Cleaning & Maintenance - July 2022

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

Cleaning Chemicals & Dosing Systems

Customers are increasingly demanding cleaning products that are sustainable but going green doesn’t have to mean compromising on efficacy. This feature looks at chemicals used for cleaning, and dosing systems that help ensure their correct usage.

Halting the race to the bottom

Dominic Ponniah, CEO of Cleanology, argues that it’s time for cleaning to stand firm - to value itself as an industry and shout about its achievements.

THE OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE CLEANING SHOW

INFORMING, INSPIRING AND CONNECTING THE INDUSTRY

After a successful return to London in November 2021, the Cleaning Show will be back in 2023, taking place from 14–16 March at ExCeL, London.

Organised by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz Business Media, the Cleaning Show has become the ultimate destination for the cleaning and hygiene sector to connect, learn and discover new products, services and suppliers.

ORGANISED BY:

Stand up tall

In the month following revelations about the treatment of cleaning staff at Number 10 Downing Street, this issue includes an article by Cleanology’s CEO, Dominic Ponniah, where he looks at the need to halt the race to the bottom and reflects on an industry that ‘…has a long way to go to before cleaning operatives are valued as highly as they deserve’.

Industry leaders were recently 'appalled and upset' following Sue Gray's report into the disgrace that was ‘partygate’ which revealed that there were 'multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff' in Number 10.

Jim Melvin, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said: "At a time when many cleaning and hygiene operational staff were putting themselves at risk to maintain high standards of hygiene and ensure that key workers and the public were safe and well during the pandemic, it is absolutely appalling and upsetting to hear that they were being treated with such contempt by people who sit within government or the civil service and who frankly should know better. Cleaning staff are hardworking, professional and deserve to be respected in their vital work, just like anyone else, and certainly how the people concerned would expect to be treated… The Prime Minister himself thanked cleaning staff in Parliament and now we are subjected to the contents of Sue Gray’s report. Which one are we to believe? What cleaning staff need is support and recognition from the government, not to be treated with such arrogance or disrespect. In that respect, we wish to engage with the government and actually see what the claim that ‘steps have been taken’ really means in detail. We will be formally requesting a meeting to have such engagement and discussion."

This attitude to those outside government by the Prime Minister and his Ministers may be what we’ve generally come to expect, but what can be done to change attitudes across the board? Reports suggested that the pandemic had boosted the profile and perceived importance of our sector, and that might be true. I wonder, however, to what extent this extends to the people delivering the service?

In his excellent comment on Page 18, Dominic Ponniah looks at the continued problems created by cleaning contracts being awarded on price alone. He says: “The race to the bottom epitomises the struggles we face. The pandemic has gone some way to raising the status of cleaning operatives as key workers, but we have a long way to go before cleaning operatives are valued as highly as they deserve. At management level, our industry struggles to attract the top candidates, who feel cleaning is not as bright and sparkly as other sectors like hospitality or retail. In my business, Cleanology, our recent candidates have been drawn by our work on sustainability or fair pay, rather than a driving desire to work in cleaning. So, what can we do to shift perceptions, and move cleaning from a commodity to a valued business essential?”

He goes on to suggest that the first step – perhaps an obvious one – is that we need to value ourselves more. This doesn’t just mean valuing our individual businesses, but our staff and our sector as a whole. And he might be right…but this is made more difficult when those who supposedly sit in power and set an example for others to follow behave as they do. I wish Jim Melvin well in his campaign to hold government accountable for its actions, and to use this latest scandal as a lever to encourage government to recognise the critical role played by cleaning professionals. Perhaps if those ‘at the top’ show the sector the respect it deserves this will filter down for the benefit of all.

I wish you a clean, tidy and healthy month ahead.

Neil Nixon, Editor Cleaning & Maintenance Magazine

INDUSTRY NEWS

In the news this month… CHSA raises £5k for Grief Encounter, BioVate Hygienics launches with environmental pledge.

PEOPLE

Personnel news and new appointments from across the cleaning and FM sectors.

CONTRACTS

We take a look at all the latest contracts awarded across the industry.

SPECIAL REPORT: HALTING THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM

Dominic Ponniah, CEO of Cleanology, argues that it’s time for cleaning to stand firm - to value itself as an industry and shout about its achievements..

SPECIAL REPORT: UK BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTSLEARNING FROM THE WORLD’S GREENEST COUNTRIES

What can your company do to actively emulate eco-friendly countries? What strategies can you implement to help Britain meet its ambitious targets? With some insights from the commercial LPG division at Flogas, let’s take a look.

SPECIAL REPORT: HOW AND WHY NHS TRUSTS MUST TAKE A LONGER-TERM VIEW OF SOFTWARE PROCUREMENT

Dan Teare, healthcare sector director at mpro5, reports.

NEW PRODUCTS

An overview of some of the new products available on the market this month.

03 Editor’s Comment

A look at the cleaning sector this month.

13 BICSc Comment

Dignity. Stan Atkins, CEO of BICSc, reports.

14 BCC Comment

Cost-of-living crisis - the latest challenge for domestic

SPECIAL REPORT: CLEANING INDUSTRY CHAMPIONS HONOURED AT GOLDEN SERVICE AWARDS

The elite of the cleaning and FM industry were recognised at the 2022 Golden Service Awards for their excellence and commitment to delivering the highest standards through unprecedented challenging times.

FEATURE: CLEANING CHEMICALS & DOSING SYSTEMS

Customers are increasingly demanding cleaning products that are sustainable but going green doesn’t have to mean compromising on efficacy. This feature looks at chemicals used for cleaning, and dosing systems that help ensure their correct usage.

15

cleaning businesses. The DCA’s Karen Bradney reports.

Contractor’s blog Lee Andrews reports.

CHSA raises £5k for Grief Encounter

THANKS to the generosity of its members and their guests, the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) raised approximately £5000 for Grief Encounter at its annual gala ball. Grief Encounter supports bereaved children and their families to help alleviate the pain caused by the death of someone close.

The sum raised adds to the £20,000 the CHSA has already raised for Grief Encounter and the funds are already being put to good use.

The CHSA’s gala ball took place in May at the Staverton Park Estate and Golf Club. David

Garcia, vice president of the CHSA and the driving force behind the gala ball, said: “We

were delighted to host the gala ball again after the pause of the pandemic. Bringing together our members and their guests, it was a wonderful highlight event. The evening was packed with brilliant entertainment, including ‘The Singing Waiters’, table magicians and the live band, Choice. Putting something back is at the heart of our ethos. A huge thank you to all our members and guests who contributed on the night and to our sponsors who made the whole event possible.”

WWW.CHSA.CO.UK

BioVate Hygienics launches with environmental pledge

BIOVATE Hygienics has formally launched with a bold pledge to establish itself as the country’s ‘go to’ brand for sustainable and carbon neutral cleaning products. The company has been co-founded by experienced environmental entrepreneur Nick Winstone with a vision to

adopt cutting-edge innovation to deliver the next generation of biological cleaning products, with the lowest environmental impact packaging. Based in Towcester, Northants, BioVate’s mission is to change the way Britain cleans by: ensuring the core products use 100% natural biological and plant-based liquids; utilising ground breaking packaging that is reusable and renewable; working towards completely carbon neutral products; being 100% made in the UK; using technology to provide a cutting-edge user experience; and innovating at all times to drive both its products and the broader industry forward in a journey towards

Reckitt celebrates Platinum Jubilee with 10k bottles of sanitiser

RECKITT, maker of Dettol, was appointed as the official hygiene partner of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant last month. The strategic partnership saw Dettol Pro Solutions, Dettol’s business-tobusiness offering, distribute more than 10,000 bottles of hand sanitiser, install over 100 hand sanitiser dispensers, plus the distribution of hygiene kits for all volunteers, staff and attendees across the celebration weekend.

Rosanna Machado, CEO of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, said: “It’s fantastic to see people come together - friends, family and neighbours reunited, to witness this historic royal moment. After two years of the pandemic, many people are still hesitant about large gatherings and we wanted to bring attendees and visitors peace of mind - enabling them to focus on having fun and enjoying the weekend.

We believe that the partnership with Dettol Pro Solutions has been key to that. We knew that consumers would recognise and be reassured by the presence of the Dettol brand. The support from the Dettol Pro Solutions team… has been tremendous.”

