Driving Sustainability in Healthcare Tech

Summary

HealthRota is a UK-based software provider specialising in cloud-based e-Rostering, e-Job Planning, and Locum Workforce Management solutions tailored for healthcare organisations, including NHS Trusts. To continue supporting NHS partners and meet evolving procurement requirements, they needed a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) aligned with PPN 06/21 and support answering the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment. With limited emissions data and a short delivery window, HealthRota turned to C Free for expert guidance.

Challenge

HealthRota was under pressure to deliver a comprehensive and government-compliant CRP to secure eligibility for upcoming NHS tenders. However, they faced several challenges: their cloud-based business model meant traditional emissions data was scarce, and much of the operational footprint was tied to Scope 3 categories like remote working, cloud infrastructure, and business travel. Navigating these complexities required a tailored approach to accurately measure and report emissions.

In parallel, HealthRota was required to complete the Evergreen Assessment as part of NHS supplier onboarding. The assessment’s broad scope and complex language posed a further challenge, especially given the tight timeframe.

Approach

C Free took a structured yet flexible approach to delivering fast, high-quality results. We started by mapping the organisation’s emissions across all three scopes. Scope 1 and 2 emissions were non-existent due to their digital approach and shared office space. For Scope 3, where direct data was limited, we applied industry benchmarks and used proxy data to estimate business travel and cloud hosting emissions. We supplied a survey to measure employee commuting and working from home emissions. We also considered upstream emissions associated with IT procurement and digital service delivery.

Once the baseline was established, we worked with the client to set reduction targets that were both science-based and practical. These included a 42% reduction in emissions by 2030 and a 90% reduction by 2045. The CRP detailed short-term and long-term actions, including migrating workloads to more energy-efficient cloud regions, implementing a cycle-to-work scheme, and engaging suppliers on their own sustainability efforts.

As part of the engagement, we scheduled a dedicated session to walk through the Evergreen Assessment line by line with the HealthRota team. This hands-on approach ensured clarity on each question and enabled the team to complete the assessment confidently and accurately. Our support made the process more accessible and less time-consuming for the client.

Results

C Free successfully delivered a full Carbon Reduction Plan within two weeks. The document met all compliance requirements under PPN 06/21 and provided HealthRota with a clear, evidence-backed emissions baseline.

With support from C Free, HealthRota achieved level 1 on the Evergreen Assessment.

HealthRota's Carbon Reduction Plan

Outcomes and Impact

As a result of our work, HealthRota became fully compliant with government carbon reporting standards and was able to continue competing for NHS contracts without delay. The CRP also provided a strategic foundation for broader sustainability initiatives, with leadership now equipped to make informed decisions around emissions management and future investment.

Our collaboration with HealthRota not only enabled compliance but also accelerated their sustainability journey. The engagement demonstrated how digital-first organisations can meaningfully measure and manage their emissions even with minimal initial data. The project has positioned HealthRota as a forward-thinking partner in the healthcare sector, committed to reducing environmental impact while delivering essential workforce solutions.