PPE Exchange

A new website, PPEexchange.co.uk, has been launched to help those searching for personal protective equipment (PPE) connect with suppliers during the coronavirus pandemic.

PPE Exchange aims to help buyers from any sector – private, public or voluntary – to post their PPE requirements on the platform which can then be fulfilled by suppliers for items such as gloves, masks, hand sanitiser and aprons.

Access to PPE has continued to be a major hurdle across the UK during the outbreak, particularly in the social care sector, and is set to play an integral role as the country attempts to gradually lift lockdown restriction.

Advertisement | Continue story below

Recently, the government also applied a zero-rate of VAT to the sale of PPE until the end of July 2020 as more organisations look to the private sector to help meet demand.

According to data published on the website, there are currently around 123 million pieces of PPE required with over 1000 buyers registered on the site and 2.2 billion pieces available from over 24,000 suppliers.

The site was quickly created and deployed by Shropshire software specialists Shoothill and is available free to use for both buyers and suppliers of equipment.

Rod Plummer, Managing Director of Shoothill, said: “We wanted to do something to help and realised we had the capacity and knowhow to attempt this. We got the site up and running in a matter of days and since then we have been inundated with requests for PPE.

“Across the country, supplies of PPE are proving scarce, in short supply and at times non- existent. We have heard of care homes, where our many vulnerable friends and family are housed, and home care agencies providing the service in the community, having to resort to improvised masks and aprons fashioned from bin bags.

“Mobilising PPE to get to the frontlines is essential to ensure the safest possible working conditions and critically slow the wave of infection and save lives. Time is of the essence, with shortages and bottlenecks putting more and more people at risk, every effort is needed to tackle shortages.”

The website is supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a UK business organisation representing thousands of companies across the UK.

Recently, the CBI launched its own survey of businesses of all types across Britain to try and establish what the demand for PPE is likely to be in the coming months.

According to the organisation, the responses will help provide an idea of the total demand across different product types that the organisation can feed into government and business planning.

The link to complete the survey is here and the deadline for completion is Wednesday.

THIIS ROUND-UP
Join the 3,750+ mobility professionals who stay informed with THIIS' twice-weekly industry updates.
We respect your privacy
https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/PPE-Exchange.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/PPE-Exchange-150x150.jpgCalvin BarnettCoronavirus NewsCOVID-19 Trade NewsNewsroomRetailer NewsSupplier NewsTrade NewsCBI,Confederation of British Industry,personal protective equipment,PPE,PPE Exchange,Shoothill,survey,VAt freeA new website, PPEexchange.co.uk, has been launched to help those searching for personal protective equipment (PPE) connect with suppliers during the coronavirus pandemic. PPE Exchange aims to help buyers from any sector – private, public or voluntary - to post their PPE requirements on the platform which can then be...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals