COMPANY BLOG

Five years ago, our directors, Kenneth Chappel and Paul Robinson, founded Nationwide Lift Services with nothing more than their vision, dedication, and a commitment to excellence.

We opened our first office in Stoke-on-Trent, which remains our head office. Since then, we’ve experienced remarkable growth and have had an excellent year from start to finish. Some of our highlights include winning significant healthcare contracts and expanding our reach.

As part of our ongoing expansion, 2024 saw the opening of our second office in Hull. This milestone reflects Nationwide Lift Services’ commitment to growth and enhancing our ability to serve customers more effectively.

We’ve also invested heavily in our team, implementing various training methods to ensure our staff are more skilled than ever. Their expertise is growing by the day, and we’re proud of their commitment to delivering exceptional service.

Our team has grown significantly this year:

• In February, we welcomed Michael, who now manages our marketing efforts and oversees the website and social media at Nationwide Lift Services.
• In April, Jamie Tappenden joined as a sales engineer and was recently promoted to Sales and Marketing Manager. Jamie brings vast experience in sales and marketing and continues to drive outstanding results.
• In August, Daniel joined us with no prior job experience and now assists our Repairs Manager, Brad. We also hired Jay, an apprentice engineer eager to learn, who has been working closely with our experienced engineer, Neil.

We’re incredibly proud of our achievements this year and are excited about the future. Our aim for 2025 is to build on this year’s success, surpassing all targets and continuing to provide top-tier lift services.

For over 30 years, Nationwide Lift Services has been looking after a wide variety of lifts. Don’t wait for issues to arise — contact us today to ensure your lifts are running smoothly.

From all of us at Nationwide Lift Services, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Recently, we have been working closely with Hydrax for our lift modernisation projects, and their expertise has made a significant impact on the success of these initiatives. Hydrax is a highly professional and knowledgeable supplier of lift parts, with a leadership team that collectively boasts over 100 years of experience in the lift industry. This vast experience has given them a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of businesses in the lift sector, making them a trusted partner for us.

We have been doing lift modernisations for 30 years, and we can happily say we haven’t had any issues with Hydrax. They have been excellent throughout the modernisation projects.

Their staff are trained to a high standard and are dedicated to meeting the unique demands of each project. Hydrax goes above and beyond by tailoring solutions to satisfy individual requirements, ensuring that all components and systems are specifically designed for maximum efficiency and reliability. They pride themselves on their ability to deliver “Solutions by Elevation” through quality-assured design and manufacturing processes.

One of the standout aspects of working with Hydrax is their exceptional customer service. They are always available to assist, and even when we encounter difficulties such as struggling to identify a specific part, Hydrax makes it simple. All we need to do is send them a photo, and they promptly identify the part and provide a detailed quote, saving us time and effort. This level of responsiveness and attention to detail ensures that projects move forward smoothly and without delay.

Overall, Hydrax has proven to be an invaluable partner in our lift modernisation efforts. Their professionalism, extensive knowledge, and commitment to service have supported the successful execution of our projects, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with them.

Please contact us for your lift modernisation projects.

As the winter months approach, it can cause a whole host of problems for lifts. It is important to know how to keep your lift motor room at the right temperature. A lift motor room should ideally be kept at 20 degrees. Chilly weather can lower the temperature, potentially leading to issues such as improper hydraulic fluid consistency. Here are some common problems caused by cold temperatures and how to solve them:

Reduced efficiency of lift components:
Hydraulic systems may experience thickened hydraulic fluid, causing sluggish performance or delayed responses. Electric motors may struggle to start if lubrication becomes less effective in colder temperatures, warming up the motor room is essential.

Increased wear and tear:
Chilly conditions can make oil or grease more viscous, reducing lubrication and increasing wear on gears, bearings, and rollers. Rubber or plastic parts may become brittle, leading to cracking.

Electrical problems:
Fluctuating temperatures can cause condensation on electrical components, increasing the risk of short circuits or corrosion. Battery performance or capacity may also decrease in cold conditions. Keeping the motor room at 20 degrees is important.

Control system failures:
Temperature-sensitive electronics in modern lifts may malfunction if the ambient temperature drops below their operational range. Sensors and relays may fail, resulting in miscommunication or false error signals.

Health and safety risks:
Lift engineers may struggle to work in a cold motor room, impacting the quality of repairs or routine checks. Cold-related failures could also lead to lift downtime, inconveniencing users and posing potential safety hazards.

