Ambulance UK June 2022

COMPANY NEWS
AMBULANCE UK - JUNE
VCS placed first
on new NHS
national framework
for ambulance
converters
VCS, the UK’s leading
ambulance conversion
specialist, has achieved the
highest combined score of
all bidders in the new NHS
Collaborative Procurement
Hub Framework Agreement
for Ambulance and Specialist
Vehicle Conversions.
Assessed on its technical
ability, exceptional quality
and financial offers, the
Bradford-based manufacturer
is now positioned at the top
of the framework. It will look
to continue its innovative
approach to ambulance
production, continually
striving to achieve technical
advancements.
The NHS Collaborative
Procurement Hub Framework
Agreement for Ambulance and
Specialist Vehicle Conversions
is a new initiative to bring the
specification of all ambulances in
the UK under a single standard.
The new framework will be in
place for two years with the option
to extend for a further year to a
three year term.
Being accepted onto this
framework allows VCS to
undertake conversions of the Fiat
Ducato dual crewed ambulance
for NHS ambulance services
across the UK. This builds upon
the company’s rich history in
providing vehicles for NHS fleets
such as East Midlands Ambulance
Service and West Midlands
Ambulance Service.
Paul Croom, Director of Sales
at VCS, said: “Our top position
placement on the new NHS
framework not only confirms
the superb quality, innovation
and value for money that VCS
offers, it also secures our future
and provides an excellent
platform for growth. This result is
testament to the great work done
every day by our engineering,
manufacturing and commercial
teams, and allows us to continue
development and maintain our
position as a market leader in
zero emission ambulances, and
lightweight conversions.”
Mark Kerrigan, Managing Director
of VCS, said: “Our placement on
the new NHS framework proves
that VCS truly is the UK’s leading
ambulance conversion specialist.
However, we don’t plan to rest on
our laurels; VCS is committed to
making our vehicles even more
innovative, advanced and efficient.
We’re looking forward to sharing
future developments with the
market in due course.”
Tony Page, Head of Fleet and
Facilities Manager at West
Midlands Ambulance Service,
said: “Having first started working
with VCS in 2011, we are
delighted to be able to continue
our relationship under this new
framework. VCS’s innovation
and attention to detail enables
us to operate one of the most
responsive, accessible and
efficient services in the country.”
Steve Farnsworth, Assistant
Director of Operational Support
at East Midlands Ambulance
Service said: “We have worked
with VCS since 2013 and the
quality and technical capability
of its products have always lived
up to expectation. We’re pleased
that we will be continuing to work
with them for years to come
now that they will be delivering
the new national framework,
and ambulance services across
the country will benefit from the
vehicles we have utilised for
many years.”
Bluelight UK Ltd has
just opened another
vehicle storage
facility
Bluelight UK Ltd has just
opened another vehicle
storage facility in Ashton in
Makerfield near St Helens.
This site will allow the
company to take on more
assets for its remarketing
operation and is equipped
with workshops and offices.
“We are constantly evolving,”
commented managing director,
Simon Forster. “Good secure
storage has always been one of
our biggest concerns and with
this important addition to our
armoury we now can stock up
to 150 vehicles. We are selling
more ambulances than ever,
but sometimes the timeframes
can be stretched due to
charities, committees and export
procurement processes. This
space provides us with a mass
of opportunities. In addition to
this, our site at Atherton is being
extended which will enable us to
deliver even more vehicles.”
Due to demand there are just
15 frontline ambulance vehicles
in stock today including 2015
and 2016 Sprinters and national
specification Ducatos, as well as
a fleet of well-maintained PTS
vehicles.
“We are preparing for a glut
of incoming Patient Transport
Service vehicles ranging from
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles to
Bariatric over the coming weeks.
This has been delayed due to the
replacement vehicle supply, but
we are ready. We are also due to
take delivery of another 9 brand
new High Dependency Units in
the next few weeks and have
more Rapid Response vehicles
arriving soon with more Front
Line National Spec ambulances
due in the next four to five
months.” added Simon. “This
year in addition to our normal
UK business, we have already
supplied pre-owned vehicles to
Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta,
Uganda, Mozambique. We don’t
make a song and dance about
how we are helping in Ukraine,
but we are currently aiding the
cause on many fronts”.
Bluelight UK is also heavily
involved with new vehicle supply
(not exclusively) for the UK
market, in particular specialist
conversions such as High
Dependency Units (B category),
Secure and Non-Secure Mental
Health Transport Units and Driver
Training Units as well as Support
Vehicles and other specialist
medical transport solutions.
Their experience in this field is
invaluable and the team also
has expertise in helping new
businesses establish themselves,
providing sound advice for
anyone planning a new “start-up”
private ambulance business.
All the vehicles in stock are ex
NHS Trust and have been wellmaintained.
Pre-owned vehicles
(especially ex NHS Trust) can
make a huge difference to your
capital expenditure. Repurposing
vehicles is also good for the
environment.
With the current exhaustive
new vehicle lead-times Bluelight
UK can often offer solutions for
short, medium and long term
whether you normally purchase or
lease your vehicles. Their rental
ambulances can also provide you
with a stop-gap for delayed new
vehicle builds, VOR downtime or
new contracts.
If you are interested in new or
used ambulance or PTS vehicles,
you can contact Bluelight UK Ltd
on 01942 888800 or
sales@bluelightuk.co.uk.
Alternatively you can find them on
www.bluelightuk.co.uk
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For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com