Sunseeker International is implementing a phased return to work for all its employees starting from next week.

The Poole-based company says that due to the complexity of operations, employees will come back in a controlled manner allowing it to move to full production over the coming few weeks.

In a statement, Sunseeker said: “The phased approach allows us to ensure that all the safety measures we have put in place work seamlessly, providing employees with the confidence that they are coming back to a safe place of work.

“Re-starting production will allow us to deliver those boats previously in build and the many on order from across the world.

“Owners are keen to take delivery of boats previously ordered so they can use this season and a catch up plan will attempt to reduce the backlog.

“A great deal of work has been taking place to ensure the safety of employees, suppliers, visitors and finished boats.

“Working in close cooperation with all departments, Sunseeker’s in-house health and safety team has defined strict protocols, working practices and guidelines for all employees to support the very safest environment, wherever they work within the business.

“As well as the issuing and guidance of how to use PPE, factories have been laid out with one-way systems and wide thoroughfares to ensure social distancing is maintained.

“Meanwhile, additional hygiene and cleaning stations have been introduced companywide to ensure equipment and tools can be methodically cleaned whilst boats are sanitised thoroughly at every stage of production and then ‘deep-cleaned’ again prior to hand-over.”

Separately, all warranty and parts functions will be fully operational during June.

In support of owners being unable to use their boat over recent weeks, Sunseeker is offering an extended two month factory warranty for any boat in warranty as of March 23, 2020 – an industry first.

Commenting on the phased return to work, Andrea Frabetti, Sunseeker’s CEO, said “Our goal now is to achieve safe efficient production over the coming weeks so we can deliver boats to our customers who, understandably, are keen to get afloat this summer.

“In parallel, our new model development programme continues at a pace in order that we can offer the very latest range which is on course to double in size by 2022.

“I’d like to personally thank our clients, employees and suppliers for their patience during this enforced period of shutdown.

“Now, more than ever, the country needs us to do what we do best which will help deliver exports and support the economy.

“As a proud UK manufacturer, we are eager to play our own small part in returning it to prosperity.”

Sunseeker’s Poole manufacturing base produces around 150 boats every year ranging from 38-161 feet.

Poole is also to home to Sunseeker’s dedicated Design & Technology Centre.

• Earlier this month Sunseeker announced a “rebalance of the business” to match production output, affecting about 460 people or 20 per cent of its workforce. Formal consultations with staff began from May 7.