Solutions

• Install air con systems to maintain a consistent temperature in the motor room (ideally 20c).
• Ensure the motor room has the correct air flow and flow to fresh air.
• Use proper insulation to help stabilise the temperature range.
• Schedule regular maintenance during colder months to address potential issues proactively.
• Monitor the environment with temperature and humidity sensors to track the motor room’s climate.

Contact us if you are having any winter related lift issues.

At Nationwide Lifts, we have been working closely with care homes and the NHS for many years. We understand how important it is to ensure the lifts are reliable and efficient in these critical sectors. We also understand the importance of completed risk assessments.

Often in some older care sector sites, the designers never considered a second lift or stairlift as a backup plan in case the lift went off. Our plan is to ensure we spot the future issues before they occur. Thorough risk assessments frequently help achieve safer working conditions and ensure the lift is safe.

We offer free full risk assessments every year on every site we look after. So we would look at all components and parts to ensure that all upgrades and replacements are done when required. We work closely with clients on this to ensure they have minimal downtime for the lift on site.

In the lift industry, maintenance can be rushed due to low costs that the industry charge, but we try to be different and offer this comprehensive solution. It works, and we help to reduce breakdowns on all sites.

We have worked with some key players of the care industry, delivering them exceptional service, and saving them costs on repairs. If you are a care home manager who gets busy, the last thing we would want is for you to have problems with your lifts.

We understand there are several challenges involved within the care industry. The safety and mobility of residents, many with limited physical abilities, is paramount. We are aware reliability of lifts may be a concern of yours, as efficient lifts are necessary for transporting residents between floors. With our approach to lift maintenance and comprehensive risk assessments, we aim to prevent all future lift issues for your care home.

Frequent lift breakdowns can lead to delays in care, increased risk of accidents, and less independence for residents, something we’re sure you don’t want. Regular and proactive lift maintenance can minimize these difficulties and put you at ease by ensuring that lifts are always in operation, reducing the risk of accidents, and improving the overall efficiency of care delivery. This not only enhances the safety and well-being of residents but also eases the workload of care staff, allowing them to focus more on providing quality care. Please contact us if you are having issues with your lifts.

We’re thrilled to share that we’ve received another fantastic 5-star testimonial for our lift services! The time from Lovett Care, a care home group based in Stoke-on-Trent. We have worked alongside Lovett Care for some time now, and we have always gone the extra mile to ensure their lifts run smoothly.

The recognition from Lovett Care highlights the dedication and hard work our team puts into every repair, call-out, and preventative maintenance service we provide across the UK. Being a care home owner is challenging in itself, however we aim to make your job easier by providing you with our best service. The testimonials speak for themselves about our services.

Even though we consider ourselves one of the best and most trusted local lift companies, we also have had people vouch for us. We’re also proud to be the most competitive in price. We believe in delivering unmatched quality without compromise, so our clients get the best service at a fair rate.

During our 30 years of business, we have completed countless amounts of lift work for local and national care homes, and we will always continue to work alongside them. We understand how important lifts are to the care and healthcare industry and the need to have functional, efficient lifts. Each testimonial we receive truly reflects our commitment.

With every new testimonial that comes in, we are always glad to receive them, and our aim is to deliver the best service possible and put 110% into everything we do.

A huge thank you to our customers for trusting us with your lift needs and for taking the time to share your experiences. We’re committed to continually raising the bar and delivering the best service in the industry! If we have recently done lift work for you or your business, we would love to hear your feedback in a testimonial.

If you work or own a care home and your lifts are not working like they are supposed to, contact us

We recently had a visit from Angela Dawson from stoke based charity Dougie Mac, Dougie Mac do lots of amazing charity work for Staffordshire and surrounding areas.

Every year Dougie Mac provide free hospice services to adults, young adults, and children facing life-limiting illnesses in Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire, and all nearby villages. They also provide supportive care for the families and caregivers of these individuals.

Our dedicated staff and volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring we provide exceptional care. We go above and beyond to create a warm, friendly, and peaceful environment, whether at the hospice or in a family’s home.

At Dougie Mac, we are committed to continually expanding and enhancing our services, always aiming to deliver the highest quality of care to meet the evolving needs of our local community.

Having provided care for adults in the area for nearly fifty years, we are proud to now include services for children and young adults. This enables us to offer a comprehensive range of specialist palliative and end-of-life care for individuals of all ages.

Nationwide Lift Services regularly donate to Dougie Mac and we love everything they do. We also partake in many of their events. A few months ago, one of our engineers did a charity run for them, he managed to raise over £1500 for the charity from family, friends, and colleagues.

