The Story Behind Bawcro Snow & Gritting Services
Delivering Trusted 24/7 Gritting Across West Yorkshire

24/7 Gritting Bawcro Snow & Gritting Services started in February 2024. It has quickly grown from one man with a shovel to one of the best winter maintenance providers in Yorkshire.

Its founder, James Bawn, made a brave choice. He left a secure job as a Production Director, having spent years travelling the world to deliver projects. He started over, trading airport lounges and boardrooms for cold car parks. He saw a chance to create something meaningful.

James saw a gap in the market. Local businesses, including larger pub chains, depended on national gritting companies. However, they were not given priority during the worst weather. A local pub car park missed several treatments during a cold snap and lost business. This showed James that there was a need for a reliable service that would always come when customers needed gritting the most.

Instead of playing it safe, James followed his dream – to drive a gritting truck and build a business that helped communities during winter. What started as Gritworks Ltd later became Bawcro Snow & Gritting Services Ltd. Together with his best friend and business partner, Andy Crowther, he started Bawcro Pest Control Services. They created two businesses that would soon work together.

A Fleet With Personality

Vehicles Built for 24/7 Gritting Operations

Bawcro’s fleet has been carefully built to handle everything from small car parks to major distribution hubs. James has created a line-up that is both capable and full of character.

The fleet includes:

• Rosaleen the big DAF truck with the muscle to tackle the largest distribution sites
• Melvyn a hardworking 4×4 pickup perfect for busy car parks
• Doyley another 4×4 fitted with a gritter and plough for heavy snow
• Trevor is a quick quad bike. It has a liquid de-icer system and a snow plough. It is perfect for paths, entrances, and hard-to-reach areas
• Two push gritters for smaller spaces and finishing touches

Each vehicle is named after family members, both past and present. This makes the fleet more than just machines. It shows the pride that James and his fiancée Claire have in what they have created.

Early Success and Steady Growth

Bawcro quickly gained the trust of neighbours, local businesses and retail parks across Yorkshire. To meet growing demand, the company is now expanding into Greater Manchester and Mid Wales for the coming winter seasons.

Innovation and Proactive Service

Bawcro’s success is built on staying ahead of the weather. James uses 24-hour forecasts and live road temperature data. This helps him know when and where to grit. He treats sites before frost forms. This prevents accidents and keeps things running smoothly.

Every vehicle is tracked by GPS in real time. This allows us to monitor routes and make changes quickly if conditions change or urgent requests arrive. Clients receive live updates and reassurance that their sites are being looked after as soon as temperatures drop.

This mix of technology and local knowledge offers the dependability of a national company. It also provides the personal touch of a Yorkshire business. This balance has driven Bawcro’s fast growth. It has also gained the trust of commercial, retail, and industrial clients in the region.

People, Culture and Wellbeing

Gritting is not glamorous work. It means heading out in brutal weather, often in the middle of the night when everyone else is at home in the warm.

One very snowy night last winter, James got a flat tyre. With some of his sites operating around the clock he knew he could not leave them untreated. Snow was falling heavily but he had to change the tyre himself in the dark to keep ploughing.

He realised people out gritting are often alone, especially when bad weather lasts for days at a time. This experience inspired him to speak at the National Winter Service Research Group Conference. This is the UK’s top event for winter maintenance ideas. He talked about mental health and the need to support workers in tough conditions.

Community Impact

Bawcro’s mission is simple:

• Keep local businesses open
• Keep people safe
• Keep communities moving

It is now trusted by independent traders, retail parks and business owners across the region. Bawcro uses road surface temperature data for gritting instead of air temperature. This way, they only use what is needed. This keeps costs fair and helps protect the environment.

Book 24/7 Gritting Support Today

Bawcro continues to invest in people, equipment and innovation to meet growing demand. With a dedicated team and a strong local presence, Bawcro is building a business that truly matters. We keep communities safe, businesses open, and roads clear, no matter the weather.

24 Hour Gritting That Keeps You Moving

Winter is unpredictable. Your business cannot be. Our 24 hour gritting service makes sure your site stays open and productive even when the weather wants to shut everything down. Whether you need proactive protection before frost arrives or a fast response during sudden temperature drops, we are ready.

We work during the night when most people are asleep. This way, your operations can start smoothly each morning.

Continuous Weather Monitoring

We monitor trusted UK weather data around the clock. When temperatures are expected to fall to freezing, our team acts before conditions take hold. If ice forms unexpectedly, call outs can be made at any time. You stay ahead of risk rather than reacting to it.

Focused Attendances When They Matter Most

We organise evening, night and weekend schedules that work around your operations. The aim is simple. Your staff should arrive to a site that is safe to walk and drive around, with clear access for deliveries and customers.

Return visits are arranged automatically if refreeze is likely later that day.

Areas We Protect

Car parks
Vehicle routes
Loading zones
Footpaths and entrances
Ramps and slopes
Operational yards
Emergency access

If it must remain accessible, we will look after it.

Right Materials for the Conditions

We supply and apply white de icing salt for public facing areas. In very cold temperatures or on delicate surfaces, liquid de-icer works faster. It is effective when salt alone cannot.

Clear Reporting for Compliance

Every attendance is recorded. You will receive a record of the visit including location, materials used and timing. This shows the actions taken to keep your site safe and supports your health and safety management.

Multi site clients can receive regular summaries as part of their contract.

Who Benefits Most

Sites that cannot stop
Facilities teams managing risk
Commercial landlords with multiple tenants
Industrial operations that depend on logistics
Retail parks expecting early footfall
Care and healthcare settings open all hours

If closure or delay is costly, this service removes that worry.

Where We Operate

We work from our Leeds base and run winter routes throughout West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. We also support selected routes in Mid Wales subject to planning. If you are nearby, please ask because additional coverage can often be arranged.

Planning Ahead

We recommend arranging your winter cover early so we can guarantee priority response when the weather turns. Speak with our team today to build a plan that protects your site and lets your business continue no matter how cold it gets.

To request emergency support or discuss a proactive contract, call 0113 403 5113 at any time.