Jonathan Weiss, commercial director at Dettol Pro Solutions, said: “We’re delighted to have been the official hygiene partner for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant and provide our expertise at this historic event. Active communication is key to building confidence and reassuring thousands of attendees, so we've aimed to create an experience that maximises the perception of care, in an effort to inspire behaviour change when it comes to practising good hygiene. Overall heightened awareness of hand hygiene among staff and

total sustainable cleaning.

BioVate, which was unveiled to the public at the recent Manchester Cleaning Show, is poised for a successful first year of trading with more than £3 million in sales already committed. It will focus on providing a service to housekeeping, hospitality, care, and general cleaning sectors. Cofounder and sales director, Alison Minter, said: “‘It’s important that we start by placing the end user cleaner, the housekeeper or the kitchen porter at the centre of our offering and we have created an industry leading, sustainable user experience for our distribution partners and their customers.”

WWW.BIOVATEHYGIENICS.COM

customers is something businesses should look to not just sustain, but actively encourage. We believe that simplicity is key when it comes to following good hygiene practices. Making antibacterial products easily available to visitors or providing training for staff and volunteers has proven to be simple and effective to help us achieve that.”

Ride-on and Walk-behind Scrubber Dryers

Ride-on and Walk-behind Sweepers

Vacuum Cleaners

Combination Scrubber-Sweeper Machines

Robotic Cleaning Machines

Carpet Cleaners

EC-H2O Chemical Free Technology

Jangro shows support for Trussell Trust

JANGRO is supporting The Trussell Trust as its chosen charity this year. All 47 members in its network have started collecting food and other essentials and have been dropping them off to their local food banks across the country.

As well as organising food collections, Jangro will also be donating any monies raised from fundraising events throughout the year, such as its regular supplier and member days. So far, the Jangro membership has raised over £3000.

The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks. Together they

provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty. Jo Gilliard, CEO at Jangro, said: “At Jangro, we take our social responsibility seriously and believe in giving back to the communities in which we operate. At a time when the true cost of living is soaring, we hope our contributions will help families get by that little bit easier.”

WWW.JANGRO.NETV

Hillbrush steps up investment in new machinery

HILLBRUSH has made a £1.3 million investment in three new automated brush making machines at its production site in Mere, Wiltshire. This significant investment secures Hillbrush’s manufacturing capability long into the future, with quicker outputs and reduced workloads for operators, as well as offering a better quality finished product.

Custom-built for Hillbrush and so the first of its kind, the Belgium-produced Boucherie Aeola T will increase output of the majority of Hillbrush traditional yard brooms. Previously, broom manufacturing was undertaken by a separate manually fed machine, which has now been replaced by this one integrated, automated machine, making the operator’s workload easier and removing the inefficiency of transporting from one machine to another.

The German-produced Zahoransky Z Lion machine was designed and purchased with productivity and efficiencies in mind. The new machine is being specifically used for manufacturing hygiene brushes, used in food and beverage production environments, freeing up Hillbrush’s smaller Boucherie machines which are being utilised for shorter product runs. Trimming long handled brushes has also been made safera manual fed hand trimming machine is no longer required.

The equipment trio is completed with another Zahoransky machine, the Z.Tiger. This machine has been purchased solely to manufacture vacuum cleaner brushes and will ensure continuity of supply, freeing up current machinery to manufacture other products.

Charlie Coward, managing director of Hillbrush, said: “In its centenary year, Hillbrush is committed to investing in the latest technology to not only provide our customers with the best quality products but to ensure that the Hillbrush business is fast and agile, ready to meet the challenges of the next generation.”

WWW.HILLBRUSH.COM

Leadec UK receives ISO 41001:2018 certification

FOLLOWING an intensive audit process, Leadec Ltd is now certified to ISO 41001:2018. It is the first standard of its kind for FM and intended to promote collaborative FM relationships.

“We are delighted to be one of the very few organisations who have achieved this standard,” said Lee Smith, managing director, Leadec Ltd. “It demonstrates that we are operating best practices in processes for facility management, especially in the manufacturing sector.”

ISO 41001:2018 was published in 2018 to help FM teams achieve optimum efficiency. Drawing on international best practice, the management system standard constitutes a benchmark for developing and driving an effective strategic, tactical and operational FM regime. It also assists organisations seeking to outsource FM, as those providers who are able to demonstrate compliance with the standard will provide them with an assurance regarding their approach and processes.

Leadec Ltd went through six days of level 1 and 2 audits at its headquarters and wheel and tyre assembly plant in Coventry, as well as at two sites in Wolverhampton and Liverpool, where it provides technical facility management, janitorial and industrial cleaning, waste management and other services.

Andrew Candelent, head of FM, Leadec Ltd, continued: “At Leadec, we set and meet high standards in terms of quality, safety and sustainability. The new ISO 41001:2018

certification is evidence that we focus on our customers’ needs in facility management, work in a collaborative way and place great value on continuous improvement.”

WWW.LEADEC-SERVICES.COM

Reckitt appointed official hygiene partner of the Commonwealth Games 2022

RECKITT has been appointed as an official partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with its Dettol brand serving as the official hygiene partner, and its Durex brand the official intimate wellness provider.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games runs from 28 July to 8 August. Dettol Pro Solutions, Dettol’s businessto-business offering, will support athletes and spectators over the 12-day event, bringing hand sanitiser dispensers, disinfectant products and educational hygiene messages to the 15 competition venues across Birmingham, Coventry, Royal Leamington Spa, Sandwell, and London, as well as Dettol hygiene kits for all athletes and volunteers in attendance.

Nick Sedgwick, regional director for Reckitt’s health business in the UK and Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to bring two of Reckitt’s iconic brands,

Dettol and Durex, to support Birmingham 2022. As a UK business with strong roots across the Commonwealth, we’re beyond proud to support the athletes and spectators at this year’s games, with confidence, pride and strength, to make it an event to remember.”

Ian Reid, CEO at Birmingham 2022, said: “It’s more important than ever before to ensure that Birmingham 2022 has all the necessary measures in place to help protect all participants and supporters. This new partnership with Reckitt will give us added reassurance as we look ahead to the games in a few months’ time. Alongside working with health experts and authorities to ensure we deliver a safe games, we look forward to working with a major hygiene brand like Dettol who is committed to developing world leading practices.”

WWW.DETTOL.CO.UK

Alcohol Free Hand Sanitising Gel

Advanced air-drying formulation quickly cleans and sanitises the hands leaving no sticky residue.

• Free from alcohol & added fragrance

• Kills 99.99% of germs

• BS EN14476 : 2013

• Ideal in educational, hospitality & all public facilities

• Food Safe , ideal for food prep areas

• Contains powerful antimicrobials

• Waterless, no need for sinks or dryers

• Leaves hands feeling soft

T: +44 (0) 1444 244 000

E: sales@bio-productions.com

W: www.bio-productions.com

Cleaning: the frontline, essential service… before, during and after the pandemic

Jamie Wright, managing director of Incentive QAS, reports.

IT’S been over two years since we went into lockdown on 23 March 2020 and like many industries, cleaning services has been through some significant changes. I have worked in the cleaning industry for over 21 years and have witnessed lots of changes in regulation and attitudes. I honestly feel that the future of the cleaning industry has the potential to be the best it has ever been. We need to capitalise on the improved perception, and the need for our services that we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There have been many positive changes in the industry throughout my career. Minimum wage and the Living Wage Foundation have safeguarded cleaning operatives from exploitation. Health and safety regulations have been introduced, as-well as training developments, equipment and software Innovations. However, for me the most significant improvement is the recognition of the importance of this service. When I joined the industry the majority of contracts were completed by part time operatives, working a 2- or 3-hour shift, usually outside of office hours. The introduction of daytime cleaning over the last 20 years has improved massively. We are employing more and more full-time members of staff that view cleaning as a fulltime career. Things are definitely moving in the right direction.

It appears that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically improved perceptions of the cleaning industry, validating it as an essential service. In mid-Feb 2020 the Incentive QAS management team and I began discussing the potential threat of Coronavirus. We started by discussing ‘if’, followed by ‘when’ then finally ‘what do we do now!’ It was a worrying time for everyone, we were trying to protect the health of our staff, but also their futures.