We provide Dougie Mac with free lift maintenance visits, and we do their lift repairs for free too, we are proud to be a member of their business club. We have done lots of work for them and other charities in our time as a lift company. Furthermore, we firmly believe in giving back to the community.

If you are having any issues with your lifts, please contact us or call our 24/7 helpline.

Nationwide Lift Services have kept the ball rolling by securing yet another sponsorship deal with Port Vale Football Club, approved by our managing director, Paul Robinson. This is our second sponsorship of the year after Dougie Mac.

Port Vale Football Club is based in Staffordshire and is only around 10 minutes away from our head office. It is one of only two English league clubs whose names aren’t taken from a geographical location, with Arsenal being the other.

The History Of Port Vale Football Club

Port Vale was founded in 1876, after a meeting, where the football club took its name. It has a rich history, and they won the football league trophy in 1993. It is a pleasure to have the honour of sponsoring them. Several of our engineers are avid fans of Port Vale, and they regularly attend the matches.

Our Visit To The Stadium

A lot of our loyal customers are based in Staffordshire, and lots of them also attend Port Vale’s games, we hope our board will reach the right people and feed us more business, while giving back to the local community. Sponsorship of Port Vale helps us connect with our community.

Our salesperson Jamie Tappenden paid them a visit and met Oliver Hickman, we looked around the stadium, and we enjoyed viewing the stadium.

While we have completed lift projects for numerous local care homes, private hospitals, and colleges, we also provide services across the UK. If you have any issues with your lifts, please contact us so we can assist you. We aim to respond within 24 hours. Our office number is 01782 562000, or you can email us at info@nationwideliftservices.co.uk.

One of our engineers recently discovered what appeared to be a treasure map, sparking a lot of curiosity. Could this map lead to ancient, hidden treasures? Or perhaps to an underground city lost in time? As it turns out, this intriguing find was actually a planning map for a lift installed in 1970—making it an impressive 54 years old. The lift was originally installed by Bennie Lifts Limited, a company founded in 1934, which has since gone into liquidation. This old lift map has quite a history.

Finding this old lift map was fascinating; it looked like something straight out of a pirate movie! But it’s just one of the many interesting things we’ve come across during our years of repairing lifts.

In over 30 years of service, we’ve worked on hundreds of lifts, both old and new, and encountered all sorts of unusual sights—like lift pits filled with cutlery (they certainly had to “fork” out for that!) or vintage lift maps. Through it all, we’ve maintained our commitment to providing excellent customer service and focusing on fixing issues on the first visit to save you money on repairs. Among the most intriguing finds was the old lift map.

We also offer traditional lift maintenance, where our engineers spend extra time on site, thoroughly inspecting for both minor and major issues, helping to prevent costly future repairs. Our team has seen a variety of lift maps, some quite old.

If you have an old lift, we recommend a lift modernisation. Feel free to keep the old lift map somewhere! We would love to see it.

If you manage care homes, schools, colleges, or NHS facilities and find yourself dealing with frequent lift issues, reach out to us. We have extensive experience working with both large care home groups and individual homes, so you’re in safe hands with us as your lift service provider. We understand the critical importance of reliable lift operation for your staff, residents, and visitors, and we are dedicated to keeping your lifts running smoothly while minimising costs. If you happen to find an old lift map in your facility, let us know!

Call 24/7 helpline: 01782 562000
Email us: info@nationwideliftservices.co.uk

Nationwide Lift Services once again adds to its ever growing portfolio of charity work, recently we begun a sponsorship with local charity Dougie Mac, a longtime friend of ours and we have done lift work for them before, one of our engineers embarked on a run to help raise money for them too, while doing an outstanding job at representing the company. Now we are supporting Hull based charity Aim Higher with their upcoming charity ball.

Every year Aim Higher do a charity ball to celebrate their anniversary, this time around its their 8th year of being a charity, there is live music, free drinks on arrival and everything needed for a good night. A few members of our staff have attended the charity ball in the past, you can buy tickets here.

We also sponsored Aim Higher on their trek up the famous Three Peaks, Nationwide Lifts have been longtime supporters of Aim Higher and we love everything they do. They work around the clock to help neurodiverse children, young people and their families around Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire to get the help they require.

Aim Higher are dedicated to providing neurodiversity, mental health, and educational support for families of children and young people aged 0-25 years. With a special focus on autism, they strive to create an inclusive and supportive community where every individual can thrive. they do this charity walk once a year.

