The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word NON-SLIP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
N
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More clues leading to the result NON-SLIP
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "providing a firm hold" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case providing a firm hold = non-slip.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
Crossword Answer definitions
NON-SLIP adjective- Having a surface designed to prevent or reduce slipping; not able to slip or be slipped upon.