07644080

https://www.smigroupuk.com/ 

They won £300,000 from the Scottish Police Authority, as well as Wiltshire and Bristol local councils, and were included as part of a £5 million group PPE award.
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3b289711-954b-44c0-a812-ba8f518ed5a3?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG391625

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cfec318f-966e-4694-8a5e-8a3476e221ce?origin=SearchResults&p=1

https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:360555-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0

SMI Int Group Ltd. is run by the Prisgrove Family: Blake, Carlos, Donovan, Elaine, Giles and Paul. Blake Prisgrove was also director at a company called Zapp UK Trading Ltd, and held the position at the same time as Russel Lynes, of the Acopia Group (above):

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07644080/officers

…https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/dNBs0esDL5UhyfRpqMAyH1V36nw/appointments

Carlos Prisgrove was Educated at Brethren run “Eastbrook Education”. The ‘Eastbrook Education Trust’ was one under the Focus School banner.

https://www.schoolinspectionservice.co.uk/inspection-reports/gloucester-campus2017-18.pdf

Giles Prisgrove went to school at Hindhead Campus, under the OneSchool programme. For the last 5 years has worked for the Brethren Rapid Relief Team.

https://www.oneschoolglobal.com/campus/united-kingdom/hindhead/

https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/surrey/hindhead/oneschool-global-uk-hindhead-campus/

SMI founder Paul Prisgrove also lists on LinkedIn an interest in Unispace and the Rapid Relief Team.

SO.

In total, we have found 21 companies with apparent links to the Plymouth Brethren:

Accora
Acopia Group
Agile medical
Arrow County Supplies
Ascot Signs
Blueleaf Ltd
Clandeboye Agencies
CMT
Denka UK Ltd
Inivos
Medco Solutions
Orcagel
Oska Care Ltd
SMI Int

Techniclean Supply Ltd
Toffeln
Tower Supplies
Total Protection UK
Ureka Global
Unispace
and the Yewdale Corporation:

21 companies run by individuals and families who have links - either through education, volunteering, fund-raising or Trustee-ships - to the Brethren, and these companies have won 49 PPE Covid Contracts worth as much as £1.1 billion.

There is no allegation any of these contracts were illegally obtained or that any wrongdoing has occurred. But should we be concerned that a religious entity with reported links to the Conservative party has won over £1bn in PPE contracts?

Though the PBCC aren’t allowed to vote or hold office, their lobbying efforts in the UK and abroad have been extensive

The group has been known to leaflet drop on behalf of Conservative MPs, as an investigation by the Times revealed, with MPs using a loophole in the law allowing them to receive their help without declaring it.

https://times-deck.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/projects/470e7a4f017a5476afb7eeb3f8b96f9b.html

The Brethren have also had Conservative MP Peter Bone and others speak up on their behalf in Parliament urging that the Charities Act restore the presumption all religious groups are for the public benefit.

Given this, and that the @GoodLawProject has revealed there are preferred COVID contract streams for VIPs, we must ask the question: have the Brethren been baptised as VIPs by this government?

Please explore the connections we’ve uncovered for yourself here, using our interactive map: https://twitter.com/sophie_e_hill/status/1329068044195401730?s=20

Did this concern you? Are you willing to help @allthecitizens reveal more concerning Covid-19 contracts lacking in due diligence and oversight? If so, please see the thread below to find out how you can help contribute and hold those in power to account: https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/status/1319601008457154565?s=20