The cleaning industry is a labour reliant market – whether a cleaning contractor or supplier of consumables, equipment and materials or a washroom, waste or pest control service partner. Thankfully the introduction of the Job Retention Scheme meant that our staff

were safe, and allowed us to focus on the next challenges - the supply of PPE, hand sanitizer and keeping commercial and public spaces safe for essential workers. We were having daily commercial discussions with our clients and also trying to look after our staff who couldn’t work from home and had no option to be ‘furloughed’.

Throughout the pandemic the cleaning industry stepped up across all of the essential front-line industry sectors, providing cleaning operatives and the equipment to keep people safe. Most of the cleaning professionals that continued to work throughout the pandemic were working increased hours, often following new processes and procedures and learning new techniques. At a management level cleaning companies were becoming trusted advisors to their clients. Advising best practice, how to disinfect properly, how to adjust service delivery in line with government guidance,

assisting in the procurement of pandemic stock, and re-writing business continuity plans in an ever-evolving situation.

When the early panic began and we were all getting to grips with what we were facing there were lots of interesting conversations around ‘fogging’ and other preventative cleaning techniques for offices and commercial sites. We needed to explain to clients that in order to be safe we needed to clean the area, before disinfecting it - we had to demonstrate our expertise and explain the correct processes in order for our services to be most effective. Cleaning has always been essential in the day to day operating of the country. However, it appears that the pandemic that enforced this message. That momentum needs to remain. We need to ensure that the cleaning industry maintains its place at the top table as an essential service. The operatives that work in our industry deserve respect and recognition for their work. We need a collective approach across all areas of the cleaning industry, to promote the message that cleaning is a frontline service. Without the cleaning industry the world would be a very different place right now.

The British Cleaning Council continues to lobby government on behalf of the industry to improve recognition and The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners has launched its Chartered Practitioners Award to promote the cleaning industry as a recognised profession. Numerous associations and committees such as the CSSA, CHSA, ISSA, and BICSc are working tirelessly to promote the industry. We need to congratulate, reward and thank the many cleaning professionals we encounter on a dayto-day basis. Make them feel valued as often as possible they deserve it!

We were having daily commercial discussions with our clients and also trying to look after our staff who couldn’t work from home and had no option to be ‘furloughed’.

April Harvey named COVID Workplace Champion by RoSPA

SODEXO Healthcare’s April Harvey has been recognised as a COVID Workplace Champion by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for her role as health, safety and risk lead in the mobilisation of the first COVID quarantine facility and COVID-19 test centres.

At the end of 2021 RoSPA launched its COVID Workplace Champion scheme to recognise and highlight the contributions of those who have used their expertise, passion and unwavering commitment to help limit the transmission of COVID in workplace. It received over 300

nominations from a range of industry sectors across 19 countries.

RoSPA selected Sodexo’s April Harvey, head of health, safety and risk for its healthcare business, as a COVID Workplace Champion for her work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She was part of Sodexo’s team which mobilised the UK’s first quarantine facility within a staff accommodation block at Arrowe Park Hospital, the Wirral. The facility was mobilised in just three hours to provide bespoke catering, concierge and security services for 178 British COVID-19 evacuees returning from Wuhan, China on

Sales director for Ecoserv Group

ECOSERV Group has appointed Natalie Coleman as sales director as part of its ambitious plans to expand the size and scope of the business. She will head up the company’s business development team, bringing extensive soft services and specialist cleaning expertise to the role.

Coleman has more than 20 years of experience in FM having worked for some of the largest

names within the marketplace including Mitie, Interserve and Initial Facilities. Most recently she was retention and strategic partnerships manager at TC Facilities Management and, before this, a director of Future Hygiene Services, with particular focus in the specialist data centre industry.

Natalie Coleman said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity that will allow me

31 January 2020. April Harvey worked with the infection prevention control (IPC) team from Royal Liverpool University Hospital to implement new infection prevention control measures for the facility within just six hours and also helped develop new protocols, processes and procedures for PPE. She then went on to support Sodexo’s COVID-19 test centre business, developing and implementing COVID-19 standard operating procedures. Sodexo became the UK’s largest provider of COVID-19 test centres on behalf of the UK Health Security Agency.

WWW.SODEXO.COM

to drive growth in sustainable FM by collaborating with new customers to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions. By adopting a partnership approach with these organisations, we can understand their precise needs and deliver true value across multiple services.”

WWW.ECOSERV.GROUP

Great for carpets, great for the environment.

By using PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic containers for our Natural range of cleaning solutions we – and you – are doing our bit for the environment. PCR reuses recovered plastics such as singleuse items found discarded on our beaches and in our countryside.

effectiveness;

Portfolio by Churchill awarded three-year cleaning contract

PORTFOLIO, the high-end cleaning and hygiene service by Churchill Group, has won a three-year contract with law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper. The contract includes cleaning and hygiene services, feminine washroom services, window cleaning, and consumables. Portfolio employees will work on the contract at seven Penningtons Manches Cooper sites - London, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Cambridge, Guildford, Oxford, and Reading.

Keith Sargeant, facilities manager at Penningtons Manches Cooper, said: “We

recognise how important service providers are to our ESG and flexible working strategies. Portfolio ticked all the boxes, and we know that they will go above and beyond to add value. We were thoroughly impressed by

Botanica Ditton Park appoints Incentive QAS

BOTANICA Ditton Park, the multi-let office building with an on-site gym and restaurant surrounded by 200 acres of land, has awarded Incentive QAS with a three-year contract for daily cleaning, housekeeping, waste management, washrooms, and window cleaning.

Incentive QAS will be working with a leading management agent to provide cleaning services for the 200,000 square ft of workspace. The team will provide a flexible service with a mixture of part and full-time cover depending on the requirement from Botanica. All Incentive QAS employees will be provided with a bespoke uniform demonstrating a level of professionalism and synergy with the Botanica on-site staff.

Kerry Jones, building manager at Botanica Ditton Park, said: “We were delighted to award Incentive QAS with this significant contract. One of our key focus areas at Botanica Ditton Park is sustainability and a holistic approach to

City West reappointed by the BMA

CITY West Support Services has been reappointed by the British Medical Association (BMA), the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK, following a competitive tender process. The new five-year contract is for BMA House, the Grade II listed headquarters

building in Tavistock Square, Bloomsbury. The contract covers daily cleaning, specialist cleaning, window cleaning, waste management, pest control, washroom hygiene, and porterage.

Ian Wade, head of UK estates at the BMA, said: “City West provided the best, most

Improving healthcare efficiencies

HEALTHCARE institutions can improve their cleaning efficiency by installing Tork Vision Cleaning, claims Tork manufacturer Essity. This digital system helps hospital cleaners keep on top of cleaning and hygiene needs, freeing up time to carry out more hygiene-critical tasks.

Tork Vision Cleaning uses people-counters and connected dispensers to provide real-time data on cleaning requirements. This allows healthcare teams to stay ahead of the game and anticipate situations in which enhanced

cleaning or extra checks might be required.

“The global pandemic has put infection prevention and the need for reducing healthcareassociated infections into sharp focus,” said Charishma Kothari, services and solutions director at Essity’s professional hygiene business. “The healthcare sector is struggling under the combined strain of staffing issues, stricter cleaning protocols and additional reporting duties. As a result, cleaning staff are expected to achieve more with the same - or fewer - resources.”

Portfolio’s commitment to sustainability and plastic reduction and believe they will be an excellent collaborative partner over the course of the contract.”

Antony Law, chief commercial officer at Churchill Group, added: “We’re thrilled to work with a law firm as renowned as Penningtons Manches Cooper. We are confident that in addition to providing an outstanding service from day one, we can provide insight and advice that will help PMC achieve its ESG goals.”

WWW.CHURCHILLSERVICES.COM

our occupiers wellbeing. Incentive QAS offered a green cleaning service from day one which complements our offering perfectly.”

David Brown, commercial director, Incentive QAS, said: “We were thrilled to win this contract with Botanica Ditton Park. It’s an exciting project and we look forward to working together in such a beautiful location. The introduction of mpro5 will be invaluable for a site of this size. By moving away from static task schedules and towards making our operations fully reactive, our teams can use their time more productively and ultimately provide a more efficient cleaning service.”

WWW.INCENTIVE-FMGROUP.COM

value driven operational solution for the BMA, taking into account the association’s aims and objectives moving forward, and the flexibility required in the post-COVID environment. We are delighted to continue our association with them.”

