Supplier Spotlight: Care & Independence
Improving lives for 25 years
Improving lives for 25 yearsMoving and handling specialist Care & Independence is currently celebrating 25 years in business. THIIS catches up with out-going Managing Director Ian Jones to find out about the secrets to its success…
For 25 years, Oxfordshire-headquartered Care & Independence has been manufacturing slings and bathing products, as well as a varied range of mobility aids which is supplies to hospitals, nursing homes and private customers. Managing Director Ian Jones discusses how the firm overcame challenges and has evolved so successfully over the years…
Can you tell us a little bit about your story with Care & Independence?
“I joined Care & Independence in February 2018 as Finance Director, becoming Managing Director six months later. It soon became apparent to me that the DNA of the business lay in our expertise to solve complex problems, with an outstanding assessment service offered to support that.
“With areas of the business struggling to deliver required performances, we embarked on a restructuring programme across 2019 and 2020, focusing only on what we were good at. The result of which is the company we know today. “We emerged from the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic in a strong position and have subsequently enjoyed years of growth and investment in sales and marketing.
“The success of any organisation is down to the people it employs. During my time at Care & Independence I have been fortunate to recruit and develop an excellent management team, who alongside the existing highly experienced staff have established an outstanding brand and medical device company.”
What have you been most proud of during your time at Care & Independence?
“Our company ethos of ‘improving lives’ is something that our staff have taken to heart. Every day I have been proud of the amazing effort and dedication that the entire team give across the business irrespective of their role – it is truly humbling; the fact that last year we improved the lives of over 170,000 individuals is testament to that.
“I’m also incredibly proud of winning the BHTA Manufacturer of the Year 2024; to have such a prestigious industry award was not only a great achievement in itself, but gave everyone at Care & Independence much deserved recognition for their collective contribution in our success.”
What have been the standout projects for you?
“In the past few years Care & Independence has brought a number of new products to market, all of which have driven innovation in patient handling and improved lives. Probably most notable is our patented Glove Diamond Deluxe™ family of slings which addresses concerns around pressure issues to coccyx and legs during lifting, representing the pinnacle of sling innovation.
“Equally, the Glove Convenience Max which was shortlisted for BHTA Product of the Year 2024 with its highly supportive design features, allows more users to use an access style sling. Additionally with the launch of our Comfort Value range back in 2019, we have been able to supply top quality and high performing sling and bathing products to the multi-equipment sector at budget-friendly pricing, which has greatly benefitted the community sector.”
How do you think Care & Independence has evolved during your time working there?
“The company I leave behind is very different to the one I joined six years ago. Then it was a newly formed consolidation of four independent businesses that on reflection was not best playing to our strengths. We subsequently took the decision to strip back to focus on slings and bathing where our expertise firmly lay, which has paid dividends.
“Today Care & Independence has a strong identity with clear commitments and goals – two of which being to achieve net zero emissions by 2035, ahead of the NHS England & Wales target, and to improve the lives of one million people per year by 2031. In the past six years, we have experienced exponential growth across all areas and the business has never been in stronger position than now. “As my time with Care & Independence comes to a close, I feel incredibly positive about the company’s next chapter and am confident it will continue to go from strength to strength – it is in more than capable hands with GBUK Group.”
What is the bestselling hero product at Care & Independence? 
“The Glove Airflow in-chair sling has been consistently in demand for many years and is without doubt considered a staple product by sling prescribers.
“The Glove Tux which we first brought to market nearly 20 years ago has also proven time and time again to be a popular sling choice, only becoming eclipsed since we launched the Glove Diamond variants. Furthermore, as we design and manufacture our own products, our ‘Specials’ service of modified solutions too is a constant necessity in supporting the needs of our customers.”
Can you tell us a bit more about your products are distributed in the UK?
“Primarily we sell direct to sling prescribers (occupational therapists and clinicians etc.), with the occasional direct sales to end users too. We have also been highly successful across the country in getting equipment onto framework, working with multi-vendor providers such as community equipment stores and care homes or via catalogues.”
