Care & Independence
Care & Independence designs, manufactures, and supplies patient moving and handling sling equipment — premium assessment-led GLOVE SLING and standardised COMFORT VALUE ranges — serving the NHS, Local Authority Social Services, Care Homes, Community Equipment Stores, and Occupational Therapists across the United Kingdom.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBicester, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Care & Independence does
Care & Independence Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of patient moving and handling sling equipment, headquartered in Bicester with a second manufacturing site in Ince, Wigan. Founded in 1996 as Southern Care Systems and consolidated under the Care & Independence brand in 2016, the company operates two product ranges: the premium, assessment-led GLOVE SLING portfolio and the standardised, non-assessed COMFORT VALUE range. Technical differentiation rests on proprietary fabric technologies (AIRFLOW, 3D-Spacer, Parasilk, Hyperlast), patented mechanical designs including the diamond-shaped aperture and binding-free leg sections, and an anthropometric sizing method validated through independent Pressure Mapping research. The company produces 2,000+ bespoke 'Specials' per year and holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 13485, CE Mark, BHTA Gold Standard, and RoSPA Level 4 training accreditations.
Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of GLOVE SLING and COMFORT VALUE products, supplemented by free assessment services (in-situ or remote), bespoke modifications, RoSPA-CPD-accredited training, and Sling Doctor support services (LOLER examinations, label replacement, out-of-warranty repairs). GTM is field-sales-led: nine regional Product Specialists cover the UK providing free assessments, while Business Development Managers handle stockist relationships for the COMFORT VALUE range, supported by a dedicated Key Account Manager for commissioners and loan store operators. Customer concentration centres on the NHS (preferred supplier), Local Authority Social Services, Care Homes, Community Equipment Stores, and Occupational Therapists. In July 2024, Care & Independence was acquired by GBUK Group (an A&M Capital Europe portfolio company), and in 2025 the company divested its bathing and Burnett ReMould postural support lines to focus exclusively on sling supply.
Care & Independence firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Care & Independence
- Legal name
- Care & Independence Ltd
- Website
- https://careandindependence.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Care & Independence designs, manufactures, and supplies patient moving and handling sling equipment — premium assessment-led GLOVE SLING and standardised COMFORT VALUE ranges — serving the NHS, Local Authority Social Services, Care Homes, Community Equipment Stores, and Occupational Therapists across the United Kingdom.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Care & Independence industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Patient Moving and Handling Equipment Manufacturing
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Patient Lifts, Transfer & Safe Handling Equipment (Hoists, Slings, Transfer Boards) (HLAHAMAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hospital Bed, Lift & Transfer Equipment (Beds, Hoyer Lifts, Slings) (HSABAKAF)
Keywords
Where Care & Independence is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bicester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Care & Independence business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Medical Device Hardware Sales: Sale of patient moving and handling sling equipment including GLOVE SLING premium assessment-led range and COMFORT VALUE standardised range. Products include general transfer slings, toileting slings, in-chair/in-situ slings, bathing slings, stand aids, and accessories.
- Assessment Services: Free assessments offered nationwide for GLOVE SLING products conducted in-situ or remotely. Assessment-led approach ensures personalised solution for individual needs.
- Specials and Modifications: Bespoke and modified products created to individual specifications. Over 2000 specials created annually including bespoke measurements, additional accessories, and fabric colour changes.
- Training Services: Free training offered on all Care & Independence products to healthcare professionals. Training delivered by Level 4 RoSPA-qualified trainers, counts towards Continuous Professional Development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free assessment-led service for GLOVE SLING products |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lifetime manufacturing warranty on GLOVE SLING products |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Three-year warranty for COMFORT VALUE products |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Care & Independence product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Care & Independence designs and manufactures patient moving and handling sling equipment under two brands: the premium assessment-led GLOVE SLING® range and the standardised COMFORT VALUE® range. Products include general transfer, toileting, in-chair/in-situ, bathing, stand-aid slings and accessories, plus bespoke "Specials" modifications, free nationwide assessments, RoSPA-qualified training, and pressure-mapping-backed R&D.
Product overview
Care & Independence offers two main product ranges for safe patient moving and handling: GLOVE SLING® and COMFORT VALUE®. GLOVE SLING® is a premium assessment-led range featuring high-performance slings with six sub-families (Diamond, Deluxe, In-Chair, Toileting, Specialist, and Accessories), known for patented innovations like the diamond-shaped aperture and scientific sizing. COMFORT VALUE® is a standardised non-assessed range for community equipment stores offering cost-effective solutions. Both ranges share overlapping sling families (Universal, In-Chair, Toileting, Specialist) adapted to different market segments. The company also provides supporting services including free assessments, bespoke modifications creating 2,000+ special products annually, free training by RoSPA-qualified staff, and pressure mapping research for product development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GLOVE SLING®: Premium assessment-led range of high-performance slings renowned for quality and innovation, suitable for all disabilities and situations.
- COMFORT VALUE®
- BURNETT REMOULD®
Products and services
- GLOVE SLING® Premium assessment-led range of high-performance patient moving and handling slings available in multiple styles and sizes, suitable for all disabilities and situations. Features the company's unique anthropometric scientific sizing method and is sold with a lifetime manufacturing warranty and free nationwide assessment.