WWW.CITYWESTSERVICES.CO.UK

Tork Vision Cleaning was formerly known as Tork EasyCube. WWW.TORK.CO.UK/VISIONCLEANING

Stan Atkins, Group CEO, BICSc, reports

Dignity

I am writing this piece the morning after the Sue Gray Report on Partygate has at last been published. I am not surprised by any of the findings, but I am extremely disappointed at the total lack of respect shown to some service personnel.

As all of you who know me will understand I strongly believe in dignity for cleaning operatives (not cleaners - a cleaner is a chemical that you use to clean). Cleaning operative or the cleaning team confers some dignity to the individual. I have written many times about the invisible workforce. To be invisible is one thing, to be abused is quite another!

I just looked up the meaning of dignity in the Oxford English Dictionary and it describes the word as ‘the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect’ and ‘the dignity of labour’. This also reminds me of the Deacon Blue ‘Dignity’ song lyrics, two lines which read: ‘And he packs his lunch in a Sunblest bag’ and ‘The

children call him Bogie’. At least this was not to his face but behind his back and if you read all the lyrics it shows he had a dignity of labour.

I have also commented on more than one occasion that in the UK, service is equated to subservience - upstairs/downstairs. I remember vividly going on a good night out with a colleague who was from a privileged background. When I met him for breakfast the next morning, he was somewhat green around the gills, and he could not face his cooked breakfast. I asked him if he was OK and he said: ‘No, not really, I was ill in my room, but I will be alright later.’ I said: ‘I am sorry to hear that, did you manage to clean up after yourself?’ and he replied: ‘That’s what housekeeping are for!’ I was shocked to hear this. Every cleaning operative is a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter etc. Why should we disrespect people who give so much and earn so little?

I discussed Partygate with a taxi driver yesterday morning who has also suffered abuse from unhappy fares. He stated the problem is that no one is ashamed anymore. People do shameful things but do not show any signs of shame - in fact, in some cases, it is their next social media post.

We have all seen posters at railway stations and the post office and various government offices stating that to abuse members of their team will not be taken lightly and may lead to prosecution. Obviously, the cleaning operatives at No. 10 Downing Street were not part of the team.

A final word on Partygate. The cleaning professionals amongst you will know that getting red wine stains out off wallpaper is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Every cloud, therefore, has a silver lining - at least at the party where this happened was not in the flat at No. 10 where allegedly the wallpaper was extremely expensive!

For further information, please visit: WWW.BICS.ORG.UK and the BICSc Virtual Training Suite at HTTPS://BBS-VIRTUAL-TRAINING.THINKIFIC.COM

People do shameful things but do not show any signs of shame - in fact, in some cases, it is their next social media post.

Cost-of-living crisis - the latest challenge for domestic cleaning businesses

THE cost-of-living crisis which has impacted so many different parts of the UK economy is adding to a number of short-term and longterm challenges faced by parts of the domestic cleaning sector.

Research shows that domestic cleaning has been devalued in the UK over the long-term, with the average amount paid by a household for a house cleaner falling substantially.

In 2006, the average cost of hiring a domestic cleaner in and around London was up to £20/£25 per hour. By 2015, this had fallen to less than £15 per hour with some agencies offering cleaning services for as little as £10 per hour if booked online. It doesn’t help that people generally think the role is easy, as most people do some form of housework themselves. But it takes dedication and a keen eye to clean someone else’s home and domestic cleaners have to manage customer expectations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of domestic cleaning companies closed their doors when they could have carried on trading. They were misinformed by Government guidelines which never made this clear. Some DCA members are now back to relative normality but others have had to rethink their business and how it works for them. Some small businesses have had to completely

remodel how they employ and recruit staff or use self-employed workers and subcontractors. The general feeling within the industry is that Brexit is causing problems in finding and employing staff and self-employed workers.

According to British Cleaning Council (BCC) research, before Brexit over 40% of cleaning operatives were migrants, many of whom were EU nationals. The domestic cleaning industry, like other parts of the sector, has seen many cleaning staff originally from overseas return home, leaving it struggling to fill a large number of job vacancies. Some small domestic cleaning companies are turning to family and friends to help keep these businesses running but for a few, the lack of staff has forced them to fail or close their doors.

Now the cost-of-living has risen to a 40-year high, causing disposable incomes to fall. It would seem, however, that the more affluent areas around the country are not feeling the squeeze on their pockets as much as working class parts of the UK. In some better off parts of the country, demand for domestic cleaning has returned to pre-pandemic levels but that isn’t the case everywhere.

For some households, it is not financially possible to return to the kind of lifestyle they had before the pandemic. They cannot

afford the standard of living they may be accustomed to. Not everyone can get a higher paid role or take on another job as one Government minister advised people to do.

Some of the most vulnerable in the local community who, due to ill health or old age, desperately need household help for tasks like changing bed linen or cleaning the toilet, are having to give it up. Others who enjoyed a couple more hours per week free time to spend with family, friends or for themselves, are now having to spend more of their time doing household cleaning. This fall in demand for our services is putting a further squeeze on some domestic cleaning businesses.

However, the BCC is working tirelessly to win recognition and respect for cleaning and hygiene staff in the UK and to help build a robust workforce. And despite the issues and concerns our sector faces, we only need to think of the suffering caused by the conflict in Ukraine to put everything into perspective.

WWW.DOMESTICCLEANINGALLIANCE.CO.UK

The DCA is a member of the British Cleaning Council. The views of Council members are their own.

Karen Bradney, head of member engagement and panel member, Domestic Cleaning Alliance (DCA), reports.

Recruitment - there’s nothing like a challenge

FOR reasons well-known to everyone reading this column, the recruitment of both front-line staff and managerial positions is a challenge currently causing some serious head-scratching amongst cleaning contractors. Of course, it’s not just cleaning, it’s any number of industries, but that doesn’t diminish the sense of surprise we still feel when a position that three years ago might have attracted 20 or 30 applicants, now struggles to attract one or two. It’s all part of the longterm structural change in the UK economy that means there is no longer a ready supply of labour for what has traditionally been described as low-paid work.

Wage inflation, whilst a danger to the economy at large, is something that we as an industry were always in favour of when it meant that regular rises in the living wage, in its various guises, were increasing the amount we could pay to front-line staff. With many contracts index-linked to such increases, there was no debate around annual price increases. However, I think it’s fair to say that the Real (LWF) Living Wage has now pretty much become the entry-level pay rate for most front-line roles, with several commanding a premium even to that. In the middle of the biggest cost-of-living crisis most of us can remember, this can

only be a good thing. Nonetheless, at a time when price competition is still raging throughout the industry, it is becoming increasingly important to look at two areas that significantly affect the maths of a cleaning contract: firstly, the wider basket of non-pay benefits we can use to attract new staff and secondly, the options for increasing productivity as a way of continuing to support competitive wages. Together, these two things can keep staff motivated whilst maintaining margins and keeping overall client charges down.

In previous columns, I’ve alluded several times to the important role environmental, social and governance (ESG) policy is playing in encouraging our industry to up its game. The casual way in which cleaning staff employed at 10 Downing Street were allegedly disrespected during lockdown, as highlighted in last month’s The Independent, reminds us how essential it is that we create a working environment in which all staff have access to a full range of benefits that include mental health first aid and whistleblowing procedures against inequality, discrimination or abuse. Combining these sorts of welfare benefits with learning and development programmes to give every single member of staff the chance to move up the ladder are creating,

Sustainable cleaning with Toucan Eco

Toucan Eco is a revolutionary way to make a disinfectant cleaner from just water, salt and electricity that kills 99.99% of germs. It replaces 80% of chemical cleaners and the single use plastic bottles they are supplied in.

Welcome to eco-friendly cleaning from Robert Scott.

for many contractors I’ve spoken to, a solid foundation for attracting new staff in a labour market that is only going to get more competitive. At DOC, these initiatives form part of our ‘Beyond Cleaning’ strategy, launched last month and designed to position ourselves as a company where you can look forward to a proper career in an industry that holds massive opportunities for those willing to look past the traditional ‘mop and bucket’ associations of yesteryear.

On the productivity side, our industry’s suppliers are rising to the challenge of improving labour productivity and securing environmental gains in the process. I am particularly impressed by the new scrubber dryers that filter and recycle water as they go along, reducing downtime. And who can ignore the rise of Cobotics, the ‘intelligent‘ machines that do the so-called easy jobs of floor vacuuming as part of the team shift, whilst the staff get on with more critical jobs such as cleaning the hygiene areas and carrying out the detail work.

