Propertyserve and GRITIT provide Winter Gritting to ES Group

-Property and asset consultant steps up its winter maintenance offering for Winter 2013/14-

As the weather looks set to turn colder, ES Group, the collective name for Edward Symmons and Storeys Edward Symmons, a leading firm of property and asset consultants, has appointed Propertyserve UK and its gritting supplier, GRITIT, to manage its winter praises gritting and snow clearance services across 35 sites nationally.

ES Group offers a truly single source solution to its clients requiring a strategic review of their property portfolio or business. In March 2013, the company appointed Propertyserve UK to provide a fully managed, nationwide FM helpdesk service and procurement of fabric and reactive maintenance.

Following a successful start to the relationship, ES Group approached Propertyserve UK to manage its winter gritting and risk management requirements. The company had previously experienced landscaping issues with large gritting lorries damaging plants and salt being spread on to flower beds.

Propertserve brought in leading winter gritting and risk management specialist, GRITIT, to help support the new contract pitch. GRITIT, a leading business in the winter risk management field, allows for manual gritting, as well as smaller, more nimble vehicles to go on site.

Poppy Morgan, Property Management Associate at ES Group comments, “As we experience harsher winters, it’s essential that we show good management practice and put comprehensive winter maintenance plans in place. We chose a dedicated provider which can provide full site cover. This way all our sites are fully covered against liability, which we consider to be essential for all multi let buildings.”

Chris MacDonald, managing director at Propertyserve UK, added: “The Propertyserve helpdesk manages the gritting activity and ensures the service contract runs following instruction to proceed. It provides a 24/7 point of call, which is vital during periods of adverse weather. Propertyserve also takes on all debt liabilities and deals with all CIS related deductions and reporting on the clients behalf.

“Winter gritting has become integral to British business, and we have made it our solution job to make it part of the procurement service; it also diversifies our own portfolio. When it comes to procuring winter maintenance services, we opt for the best supplier to suit. We work closely with GRITIT across other client portfolios and have built a solid working relationship.”

Richard Burroughs, sales director at GRITIT, commented: “Our primary aim in working with Propertyserve UK was for us to provide the most robust, consistent, reliable and accountable service possible to their client, ES Group, with the sole focus on keeping their portfolio of sites open, safe and operational during winter.

“Winter is the busiest time for us and certainly also true for most property managers but having an efficient service that offers 24/7 reliability gives Propertyserve UK peace of mind. The law places responsibility upon employers and owners/occupiers that their premises are maintained in a condition that is safe and without risk of injury to every person who enters the site. We have all the necessary liability protection and insurances in place and will manage any claim that may arise in relation to our service.”