- GLOVE Diamond Sling Family Market-leading general transfer slings with patented diamond-shaped aperture for pressure relief on the coccyx and sacrum. Includes Deluxe, Deluxe Plus, and Deluxe Foxy variants. Targeted at healthcare professionals prescribing slings for complex patient needs.
- GLOVE Deluxe Sling Family Multi-purpose transfer slings offering a highly supportive solution suitable for 95% of user needs. Seven variants including Bathing, Bathing Plus, Extensor, Foxy, Tux and Tux Plus in up to 12 sizes with 350kg SWL.
- GLOVE In-Chair Sling Family In-situ slings for users requiring extended seating, constructed from breathable fabrics reducing overheating and tissue viability risks. Includes Airflow, Bathing, In-Chair, In-Chair LITE, In-Chair Divided Leg and Powersilk variants.
- GLOVE Toileting Sling Family Toileting slings with extra-large aperture for secure toileting and dressing assistance, featuring additional padding and integral slidesheet material for easy fitting. Includes Convenience II, Convenience Plus and Convenience Max variants.
- GLOVE Specialist Sling Family Purpose-designed slings addressing specific needs including standing supports, hoist-free solutions and turning aids. Includes Airflow Manual, Easy Turn, Euro Manual, Hug, Stand Aid and Foot variants.
- GLOVE SLING Accessories Optional accessories including detachable head support, bolster neck pillow, strap cover, extension strap and chestband that enhance user experience with GLOVE SLING products.
- COMFORT VALUE®
Quantifiable outcome
- Improved lives of over 1 million people to date
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Care & Independence
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Care & Independence technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Care & Independence partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Care & Independence competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arjo: Global medical device company headquartered in Sweden with a dedicated Patient Handling portfolio including transfer slings, hoists and lifters. Closest direct competitor to Care & Independence in premium, clinically differentiated slings sold into hospitals, care homes and community settings.
- Etac: Nordic-headquartered developer of mobility and patient handling equipment including transfer slings, hoists and positioning aids. Direct competitor in premium European sling markets with overlapping clinical assessment-led sales models.
- Benmor Medical: UK-based specialist in patient handling equipment including ceiling hoists, mobile lifts and slings. Direct domestic competitor supplying the NHS and care homes with comparable sling and lifting solutions.
- Handicare (now part of Savaria / Direct Healthcare Group): Direct Healthcare Group (incorporating Handicare patient handling) supplies slings, hoists and transfer solutions to hospitals and care homes across Europe. Direct product and customer overlap with Care & Independence's GLOVE SLING range in the UK and European healthcare market.
- Invacare: Global manufacturer of durable medical equipment including patient transfer slings, lifts, beds and mobility products. Competes head-to-head with Care & Independence in sling design and NHS/European healthcare distribution.
- Joerns Healthcare: US-based provider of patient handling and wound care solutions including slings and lift equipment. Comparable to Care & Independence in sling product range and clinical/care-home customer base, though primarily North American in focus.
- Prism Medical (Savaria): Provider of patient lifting and transfer solutions including ceiling lifts, mobile lifts and slings. Acquired by Savaria Corporation, giving it direct overlap with Care & Independence's sling and patient handling product categories in UK and North American markets.
Broad incumbents
- Hillrom (Baxter): Baxter's Hillrom business offers a broad portfolio of hospital and patient handling solutions including lifts and transfer devices. Competes with Care & Independence in NHS acute and community frameworks as a much larger incumbent with bundled offerings.
- Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare: Large multi-category DME manufacturer and distributor with a UK presence offering slings, hoists, beds and mobility products. Competes with Care & Independence primarily through catalogue and community-equipment-store channels (similar to COMFORT VALUE).
Regional players
- NRS Healthcare: UK community equipment provider and loan store operator. Listed as a Care & Independence customer (loan store partnership) but also operates as a competitor-adjacent provider of daily living aids and mobility equipment into local authority contracts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Care & Independence social profiles
Digital presenceCare & Independence compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Care & Independence financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Care & Independence leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Care & Independence funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Care & Independence M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Care & Independence
What does Care & Independence do?
Care & Independence designs and manufactures patient moving and handling sling equipment under two brands: the premium assessment-led GLOVE SLING® range and the standardised COMFORT VALUE® range. Products include general transfer, toileting, in-chair/in-situ, bathing, stand-aid slings and accessories, plus bespoke "Specials" modifications, free nationwide assessments, RoSPA-qualified training, and pressure-mapping-backed R&D.
Is Care & Independence a public or private company?
Care & Independence is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Care & Independence founded?
Care & Independence was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Care & Independence based?
Care & Independence is headquartered in Bicester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Care & Independence make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Medical Device Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are assessment Services, specials and Modifications and training Services.
Who are Care & Independence's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arjo, Etac, Benmor Medical, Handicare (now part of Savaria / Direct Healthcare Group), Invacare, Joerns Healthcare and Prism Medical (Savaria). Broad incumbents are Hillrom (Baxter) and Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare. NRS Healthcare is listed as a regional player.
Does Care & Independence have an API?
No public API is recorded for Care & Independence.
What industry is Care & Independence in?
Care & Independence's product category is Patient Moving and Handling Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAMAE, Patient Lifts, Transfer & Safe Handling Equipment (Hoists, Slings, Transfer Boards), with a secondary code of HSABAKAF, Hospital Bed, Lift & Transfer Equipment (Beds, Hoyer Lifts, Slings). Its SIC code is 3842.