All in all, it is a challenging, but very positive time for contract cleaning. Provided I’m not replaced by a robot myself, I am looking forward very much to what the next 12 months may bring.

WWW.DOCCLEANING.COM

Lee Andrews, CEO of DOC Cleaning, reports.

Halting the race to the bottom

It’s time for cleaning to stand firm. CEO of Cleanology, Dominic Ponniah, argues that we need to value ourselves and shout about our achievements.

Cleaning is an industry of two extremes. On one hand, our top businesses focus on quality of service and staff recognition, at the other end, contracts are decided on price. While these two poles are unlikely to meet, the gap is widening, and this should concern anyone with the best interests of the cleaning industry at heart.

The race to the bottom epitomises the struggles we face. The pandemic has gone some way to raising the status of cleaning operatives as key workers, but we have a long way to go before cleaning operatives are valued as highly as they deserve. At management level, our industry struggles to attract the top candidates, who feel cleaning is not as bright and sparkly as other sectors like hospitality or retail. In my business, Cleanology, our recent candidates have been drawn by our work on sustainability or fair pay, rather than a driving desire to work in cleaning. So, what can we do to shift perceptions, and move cleaning from a commodity to a valued business essential?

The first step is perhaps an obvious one. We need to value ourselves more. This doesn’t just mean valuing our individual businesses, but our staff and our sector as a whole. In the past, it was common for companies to undercut each other. I remember once taking part in a reverse auction for a contract with a well-known high street brand. As the bids fell lower and lower, I decided never to participate in such a demoralising event again. Quality of service, innovation and commitment to staff or the environment played no part in the decision.

I emerged from the experience with a resolve to maintain standards and refuse to reduce my staff to numbers. These types of contracts are demoralising for companies and their staff and drive an industry where businesses are run on a shoestring with a very real danger of going bust.

In the race to the bottom, prices just get lower and standards fall exponentially. Luckily, I hope we are starting to see a move away from cleaning as a commodity to

cleaning as a business investment, which is keeping people safe. This move has been accelerated by the pandemic, but many clients were already on this path, wanting to base their decision on larger issues than just price.

The London Living Wage is a clear example. Once the exception, it is now becoming mainstream. We have come across prospective clients that will only work with cleaning firms that pay London Living Wage across all their contracts. Soon, fair rates of pay will be normal practice and, at this point, the balance of power will tip - everyone will start from the same point. Once price is a given, contracts will be decided on issues like environmental performance and innovation, on how to deliver a good service.

Changing external perceptions is more tricky. We can look after staff and create a clean, positive working environment, but if that message is not transmitted to the wider world, we will never attract the best teams. In the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Cleaning & Hygiene, we are focusing on the long-term legacy of COVID-19, and how this affects the view of our industry. We can do this by reinforcing the message that people are properly trained and can benefit from real career progression.

The story of the retail shelf-stacker turned MD is well-known - we can do the same. Cleaning is an exciting industry with opportunities for progression. We just need to value ourselves and shout about our achievements. WWW.CLEANOLOGY.COM

Orbitz scrubber dryers strip polish with just water – no stripper – and collect the slurry too.

Unrivalled cleaning performance from Timberline’s Orbitz machines.

Cleaning industry champions honoured at Golden Service Awards

The elite of the cleaning and FM industry were recognised at the 2022 Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards for their excellence and commitment to delivering the highest standards through unprecedented challenging times.

Created over 30 years ago, the biennial Golden Service Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the FM and cleaning industry. As always, this event provided the opportunity for FM companies, contract cleaners and in-house cleaning teams to showcase excellence and set the benchmark for exceptional standards. Today, this industry provides front-line essential workers across all business sectors, all of which are recognised and celebrated at the Golden Service Awards.

Awards were presented to winners across 19 categories at a ceremony at the end of May at the InterContinental London Park Lane, hosted by comedian, Ed Byrne.

And the winners were

Healthcare:

Winner: OCS for Middleport Healthcare Centre.

Hospitals:

Winner: Derrycourt Cleaning Specialists for Mater Private Hospital, Dublin.

Office areas below 100,000 square feet: Winner: Principle Cleaning Services for 22 Bishopsgate.

Highly Commended: Momentum Support for Google GRCQ1 ‘The Quay’.

Office areas between 100,000 and 300,000 square feet:

Winner: VINCI Facilities for Welsh Government, Cathays Park.

Highly Commended: Principle Cleaning Services for Stephenson Harwood LLP.

Office areas over 300,000 square feet: Winner: Principle Cleaning Services for The Francis Crick Institute.

Highly Commended: Thames Cleaning & Support Services Ltd for Exchange House, Exchange Square.

Education - Pre-School and Primary: Winner: Julius Rutherfoord & Co for Portland Place School.

Education - Senior and Further Education: Winner: Exclusive Services Group Ltd for City College Southampton.

Retail/Shopping Malls under 1 million square feet:

Winner: ABM UK for St Stephen’s Shopping Centre, Hull.

Retail/Shopping Malls over 1 million square feet:

Winner: ABM UK for The Centre, Livingston. Highly Commended: ABM UK for Victoria Leeds.

Manufacturing: Winner: Apleona Ireland Ltd for West Pharmaceutical, Dublin and Waterford.

Hospitality:

Winner: Key Enviro Solutions Ltd for St Katharine Docks Estate.

Highly Commended: ABM UK for TfL London Transport Museum.

Leisure:

Joint Winners: ABM UK for TfL Stonebridge Park Depot and ABM UK for TfL Stratford Market Depot.

Environmental Awareness: Winner: Cleanology.

Training:

Winner: Momentum Support.

Highly Commended: Exclusive Services Group Ltd.

Diversity:

Winner: Exclusive Services Group Ltd.

Highly Commended: Cleanology.

Going the Extra Mile:

Winner: Birkin Cleaning Services Ltd for Howden UK Group.

Highly Commended: The Churchill Group for South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS).

Small Business:

Winner: Key Enviro Solutions Ltd.

Supervisor of the Year:

Winner: Marino Agudelo, Key Enviro Solutions Ltd.

Craig Bowman KCP

Highly Commended: Glen Stevens, ABM UK for TfL London Transport Museum.

Cleaning Operative of the Year: Winner: Marianna Pazera, VINCI Facilities.

Highly Commended: Tracy Byrne, OCS and Valerie Greasley, OCS.

Craig Bowman, general manager (UK and Ireland), Kimberly-Clark Professional, said: “Congratulations to all the outstanding and worthy winners and also to our welldeserved finalists. This is a year of unrivalled and outstanding standards for the Golden Service Awards. We have seen clear evidence of exceptional achievements in the face of unbelievable pressures and challenges. The standards reached today in our industry reflect our focus this year as we at KimberlyClark Professional are celebrating our 150th anniversary and our company vision of ‘Building a brighter tomorrow. Together’. We do this by keeping people healthy, safe and sustainable through our work with customers and partners. We are in an industry that makes a real difference to people’s lives and this event was about recognising those people and saying thank you. We are, of course, very

grateful to all our sponsors and contributors, especially our returning Gold Sponsor, the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers’ Association.”

The organiser again partnered with The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) who oversaw the independent judging. Stan Atkins, chief executive officer at BICSc, said: “The quality of the entries in this edition of the Golden Service Awards was higher and more extraordinary than ever before. Innovation, the environment, employee wellbeing and, not surprisingly, flexibility, lead the agenda. Despite the challenges of the pandemic there was a huge amount of focus on staff welfare, mental health and diversity demonstrating that the evolution of the industry was not halted, but boosted,

during the last two years of never-before seen challenges. Whilst the focus this year is the exceptional standards of the industry during the pandemic, it is also clear from the entries that companies are still investing in their people and inspiring their teams through leadership with compassion and empathy. This brings huge benefits from boosting morale to employee retention and with staff retention being something that has today become more critical than ever.” Over 500 professionals from small, medium and large contract cleaning and FM companies, plus in-house cleaning teams, as well as local authorities and hospitals, attended the event this year.

WWW.GOLDENSERVICEAWARDS.CO.UK

Marianna Pazera, VINCI Facilities

UK business sustainability efforts - learning from the world’s greenest countries

There is simply no hiding that our planet is under great pressure. From rising sea levels to increasingly warmer temperatures across the globe, climate change is having a serious impact on the wellbeing of our environment. In this respect, governments around the world are taking action to limit damages to our surroundings. The UK, for instance, has already begun its race towards a legally binding net zero target, which must be reached by 2050. To start with, and to stay on track, Britain has to halve its emissions by 2030.

