Northamptonshire technology businesses working with NHS to tackle PPE shortage

Businesses from a group of centred around Silverstone Park are pulling together to source and manufacture crucial supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC) contacted 3,000 businesses within an hour's drive from Silverstone to ask if they could help supply PPE for healthcare workers across Northamptonshire during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 50 from the network have responded saying they have the capability to help – in particular, in being able to supply items highlighted by NHS management in the county.

Group chairman Roz Bird said: “The high-tech engineering and manufacturing capability amongst businesses in the STC region is world-class and we really wanted to do our bit during this crisis.

“Also, this activity can support businesses with work and jobs by getting them to re-purpose their equipment and so become part of the medical sector’s supply chain in the longer term."

The list of PPE required in Northants includes masks, scrubs, hand sanitiser, body bags, masks, gloves, gowns, goggles, antibacterial wipes, face shields, side tables and infusion pumps.

Already 500kgs of polypropylene – donated by South Yorks business Polypipe, which can be turned into headbands – has arrived at Silverstone Park for distribution amongst some of the businesses.

“The numbers are huge: in some cases there can be a requirement for up to 50,000 of just one item alone on that list.

“Hand sanitiser, goggles, gowns, coveralls and masks we have been able to source through the STC network. Other items such as alcohol wipes, scrubs, visors and body bags we need to manufacture locally and we are setting this up.

“As a result, and through on-going and very positive discussions with the Northants PPE lead, we are now at a stage where a number of STC businesses have been able to make commercial offers to the NHS.”

Roz, who works for property investment firm MEPC, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, said: “The numbers are huge: in some cases there can be a requirement for up to 50,000 of just one item alone on that list.

“Hand sanitiser, goggles, gowns, coveralls and masks we have been able to source through the STC network.

"Other items such as alcohol wipes, scrubs, visors and body bags we need to manufacture locally and we are setting this up.

“As a result, and through on-going and very positive discussions with the Northants PPE lead, we are now at a stage where a number of STC businesses have been able to make commercial offers to the NHS.”

Once STC has tried and tested the processes in place for Northamptonshire, it will look to roll it out to neighbouring counties.

However, the network is urgently on the look-out for other raw materials to produce more items such as PET, for shields and visors, and PVA, for body bags.

Businesses able to supply PET or PVA for distribution to the STC for manufacturing of PPE are urged to contact Roz on [email protected] or STC chief executive Pim van Baarsen on [email protected]