Each year, winter brings more than just freezing temperatures, it brings disruption, risk, and significant cost. According to recent research, snow and ice cost UK businesses over £1 billion annually, and for facilities and property managers, the price of waiting until it’s too late can be substantial.
OUTCO’s Winter White Paper reveals the full scope of this impact and outlines why proactive winter maintenance planning isn’t just best practice, it’s essential.
Why Winter Disruption is So Costly
- Lost Productivity: Over 21 million workdays are lost annually due to snow and ice. That’s a staggering £500 million in lost productivity, largely because of delayed commutes, site inaccessibility and safety concerns.
- Increased Liability: Slips and falls rise dramatically during icy periods, with claims costing thousands per incident. Businesses that fail to act promptly risk insurance spikes, legal costs, and reputational harm.
- Supply Chain Chaos: Severe weather disrupts logistics and deliveries, costing as much as £150 million per severe weather day. Stock shortages and delayed operations become all too common without proper planning.
Why Acting Early Pays Off
Proactive winter preparation, such as pre-season surveys, appropriate trigger-temperature gritting plans, and having reliable snow clearance services in place, does more than reduce downtime. It protects people, reputations, and bottom lines.
OUTCO’s fully managed winter maintenance services ensure you’re ready before winter hits. By using site-specific forecasts and tailored service plans, we eliminate guesswork and deliver exactly what your site needs, exactly when it needs it.
Key Winter Preparation Tips
- Site-Specific Surveys
A pre-season inspection helps assess risk factors such as surface type, pedestrian traffic, and exposure to the elements allowing for tailored solutions.
- Reliable Gritting and De-Icing
OUTCO uses white marine salt, a more sustainable, cleaner and effective solution. It’s part of a planned approach to gritting that responds to localised temperature triggers.
- Snow Clearance Readiness
Having the right snow-clearing equipment, such as UTVs and ploughs, is critical for larger areas like car parks and walkways.
- Compliance and Liability Management
All services must align with health and safety regulations. OUTCO’s insurance-backed approach supports risk mitigation and evidencing duty of care.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Rapid Response
OUTCO operates with site-specific weather forecasts to ensure precision and reliability in service delivery, triggering visits only when needed.
Why Delay Costs More
The message is clear: delaying winter preparation and planning doesn’t just increase risk, it increases cost. Businesses that wait until freezing conditions arrive may find themselves out of options, over budget, and out of compliance.
OUTCO’s technology led, fully managed winter services provide nationwide coverage with 24/7 support. With 99.8% service success and over 250,000 gritting visits managed annually, our winter white paper makes a compelling case: winter disruption is predictable – and preventable.
Download the full white paper to see how you can avoid becoming part of the £1bn winter statistic.
👉 Read the Full Winter White Paper Now