While the UK’s efforts are already bearing fruit, as we top the global charts in marineprotected areas and clean drinking water, there are also many other countries paving the way in the field of sustainability. According to World Atlas, Denmark, Luxembourg and Switzerland are currently the world’s environmental leaders. With reduced traffic and air pollution, as well as careful recycling and waste management, they are playing a substantial role in safeguarding our planet.

But it’s not all down to governments. As businesses, we have a duty of care towards our surroundings too. What can your company do to actively emulate eco-friendly countries? What strategies can you implement to help Britain meet its ambitious targets? With some insights from the commercial LPG division at Flogas, let’s take a look.

Create a green workplace culture

As a business owner, you should always aim to lead by example. Sharing your ambitions and desire to favour an environmentally conscious workplace can set the tone for your whole team.

In Scandinavia, where sustainability goals are often on top of people’s agendas, companies tend to be very collectivist. This means that managers extend their own green mindset to their business culture and encourage their employees to follow

similar eco-friendly practices. These can be simple steps such as switching off lights in unoccupied rooms, cutting down on unnecessary printing and reducing avoidable food waste.

Therefore, not only is it important to have staff that can perform their jobs to a good standard, but it is also vital that a team holds the same green ideals as you. Following the example of Japanese multinational Sony, you may want to consider offering your workers some volunteering opportunities too. From protecting the planet to helping disadvantaged people, you will be promoting valuable activities to benefit the environment and vulnerable groups.

Compensate for your business’s emissions

Carbon offsetting is one of the most efficient strategies for companies to minimise their carbon footprint. By compensating for your business’s emissions, you can actively balance out the impact you are having on the planet.

Sometimes, using energy is simply inescapable. Whether it is heating the office, downloading crucial documents or charging electronic devices, there will be inevitable situations in which you will be releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon offsetting, in this sense, can help even things out.

In fact, funding green projects elsewhere can reduce the impact of emissions in the workplace. From supporting renewable energy programmes in poorer countries to financing forest preservation, there are numerous ways to make up for your own ‘pollution’. Google parent company Alphabet, for example, has managed to wipe off its lifetime carbon footprint by buying high-quality carbon offsets.

Embrace technological innovation to shrink wasteful practices

Another tool in favour of sustainability is the increasing development of technology. Green countries across the world are relying more and more on technological innovation to tackle climate changerelated issues. Not only can it give you an edge over competitors, but technology can truly help your business shrink its wasteful and damaging practices.

Innovative software and equipment may be challenging to grasp at first. But it is also fair to say that its advantages outweigh any kind of drawback. To stay in line with companies from leading environmental countries, you should ensure that your own business is introducing technology as a staple of its policy.

Encourage staff to use biking schemes and routes

As mentioned, Denmark stands on the podium of the world’s most sustainable countries. Its capital city, Copenhagen, is also one of the planet’s greenest cities. From vending-style machines that reward recycling contributions to electric buses and roads devoted to bicycles, the Little Mermaid’s birthplace is taking all the right steps.

As a business, why not take inspiration from Copenhagen’s promotion of bike routes and schemes? Instead of hopping in your car to drive to work, could you pedal from your home to the office? Public transport or - if you live close enough - a morning stroll are excellent options too. Again, as an owner or manager, you can act as a model and encourage your employees to cycle or walk as well. By doing so, you will be actively reducing the number of cars on the road, decreasing congestion, pollution and both you and your staff’s carbon footprint.

As countries across the globe, including the UK, strive to nullify their carbon emissions in the coming decades, businesses can have their say in sustainability efforts too. Taking

a leaf out of green nations’ books, ultimately, can aid your surroundings and limit your company’s impact on the environment. WWW.FLOGAS.CO.UK

Sources

www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-smost-sustainable-countries.html

www.thesustainablelivingguide.com/mostsustainable-countries/ www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/ may/04/what-is-carbon-offsetting-andhow-does-it-work

Make sure it’s BoSS

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discoveringhygge-in-copenhagen/worlds-greenest-city/ www.rd.com/list/what-we-can-learn-fromthe-most-eco-friendly-countries-on-earth/ www.environmentalleader.com/2013/07/ worlds-greenest-companies-and-what-wecan-learn-from-them/

www.blueandgreentomorrow.com/ environment/things-green-businessescan-learn-from-scandinavia-onsustainability/?noamp=mobile www.texasdisposal.com/blog/most-ecofriendly-countries/

Increased safety and stability at low level heights

– New and safer distance requirements between platform levels You know when you choose BoSS that you’re choosing the UK’s No.1 mobile tower system. EN 1004 standards have changed and with BoSS you can be assured that our towers meet all the requirements you need.

How and why NHS Trusts must take a longer-term view of software procurement

Dan Teare, healthcare sector director at mpro5, reports.

Getting software right is no easy task, especially in healthcare. It must be applicable to a near-endless list of users, applications and contextsand these are constantly evolving. These inevitabilities, paired with the inherent difficulties of managing such a huge organisation, unfortunately mean that software is often not as effective as it can be and costs the NHS far more than it needs to.

The reasons for this are, of course, many, but the fix is remarkably simple - NHS Trusts must stop looking at the micro and the short-term and instead think about how to procure software that is both flexible and delivers long-term value. Easier said

than done, I know, but it is not impossible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing software.

Don’t get lost in the details

When you approach a software vendor with a big list of problems, there are several issues that can arise with any product created. Firstly, it hampers the creativity of solution providers. Procurement should be a problem and solution led process in which you explain your pain points to service providers and then assess the strength of their proposed solution. Don’t be afraid to let experts come up with what they think is a suitable product - for individual problems, but also the wider context these problems sit within.

Secondly, because it focusses on solving a long list of issues specific to today, it can’t easily solve tomorrow’s problemsand you can be sure there will be several you couldn’t have predicted. This issue is compounded when you factor in the new rules, regulations and technological innovations that the future will surely bring. Ultimately, the more precisely your software is suited to today’s exact problems, the less flexible it may be to solving tomorrow’s. In turn, this means that a Trust would have to buy a new, off-the-shelf software product to deal with any new issues or contextscosting good money which is being thrown after bad, and not fixing the inherent issue in the first place: inflexibility.

Top-down solutions never work

The other side of the coin, however, is that you think too big, and too top-down. A software product that is built to be used in every Trust in the UK is simply unfeasible. Although on paper it is ideal, as it would avoid the problems that appear when each Trust has its own discreet software in place,

it would be too costly and time-consuming to implement nationwide. Furthermore, just as when focussing on the microscopic problems of a single Trust, software built for a long list of Trusts would be too inflexible - lacking adaptability and the integration capabilities required for it to be adopted and used effectively at the local level.

It is worth remembering just how often the rules and regulations change. For example, the new National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness have only been recently released, but these are meant to be reviewed and updated every five years. Furthermore, they were late being released. Therefore, your software must be prepared for unpredictable and regular change.

Choose a partner, not just a product

Turning a problem-solving exercise into a scoping one turns any potential partner into

a yes-(wo)man. When selecting a software provider to work with, it is an important time to test their problemsolving capabilities, their creativity and, most importantly, how well you work together (rather than how well they solve your list of problems). When comparing several vendors, you get to compare them on the above factors, leaving you with the best partner for your Trust, not just the best solution for your immediate problem.

Go configure

Often, Trusts are backed into a corner: they have to follow the approved process for procurement and they have little choice but to buy another discrete piece of software in order to solve the problem in front of them. This means a Trust can easily end up going out and buying a cleaning auditing piece of software, as well as security auditing software, time management software, a

space utilisation piece of software, and so on. They then end up with a whole tech stack that, by virtue, becomes so complicated that nobody understands it. Not to mention the cost and time implications involved in managing multiple different systems and training the relevant people on them.

It's vital that you use software that is fully configurable and built to adapt - not just to tomorrow’s world, but also to all the different teams and operations in your Trust. When you move beyond that ‘fix problem X’ mentality and engage with a platform that is configurable, you can gradually unify your tech stack without ripping out the floorboards. By doing this, each problem then becomes nothing more than another process within a single solution, rather than having a solution for each problem.

