Winter Gritting is one of the services that make up the newly introduced NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) framework. This innovative framework agreement is aimed at streamlining grounds maintenance, winter gritting and associated services for NHS organisations. Designed with efficiency and versatility in mind, this framework delivers an extensive range of services, including winter gritting services.
As Nick Verburg, Head of Category Management at NHS SBS, explains, “NHS SBS are excited to bring this new framework agreement to market. It has been developed to provide the NHS with a full scope of grounds maintenance services, so approved organisations using the framework will benefit from working with suppliers who are committed to delivering social value.”
Clearway Gritting Join the Framework
Clearway Gritting is delighted to be one of the service providers included within this framework. Specialising in winter services, we bring years of expertise in gritting and snow clearance, ensuring NHS sites remain operational and safe during the harshest weather conditions. Our inclusion highlights the commitment to quality and reliability, offering NHS customers access to industry-leading winter services providers.
The selection process for suppliers, including Clearway Gritting, was rigorous, assessing their ability to address key concerns such as modern slavery in supply chains and their capacity to provide apprenticeships. This ensures that participating suppliers deliver not only exceptional services but also contribute to broader social and ethical objectives.
Supporting NHS Organisations Through Winter Challenges
Winter poses significant challenges for NHS organisations, where safety and accessibility are critical. The new framework simplifies the organisation of winter services by providing a clear, structured, and compliant route to procuring these essential services.
With Clearway Gritting on board, NHS customers can depend on prompt, professional, and effective gritting and snow clearance services. This ensures that hospital grounds, car parks, and access routes remain safe for patients, staff, and visitors, even in severe weather conditions. By mitigating risks associated with ice and snow, the framework helps NHS organisations maintain their operations and uphold high standards of care throughout winter.
A Regional Structure for Greater Accessibility
The framework’s regional structure has been specifically designed to accommodate both national and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Nick Verburg said, “The framework agreement has been developed with a regional structure to facilitate both national and SME suppliers. We are delighted to see a blend of awarded suppliers to provide a choice of solutions for the NHS.”
This structure enables NHS customers to select services tailored to their specific regional needs with Clearway Gritting a localised solution Winter Gritting service. The blend of suppliers ensures accessibility, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, aligning with NHS SBS’s mission to provide comprehensive support for healthcare organisations.
Anand Clarke, Managing Director, Clearway Gritting, St Albans said:
“Our team has a long-standing commitment to providing reliable access road gritting, car park gritting and related services to numerous NHS sites across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Our inclusion in the NHS framework agreement helps to streamline access to our winter gritting services for other NHS locations across towns and cities such as Welwyn Garden City, Luton, Watford, Hatfield, and St Albans. This ensures NHS sites remain safe and accessible during adverse weather conditions, with the expert support of Clearway Gritting.”
Driving Social Value Through Collaboration
In addition to operational benefits, the framework reinforces NHS SBS’s commitment to social responsibility. The focus on social value – through initiatives like tackling modern slavery and offering apprenticeships – ensures that NHS organisations can align their procurement decisions with ethical and sustainability goals. Working with suppliers like Clearway Gritting allows NHS customers to actively contribute to these important objectives while addressing their practical needs.
Learn More
To explore the full details of this framework and the services it provides, visit the NHS SBS website at https://www.sbs.nhs.uk. You can also view Clearway Gritting’s entry on the framework.
