Headquartered in Ellesmere Port, EMS Group Solutions (EMS) is one of the UK’s leading providers of mobile clinical solutions to the healthcare sector.
EMS owns, operates and manages one of the UK’s most extensive fleet of flexible mobile medical units and vehicles, including mobile labs, mobile dialysis units, mobile decontamination units and community diagnostic vehicles. Through its clinical trials, healthcare and marketing divisions, the business’ bespoke services and facilities can be configured to suit a range of healthcare needs and clinical environments.
Making healthcare more accessible
EMS has supported public and private healthcare providers for more than 10 years to reduce patient waiting times and make healthcare more accessible. It is currently supporting clinical trials in the UK for a potentially revolutionary new blood test which could detect over 50 kinds of cancer before symptoms appear. The business also provides marketing solutions to healthcare and med-tech customers across Europe and The Middle East.
LDC completed a minority investment in EMS in 2022. LDC is supporting the management team, led by Founder Keith Austin, to further support the growth of EMS’ fleet and expand the range of clinical services it supports.
We are an ambitious business with a clear mission to bolster our fleet and range of services. LDC is the perfect partner to help us to realise our full potential and meet the growing needs of healthcare providers and their patients.”
A journey to net zero
Since partnering with LDC, the management team has been able to successfully accelerate
the integration of ESG into its business model – helping the business grow sustainably and support its transition to a low-carbon economy.
With the help of LDC’s ESG assessment – which all LDC portfolio companies benefit from – EMS identified smart ways of reducing its environmental impact without losing commercial and strategic focus.
Completing a life-cycle assessment of its mobile medical units and vehicles, EMS identified emissions hotspots across the value chain. EMS’s first self-drive solar powered unit came into service last year and all its welfare units have been fitted with solar panels, reducing reliance on and use of diesel generators by 40-60%, depending on the season.
Other improvements include the installation of 280 solar panels on the head office roof to generate 74% of EMS’s electricity consumption and the addition of EV charging units and an EV salary sacrifice scheme for employees.
The company is also exploring alternative heating sources to move away from natural gas usage. EMS is on track to achieve net zero status by 2045, five years earlier than the UK Government’s target.
It’s very important for us as a company to do everything we can to make the world more
sustainable. As our investment partner, LDC understands this and we’ve made far
more progress working together than we would have been able to do alone.”
In February 2024, EMS announced the appointment of Dr Clare Grace as Chief Executive Officer. Dr Grace joined from PAREXEL International, where she served as Chief Patient Officer. This appointment is part of the company’s long-term succession planning.
Non-Executive Viewpoint
Christa Echtle is currently Non-Executive Director at EMS. She has 20 years’ experience working with healthcare companies with private equity investment.
Read her view on how Non-Executives can add value to healthcare businesses.
