How Business Sheffield Helped Silver Healthcare Go Digital and Reduce Energy Costs

At Business Sheffield, we’re passionate about helping local businesses modernise, cut costs and build a stronger future for Sheffield’s economy. Through our Productivity and Digitisation Grant and Low Carbon Grant, we support companies across the city to work smarter, become more sustainable and unlock growth.

One of the businesses to benefit from these programmes is Silver Healthcare, a family-run care home company founded nearly 40 years ago by Leroy Young’s father. The business provides dedicated care for older people living with age-related conditions such as dementia. Like many care providers, they faced growing pressure from the NHS and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to move from paper-based systems to fully digital records by 2025.

This transition was a major challenge. Much of Silver Healthcare’s daily record-keeping and communication still relied on manual processes, which made it harder for staff to access information quickly and added extra workload to already busy shifts.

“The CQC is encouraging all care homes to move towards digital systems, which is the right direction for the sector,” explains Leroy. “But for small and medium-sized providers like us, upgrading systems and keeping up with compliance can be difficult without support. That’s where Business Sheffield made a big difference.”

With support from their Business Sheffield advisor, Steve, Silver Healthcare secured a Productivity and Digitisation Grant to upgrade their computers, software and operating systems. The funding enabled them to move to Microsoft Business Premium, giving the team access to tools such as SharePoint and Teams to manage care records, communicate and share information more efficiently.

“The grant allowed us to completely modernise how we work,” says Leroy. “It’s been a massive leap forward. Our staff can now record and share information quickly, which makes a real difference to the quality of care.”

Silver Healthcare also applied for a Low Carbon Grant through Business Sheffield to help tackle high energy costs, a major expense for care homes operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With this funding, they invested in modern heating systems and double glazing, vital improvements for maintaining a comfortable environment while reducing energy use. These upgrades have helped the business significantly reduce its annual energy spend, previously over £100,000 a year, freeing up more funds to reinvest into care and facilities.

“The Low Carbon Grant made a real difference,” Leroy adds. “It’s reduced our bills and allowed us to reinvest more into improving our buildings.”

At Business Sheffield, we provide free, expert business support to help companies across the city improve productivity, reduce costs and build resilience. Our Productivity and Digitisation Grant has supported hundreds of local businesses to modernise and work more efficiently. There is currently a waiting list for this programme, but businesses can contact us to discuss future opportunities and access one-to-one support. The Low Carbon Grant is open for enquiries, supporting Sheffield businesses to cut energy use, lower running costs and invest in sustainable solutions.

To find out how Business Sheffield can help your business grow and save money, contact our team at businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk or call 0114 224 5000.