It’s about changing the mindset around what a piece of software is. Instead of thinking about a piece of software as a standalone fix, solving that one problem, Trusts need to think about software as a flexible tool that will help them solve multiple problems, known and unknown, both now and in the future.

WWW.MPRO5.COM

Effective Simple Software that Gives Meaning to your Cleaning

When you approach a software vendor with a big list of problems, there are several issues that can arise with any product created

TAL Clean is an affordable, easy to implement digitalised solution in order to meet the challenges facing contract cleaning services providers. Through the use of QR codes we are able to make cleaning visible, measurable and auditable to all stakeholders. Ensuring your clients satisfaction and confidence in using your companies services.

Hydro Systems @ Interclean 2022

At this year’s Interclean, Hydro showcased two sector innovations from its connected dispensing portfolio - the Multi-Washer 3000 Series and the DMX - along with the EvoClean, the dispenser that helped transform the laundry industry. All three are powerful allies for any business looking to keep utility costs to a minimum, but without any compromise on operational efficiency and reliability.

The Multi-Washer 3000 Series Hydro’s Multi-Washer 3000 Series with EvoClean provides reliable chemical dispensing for on-premise laundries. It’s a single system that delivers the accurate dosing of the EvoClean dispenser across all the washers in a facility. The system combines the benefits of a Multi-Washer - one setup, one calibration, and less wall space - with the capabilities of the EvoClean, to ensure less maintenance, faster installation and improved dosing reliability.

Improved transparency gives chemical providers and end-users increased visibility into their operations.

The DMX dispenser

With the durable, safe and easy-to-use DMX dispenser, commercial kitchens can look forward to accurate and reliable dispensing of solid or liquid detergents, rinse aid or sanitizer. Designed to work anywhere in the world on most highor low- temperature door, conveyer and flight-style machines, there are numerous optional upgrades available to enhance its functionality.

The unit’s pre-wired power, signal and conductivity cabling saves time and money, while enhancing safety and reducing the need for costly site visits. The improved data visibility on productivity (racks washed), chemical usage, costs, and task alarms, via Hydro Connect, also helps ensure compliance to the Food Code. In addition, an inductive probe prevents nuisance reactive calls related to probe scale build up.

- to detect low rinse or tank temperaturecomplete this Hydro innovation.

The EvoClean

The EvoClean’s venturi technology guarantees dilution accuracy for multiple products - the system is available in four, six and eight product configurations with either low or high flow rate. This ensures the right amount of chemicals are dispensed consistently. Optimal performance is delivered in terms of a single cycle and over the course of continuous operation for laundry that is washed to the highest standard.

The Multi-Washer 3000 Series feature PCB-based control. Using the EvoClean’s venturi dosing technology it can deliver precise doses under 30ml /1oz and is easy to configure and maintain. It does not utilise squeeze tubes that negatively impact accuracy, and is not subject to degradation like other peristaltic technologies.

The Multi-Washer 3000 Series is available for three washers with four, six or eight products. It enables real-time statistics and remote configuration changes through Hydro Connect from any global location with an Internet connection. Users can reduce maintenance costs by adding a formula, changing a dosing amount or switching the dosing mode without traveling to a site.

By using the Hydro Connect mobile app the DMX speeds up installations - reducing time needed by as much as 30% - with the setup-by-file option, and also reduces the training time required. It’s more intuitive user interface and a comprehensive reporting capability are also compatible with Hydro Connect.

The EvoClean eliminates the routine maintenance requirements of some competing peristaltic systems to remove concerns over deteriorating performance from worn tubes. It has no moving parts and contains an integrated flush manifold and a low-level alarm. With chemical dispensing technologies making a direct impact on running costs, the EvoClean monitors specific trends over time. Its inbuilt technology includes an automated formula select (AFS) control, which correlates a certain formula against each wash type conveying how much each wash is costing, as well as what the overall cost is.

To improve reliability, the unit has a redesigned race and motor that extends tube life, even in busy kitchens with flightstyle dish machines. Optional depletion wand connections, to detect out of product events, and optional temperature probes

The software also monitors any events, alarms and disturbances to the system, offering the user complete security. Hydro’s technology means that there is no chemical drop-off and all of the necessary equipment is already built-in. The EvoClean comes pre-wired from the factory to save time on installation.

Cleaning efficacy and sustainabilityfinding the balance

Customers are increasingly demanding cleaning products that are sustainable but going green doesn’t have to mean compromising on efficacy, as James Law, commercial director at 2Pure Products, explains.

‘Green cleaning’ has become a bit of a buzz term in the industry over the past few years, as the sector does its part to reduce its impact on the environment. But with customers looking to their suppliers to support them in their carbon reduction efforts, ‘going green’ is now a vital part of the purchasing decision.

In recent years we have seen an influx of eco-cleaning products enter the market, with mixed reviews. However, those that go the distance are the ones that successfully balance efficacy with strong sustainability credentials. These are the products that offer a high standard of hygiene, whilst minimising the impact they have on the environment. This extends beyond the raw materials used,

to the whole manufacturing and distribution process, and end-use of the product.

This balance is something that we strive to deliver to our portfolio of clients. From only using ingredients that are safe for people and the environment, to ensuring all our bottles and containers are made from 100% recycled plastic, our OdorBac Tec4 product (a multi-purpose odour control and all surface cleaner) aims to revolutionise the way we clean and maintain our world, safely and ecologically.

Reviewed by independent bodies, it has been classified as non-irritant, nonhazardous and 100% biodegradable. Our trigger sprays and containers are also made from 100% recycled plastic and, in partnership

with our distribution partners, we can assist customers in reducing single use plastics to zero through closed loop recycling. 2Pure Products has created a closed loop system, which will see the used 100% recycled plastic container returned to the 2Pure factory, washed, refilled and returned to the loop on the next scheduled delivery.

One customer that can testify to its green credentials is Care UK, one of the UK’s largest independent care providers. It operates more than 150 homes around the country offering expert residential and nursing care, and is a specialist in dementia, respite and end-of-life care. Care UK was one of the first major companies to adopt our revolutionary Continued on Page 28.

The importance of dosing systems in today’s cleaning sector

With the continued increase in popularity for chemical dosing systems, and the large scale of systems on offer, it can be a difficult market to navigate. Deciding which is the best option for your company can be a tough decision with advantages to both self-dosing and wall mounted systems. Jamie Grainger, commercial director at PPS, discusses some of the key points to help choose between self-dosing and wall mounted systems, and the benefits of investing in these solutions.

Dosing systems ultimately save the user time and money. They standardise the amount of chemical used, which cuts out wastage. However, we still experience customers being resistant to dosing systems because they either don’t understand them, don’t know which one to use or are worried about them breaking and having down-time.

Before determining which dosing system would be best for your business, let’s take a look at what a chemical dosing system is. Essentially a chemical dosing system is a dispensing unit which doses or dilutes chemical solution at the point of use by the end user, providing accurate measures each time. As businesses are required to use a number of chemicals for various applications, it is essential that dispensers and dosing bottles come with clear, colour coded signage to provide a

clear visual on which area this chemical should be used.

All workplaces can be hectic at times so it is paramount that the chemical dosing system you choose provides clear and easy to use instructions for the end user. Clear, colour coded signage on the units and bottles, signage providing information such as areas of use for each chemical, dilution rates and additional products required for application are also essential. Making instructions as clear and easy-to-read as possible eases the process in fast-paced environments.

With the current price volatility in all markets, chemical dosing systems not only maximise cleaning performance, but also provide cost savings compared with traditional cleaning methods. When reviewing potential dosing systems, a key point to take into account is the dilution rate of the solution as some highly concentrated options will provide superior cost in use.

An additional area to research which is often overlooked is the pre and post customer support programme your supplier of choice offers. Initially, guidance will need to be provided to ensure the equipment you are looking to install is the correct option for your requirements. Once installed, although dosing system units are robust in design, issues can still arise which is where a post customer support programme comes into place. Support is offered through some suppliers to ensure any issues are resolved quickly to minimise downtime post-install, should any issues arise.

If wall space is limited in your workplace and wall mounted systems are

not an option, self-dosing systems could be the best solution. They are another popular choice which essentially work in the same way, providing accurate measurements each time, but do not have to be mounted on the wall. Doses have to be added manually but are still measured out accurately to save time.

Although dosing systems are all about chemical dosages, they can still help towards reducing negative impacts on the environment with new ranges featuring 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic whilst also moving away from harmful petrochemicals. Dosing systems can assist a company in a number of ways, but they ultimately save time and money in fast paced environments that require quick solutions delivered efficiently.

