Arcadis has coordinated an industry-wide campaign to collate a million items of PPE for NHS staff urgently needed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Initially tasked by NHS London with finding 250,000 PPE items over four days, Arcadis collaborated with over 40 organisations across industry including Network Rail, CBRE, Kelly’s, Laing O’Rourke and Mace who all donated substantial volumes of equipment.

Together, the organisations quadrupled NHS London’s request, locating over a million items ready for collection or drop off including 150,000 gowns/coveralls, 650,000 masks and 420,000 gloves. A large amount of the PPE went to North London hospitals.

Edel Christie, Arcadis managing director - buildings, said: “There has been an exceptional response from across the industry which we are proud to be part of. We’re now in the process of identifying potential new industrial supply chains capable of supplying thousands more items of PPE for our NHS heroes.”

John O’Connor, Laing O’Rourke group commercial director, said: “We owe an incredible amount to all those working in the NHS to keep us safe. Our project teams across the UK feel humbled that they have been able to support the national effort by sourcing more than 20,000 items of personal protective equipment from the stores on our sites for use by health workers across the country.”

Mark Reynolds, Mace Group chief executive, said: “This critical supply of equipment and protective clothing will help to ensure that frontline health workers are able to work safely. It’s a vital contribution from our sector, and a clear demonstration of what we can do when we all work together. Construction has a key role to play in our response to this crisis, from sharing equipment to delivering much-needed emergency new healthcare facilities across the UK. I’m very proud that we and our supply chain were able to contribute to this fantastic effort.”