Nationwide Lift Services does lots of work for charity and will continue to do so, we believe in helping others and delivering the best level of customer service possible.

Nationwide Lift Services offer 24/7 coverage throughout the UK for all types of lift work. With our in-house lift engineers, we can deal with lift breakdowns, lift servicing and lift repairs on all types of passenger lifts, goods lifts, and platform lifts.

We have been working with care homes, NHS, charities and local councils in Staffordshire for many years ensuring they get the best level of service for their lifts. By having the right in house engineers and right lift maintenance structure in place, this saves our clients costs, hassle and downtime for all their lifts. So if we can assist with a lift maintenance contract, lift breakdown, lift repair or lift refurbishment then please call our friendly team on 01782562000 or email us on info@nationwideliftservices.co.uk

Please also check out our Facebook, Twitter and our Instagram pages

The History of lifts is an interesting topic, Lifts are technology the average person uses almost everyday without thinking about it, to put it into numbers there are roughly 325 million elevator trips per day worldwide, that is a lot of lifting and moving people. Whether its in a local care home, a huge shopping centre, your place of work or a college just down the road, lifts are everywhere.

Lifts have been around for centuries and they have an interesting history. The earliest known lift was made in 236 BC by Archimedes in Roman times. back then lifts were made using hemp rope and powered by animals or people; a huge difference to the modern lift. Throughout history, lifts improved as construction and technology advanced, until they became what we see today.

In the pre-industrial era, lifts were very different. In the year 1000, there was a contraption similar to a lift that was used to raise a battering ram to destroy a fortress in Islamic Spain.

In 1743 a passenger lift, called the ‘flying chair’, was made, The lift was installed outside the King Louis XV balcony at the Chateau de Versailles and was operated by hand.

In 1793, the first screw drive lift was created by Ivan Kulibin and installed in the Winter Palace. This marked a significant step in lift history.

In the Industrial Revolution lifts were used in coal mines to move people and large quantities of coal from the cave and to the surface, lifts were moved with string which was considered dangerous and unsafe, eventually these strings were replaced with iron.

In 1852 Elisha Otis Introduced the safety brake on an elevator, which would prevent the lift car from falling if the cable broke, he demonstrated this in a presentation at an exhibition in 1854. he put the first passenger lift in 488 Broadway, New York City on 23 March 1857.

You can read more about the history of lifts here

Fast forward to 2024 and lifts are very different, they are much safer, more efficient, more reliable and the technology is better, lifts still go wrong of course but we can sort any lift problems and provide an excellent level of customer service.

If you have any issues with your lifts, please contact us so we can assist you. We aim to respond within 24 hours. Our office number is 01782 562000, or you can email us at info@nationwideliftservices.co.uk.

We have recently started a sponsorship deal with Dougie Mac, Dougie Mac are a local charity and good friends of ours. we have worked with them before so to have a sponsorship is a pleasure. One of our engineers did a run for them, you can read about this here. we have also done their lifts before and we look after them.

Dougie Mac provides specialist care and support for people with life-limiting illnesses across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. Dedicated staff and volunteers help local people of all ages get the right care, in the right place, at the right time, while supporting their families, friends and carers too.

Dougie Mac offers a holistic approach to care, addressing physical, emotional, and psychological needs or its patients. Their services include symptom management and end-of-life care through their inpatient facilities, which offer a supportive environment for patients needing round-the-clock care.

The hospice also offers a wide range of wellbeing services, for inpatient and community patients, which include support services and techniques to help alleviate some of the worries and concerns associated with a palliative illness.

Dougie Mac’s Community services extend the hospice’s reach by providing care and support directly in patients’ homes. This includes visits from nurses and healthcare professionals who ensure that patients receive consistent and comprehensive care in their home.

The hospice also offers bereavement support, providing emotional and practical help to families and loved ones. This support is crucial in helping families cope with their loss and adjust to life after their loved one has passed.

Additionally, Dougie Mac is dedicated to education and training, offering programs for healthcare professionals and the community to enhance the quality of palliative and end-of-life care. This commitment to education helps ensure that high standards of care are maintained and that more people are aware of the importance of palliative care.

All these services are provided free of charge to patients and their families. This year it will cost in excess of £20 million to run and develop Dougie Mac’s full range of services for local people, 75% of this amount is funded by voluntary donations from our local community.

If you have any issues with your lifts, please contact us so we can assist you. We aim to respond within 24 hours. Our office number is 01782 562000, or you can email us at info@nationwideliftservices.co.uk.