What kinds of challenges has Care & Independence had to manage in the last couple of years?
“As for everyone, the Covid-19 pandemic was a difficult time to navigate and required considered business decisions to ensure business security and resilience. As a UK manufacturer we were less affected by global shipping crises but the resulting cost of raw materials and impact to the general cost of living is something we have had to be mindful of.
“To help combat these challenges, we adapted a number of manufacturing processes and reviewed overheads keeping costs to a minimum, the benefits of which we’ve been able to pass onto our customer base.”
How has Care & Independence changed since its acquisition by GBUK Group last year in terms of products and practices?
“Our principal product portfolio remains unaffected but from an operational perspective, we are benefitting from shared resources and additional support in terms of personnel, expertise, and system administrations amongst other things.”
Can you tell us about one or two of the latest product launches to come from Care & Independence and describe first what led to their development?
“As Care & Independence now forms part of GBUK’s Patient Handling Division alongside GBUK Banana, we are in a position to directly offer our community-based customers a number of GBUK Banana products such as slidesheets and transfer boards.
“This co-op has allowed us to further enhance our product portfolio with established high-quality products to benefit those in the community sector. We have already had progressive conversations with a number of loan stores to this end and are highly optimistic that further demand will follow elsewhere.”
What is Care & Independence focusing on at the moment?
“First and foremost, we remain dedicated to improving lives of those less able and their carers.
“We are very much continuing to support healthcare professionals in the field by providing free joint assessments and training to promote best practice. We continue to exemplify our core values of being humbly confident, caring and friendly, going the extra mile and having a growth mindset, all whilst working for the greater good. We will continue to invest in new product development and in our people, and to build upon the brand legacy of the past 25 years as a company that is respected, trusted, and seen as a leader in the patient handling field.”
What are the products are you working on at the moment. Can you indicate when these will be released?
“As part of the GBUK Group we remain committed as ever in continuing to invest in the development of products that will help improve lives. We closely monitor the issues facing our community from both a carer and user perspective, taking this as our lead to develop products that address these real-world issues.
“There are a number of worthy projects being considered at present. As we move through the due diligence research stages, we will establish priorities and realistic timeframes to bring these to market in due course.”
What do you see as the main issues affecting the moving and handling sector?
“It’s impossible to discuss the challenges facing the moving and handling sector without acknowledging the significant financial pressures on the wider healthcare industry. Ever-tightening budgets are putting immense strain on local authorities, hospitals, and care homes as they struggle to support an aging population, compounded by the growing obesity crisis.
“There is increasing pressure to transition individuals from state-managed care facilities back into home care settings, yet the shortage of trained care staff makes this transition incredibly difficult. Those who are available are already stretched to their limits with overwhelming caseloads. The situation is unsustainable, and without bold, decisive action from the government and key stakeholders, the risk of collapse looms large.
“As manufacturers and service providers, we are acutely aware of these challenges. We remain committed to supporting the sector by keeping costs manageable, offering practical solutions, and working towards more sustainable, long-term strategies.”
What’s next for Care & Independence over the next 12 months?
“Care & Independence is joining forces with GBUK Banana to form a Patient Handling Division. Having a consolidated approach to both acute and community sectors will greatly benefit both sides.
“As a division, we will be better placed to offer holistic solutions to see individuals through from institutional stays through discharge to home-based care with a far more seamless transition that is often experienced by many now. “We are very excited by the potential this partnership will be able to deliver both to patients and the authorities managing their care.”
And how about you? What are your plans for the future?
“The plan had always been to take an early semi-retirement, so personally I plan to spend more time with the family and in enjoying a more relaxed pace of life for a while. In April I become a Grandad for the first time and have a daughter’s wedding to look forward to in August, so there is plenty to keep me occupied in 2025.
“However, in my role as a BHTA board member, I will be continuing to advocate improvements for healthcare and in lobbying government bodies for support to the industry at large.”
