Winter grounds maintenance jobs for your business premises

As a small business owner, the winter can be a make or break time of year. Whether you’re at your busiest in the run-up to Christmas or January is the most difficult trading month for you, it’s important that you give off the right first impression when welcoming customers or clients to your establishment. Below, we’ve rounded up some winter grounds maintenance jobs you should add to your list, or outsource to a facilities management company instead.

Fill up your salt bins

The chances are that we’ll be expecting some snow this year, so make sure your salt bins are fully stocked for the season ahead. The last thing you want to happen is to run out of salt the night before an icy morning, only for your car park and entranceways to become unusable. Ask your grounds maintenance team to check the salt bins every couple of days and have a back-up plan in place if your usual provider becomes overwhelmed. Arranging a regular top-up is a good idea between December and February, especially on larger sites.

Think about wildlife

During the colder winter months, consider local wildlife when planning your regular outdoor maintenance activities. You can do your bit for birds by hanging some fat balls around the perimeter of your premises, and for hedgehogs, a makeshift hidey-hole is a great way to help keep them safe – and get some interesting content for your social media pages. Be very cautious of nests when cutting back shrubs or bushes, and be aware of noise pollution, too.

Start gritting 

Depending on the size and nature of your business premises, you may also want to consider the benefits of gritting. Failing to keep roads and thoroughfares clear of ice is dangerous and your business could be liable for potential damages. With an effective gritting schedule, you can keep roads safe even during the coldest days. Keep an eye on the forecasts for days in advance so you can prepare for gritting, or enlist the help of winter maintenance specialists. 

Clear the snow

As a small business owner, you have a duty of care to your staff and customers to provide a safe and straightforward route to your premises, so have a clear plan in place for when it snows. Ideally, your winter grounds maintenance team should be planning snow removal the day before and arriving at your premises first-thing before the usual rush. If you fail to prepare, your business could become inaccessible or worse cause potential danger to life. It’s vital to be reactive; clearing snow on the weekend can help you keep on top of it during cold spells. 

Repair fences and structures

Wood and metal fences can suffer in the winter months, battered by strong winds and dampened by excess moisture. Audit your perimeter fences and any vulnerable wooden structures on a regular basis and think about repairing or replacing them every 3-5 years. You might decide it’s time to upgrade your entire perimeter fence or repair individual poles.

Keep staff updated

It’s vital that you keep your staff and customers updated on changing weather conditions and the effects it will have on their journeys to work. Update your social media pages during bad weather to give your customers advice on travel, and send staff text messages with alerts if and when necessary. You should also issue specific guidance to protect your premises; for example, it’s a bad idea to walk on frosty grass, as it can burn and scorch the grass and make it appear black and brown. Politely asking staff to walk only on pathways should help.

Give your space some TLC

Whether your business premises has a car park or acres of land to look after, winter is the perfect opportunity to perform some general maintenance and TLC. You can weed paths, give your stonework a jetwash, deal with moss, install new waste bins, litter pick, and plan your planting for the spring. The winter offers you an opportunity for a fresh start in the year ahead, and the chance to take your grounds to the next level. Whether you’re planning some simple changes or you want to overhaul your outdoor spaces, get the groundwork done in these colder months so that you have a clean slate for when the weather is more favourable.

Don’t have the time for these winter grounds maintenance responsibilties? Depend on the team at Precision Facilities Management – give us a call on 0116 366 6508 for a free consultation.