WWW.PPS-ESSENTIALS.CO.UK

Hygiene dispenser recycling initiative underway

Recycling end-of-life plastic waste has never been more important, and within the facilities sector this is no different. The Dis-Cycle initiative pioneered by Upwood Cleaning & Hygiene is an in-house scheme designed to enable the recycling of old, end-of-life hygiene dispenser systems and re-use their plastic foundations to manufacture new products.

How does the process work?

While new hygiene dispenser systems are being installed at the client’s facility, Upwood collects the old, dismantled dispensers and transports them to its proprietary recycling centre where the disused hygiene dispensers are shredded into fibrous granules and reused to manufacture new products.

Kirsty Powell, sales director at Upwood Cleaning & Hygiene, said: “We are fully committed to working in partnership with our customers to reduce, reuse, recycle, and cut waste. Sustainability is high on the agenda in every organisation - as a supply chain partner of choice, we have a responsibility to support our customers to meet their environmental and legislative obligations, by offering added value services that go beyond just selling ecofriendly cleaning products.”

The in-house dedicated recycling facility in the East Midlands uses waste plastic as the core component for manufacturing new products by a thermoset compression moulding process. The fibrous plastic granules are

Continued from Page 25.

product and today, every Care UK home uses OdorBac Tec4 as its main cleaning product. Sustainability was an important consideration for Care UK when selecting a new cleaning product. Thanks to 2Pure Products’ green commitments, Care UK has saved 3690 kilograms of C02, and has

heated into a viscous material before being set by a mould on a hydraulic press, forming a new product, ready-for-market.

The manufactured products at the facility include feet and weighted ballast for fence systems to name but a few.

Why is dispenser recycling important?

We’re all well versed on the global and national plastic problem, with an estimated 17% of waste plastic being sent to landfill according to The British Plastics Federation and an estimated 46% being incinerated - a major source of air pollution. The importance of recycling schemes for plastic waste at end-oflife has never been greater and those responsible for business premises have a

duty to ensure that plastics are disposed of in the most environmentally responsible way. Plastic hygiene dispenser systems are no exception, which is where the DisCycle scheme from Upwood comes in.

What dispensers can be recycled?

The recycling scheme works for all hygiene dispenser systems where plastic is the primary material including bulk fill soap dispensers, paper product dispensers, cartridge system dispensers, and more. Any residual metal within the dispensers is separated by powerful magnets during the process and eventually melted to ensure maximum integrity of the final product.

WWW.UPWOODCH.COM

prevented 2775 kilograms of virgin plastic being produced, over the past year.

By offering a high-performance product that has been manufactured in the most sustainable way using 100% renewable energy, we can support our customers in achieving their own green cleaning ambitions.

WWW.2PUREPRODUCTS.CO.UK

ISS supports Tork PaperCircle expansion across Europe

ISS is dedicated to scale the Tork PaperCircle recycling service as part of its sustainability efforts. Tork PaperCircle is the world’s first circular recycling service for used paper hand towels, turning waste into new tissue products. ISS is one of the global service companies which has begun implementing Tork PaperCircle at large client sites in some of its European markets. The service is installed in washrooms where used paper towels are collected in a designated bin, which ISS’s cleaning staff then remove for transportation to Essity’s local mill for recycling into paper towels and other tissue products. As a result, ISS helps clients reduce their paper towel waste by up to 20% and cut paper towel carbon footprint by up to 40%.

WWW.TORK.CO.UK/PAPERCIRCLE

DRIVEN by smart and intelligent technological advances, the Ultimaxx 1900 scrubber is the first model in Taski’s new range. Taski’s R&D engineers have bolstered every scrubber drier function and every component to optimise efficiency, performance and reliability. Ultimaxx incorporates the latest intelligent technologies to reduce time, energy, water, chemical, and consumable consumption.

The 2022 Ultimaxx 1900 sees a 30% improvement in battery autonomy and 40% more water autonomy compared with the previous swingo model.

Impressive flexibility combined with a new level of modularity allows users to customise the machine and the addition of IntelliTrail 2.0 remote component management highlights maintenance requirements before they disrupt operations, and provides support through remote service and software updates.

Marcel Muller, global marketing director floorcare machines at Taski, said: “There is a new world now for businesses and for customers. The businesses that want to succeed in the world we are emerging into need to demonstrably match their actions with customer expectations. When it comes to cleanliness, efficiency and smartness Ultimaxx does that and does it in many different ways, for different places, tackling many different cleaning challenges. With selectable brush decks, patented innovations and IntelliTrail 2.0 remote insights, the Ultimaxx range is a gateway to a new level of cleaning. The advancements made by Ultimaxx are impressive, even by Taski standards. As a company built on a rich heritage of innovation, we are always striving to deliver the best. Ultimaxx is going to create not just a wave of newer, cleaner places but also lead the charge for better cleaning machines across the industry. Also, learnings gained during the pandemic have found their way into the machine with inclusions such as HEPA filtration and antibacterial materials.”

WWW.TASKI.COM

Ultimaxx range of smart scrubber dryers launched

Rebrand and new web platform for The Decarbonizer

IN line with its future plans, UK-based manufacturer Vaclensa Ltd has unveiled the new brand identity and website for The Decarbonizer.

Previously known as simply ‘Decarbonizer’, the new branding delivers a modern look for the flagship product which, after 50 years, continues to help hospitality businesses operating commercial kitchens to save on costs and reduce time to clean cooking equipment.

The new logo has a sharp tone which underlines

The Decarbonizer’s ability to cut through grease and burnt-on carbon from a range of cooking equipment. According to Vaclensa, by using The Decarbonizer to clean your cooking equipment you will spend less on water bills, less on chemicals and staff will have more time to cook and serve customers.

The new website (www.thedecarbonizer.co.uk) is easy to navigate and features a helpful FAQ section which, as UK marketing manager Daniel Cross said, will be an ongoing project: “We are working hard on an exclusive project to develop more training and support videos and materials for the website’s ‘Help’ section, many of which are produced as a direct request from both existing and new customers. While we have our standard training and support materials, we are happy to prepare bespoke materials to meet our customers own particular way of training their staff.”

WWW.UK.TENNANTCO.COM

DIVERSEY’S new Degragerm 24 Shield provides hotels with a new way to stop the spread of infections, including COVID-19, by enabling ongoing surface disinfection for up to 24 hours after application. This ready-to-use product meets numerous disinfection standards, including BSI PAS22424 and EPA RSS, that specifically assure its ongoing performance properties. It is designed for frequent touch surfaces where ongoing protection creates a safer environment for guests and staff while reducing cleaning burdens. Using the product on surfaces twice a day instead of traditional surface disinfectants every couple of hours can save costs and give housekeepers more time to focus on other tasks guests appreciate.

Degragerm 24 Shield is a new type of product that incorporates patented APT - advanced polymer technology - with powerful built-in disinfectants. In addition to working as a traditional cleaner disinfectant on application, it dries to form a thin and almost invisible film that releases disinfectant when touched to deliver ongoing protection. It passes the BSI PAS 2424 residual antimicrobial efficacy test and the stringent EPS RSS test which assure its ongoing protection against bacteria and enveloped virusesincluding the one that causes COVID-19 - for up to 24 hours. The product also meets a wide range of additional disinfection standards. All these tests are passed in dirty conditions which means the product can be used as a cleaner-disinfectant no need to clean the resulting in no need to clean the surface before it is applied.

WWW.DIVERSEY.CO.UK

EDITOR

Neil Nixon neilnixon@quartzltd.com 07957 713316

SALES DIRECTOR

Paul Sweeney paulsweeney@quartzltd.com 01737 855041

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Michelle Andrews michelleandrews@quartzltd.com 01737 855086

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Carol Baird

carolbaird@quartzltd.com 01923 437619

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Tony Crinion

CEO

Steve Diprose

CO-CHAIRMAN

Paul Michael

DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES

Elizabeth Barford elizabethbarford@quartzltd.com 01737 855028

PUBLISHED BY Quartz Business Media

Quartz House 20 Clarendon Road

Redhill, Surrey RH1 1QX 01737 855086

www.cleaningmag.com

ISSN: 1473 723X Online ISSN: 2755-5011

© Quartz Business Media, 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the copyright owner.