Cleaning & Maintenance August 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

TRAINING AND EDUCATION AIR FRESHENERS AND ODOUR CONTROL WCEC REPORT

TwinTec GelTec The Official Partner of the Cleaning Show

The New Standard

Gr de in eat Brita a in M

AUGUST 2017

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INDUSTRY NEWS

03 Industry News 08 BICSc Comment 08 Making a Margin: a Contractor’s Blog 09 Clear Impressions

By Grundon.

12 Contracts 14 BCC Comment 15 Special Report Out of darkness cometh light.

16 Feature Training & Education.

24 Special Report What makes the ‘s’ in ‘wipers’ so important?

25 Special Report Keeping records: why it can make or break a business.

26 New Products

Hot-desking offices ‘have dirtier desks’ A study by Initial Washroom Hygiene has found that hotdesking workplaces may be less hygienic than those with fixed-desks, increasing the risk of cross-contamination and the spread of colds and viruses.

Hot-desking, where employees don’t have one fixed workstation but instead switch desks every day, has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, these findings suggest that having germs from different people on the desk surface, computer mice and other equipment, means these workstations are typically home to more bacteria.

The swabbing study was conducted using one company of over 100 employees with a fixed-desk environment. The same company then moved to a hot-desking environment, and the study was repeated in the same manner four months later.

Experts from Initial Washroom Hygiene used an ATP bioluminescence reader to measure the microbiological concentration of various items on 40 different workstations to determine what levels of bacteria these surfaces were harbouring. On average, the readings in the hot-desking office were 18% higher than those in the fixed-desk office.

The use of communal

computer mice in the hotdesk scenario was a key contributor to the difference in hygiene levels. Shared mice in the hot-desking environment had a 41% higher microbiological reading compared to readings taken from the computer mice on the fixed-desks. Desk surfaces were also found to be less contaminated with microbial activity in offices with fixed-desks, recording average readings 32% lower than in the hot-desk office.

Dr Peter Barratt from Initial Washroom Hygiene said: “People might see a lot a clutter and mess on desks in an office where everyone has their own assigned desk, and be surprised to hear that hot-desking is less hygienic.

But, a clutter free hot-desk environment should not lull workers into a false sense of security, as just because something looks clean does not actually mean that it is.

Levels of residual bacteria naturally vary between people, and when you factor in ‘al-desko’ dining at lunch time, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that sharing a desk space, keyboards and mice with colleagues or complete strangers comes with a potentially increased hygiene risk. Hand hygiene is really the key to mitigating the risks when it comes to the spread of germs in all offices, and those in hot-desking offices may want to pay particular attention. Poor hand hygiene is the major cause for the spread of common office illnesses such as colds, flu and Norovirus. Businesses need to ensure they have the right facilities in place to promote good hand hygiene across the company. This includes good quality soap from dispensers, hand drying equipment and hand sanitiser stations.”

The study also asked work-

ers in the hot-desk office whether they used anti-bacterial wipes provided by the employer to wipe down their desks or shared IT equipment each day. Less than half the employees (48%) reported that they used these wipes to help minimise the hygiene risk.

Dr Barratt concluded: “While employers need to provide the right tools for good office hygiene, and offer advice and reminders on how and when to use them, employees also have a responsibility for their own personal hygiene. Using anti-bacterial wipes on shared desk surfaces and IT equipment is a simple step, but can pay huge dividends in terms of maintaining a healthy workforce in both hot-desking and fixed-desk offices - it can go so far as to reduce potential productivity loss from absenteeism.” www.initial.co.uk

ABM UK signs four year partnership with the Prince's Trust Full story on Page 4.

www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

ABM UK signs four year partnership with the Prince's Trust ABM UK has announced a four-year partnership with The Prince's Trust - the UK’s leading youth charity that helps young people aged 11 to 30 get into jobs, education and training.

ABM UK's partnership with The Prince's Trust will help support disadvantaged young people facing issues such as lack of qualifications, mental health problems, offending background, homelessness, and long term unemployment access tailored pro-

grammes offering practical support to get into work, education or self-employment.

Currently, ABM UK's board actively encourages employees to take a paid day off each year to undertake a volunteering opportunity of their choice. The partnership with The Prince's Trust will see the organisation providing ABM UK's 5500 staff with a wealth of volunteering opportunities across the country, which they can get involved in to directly support

disadvantaged young people access education and employment opportunities.

Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1976, the charity offers a wide range of programmes to help young people develop key life and employability skills, re-engage with education, get into work, or set up their own business. In carrying out its mission, The Trust is helped by 9000 volunteers.

Ben Marson, director of corporate partnerships at The

Prince's Trust, said: “We are very pleased to welcome ABM as a patron of The Prince’s Trust and look forward to working together over the next four years to help disadvantaged young people make positive changes in their lives.

Our partnership will help us inspire more young people to change their lives around.”

Andy Donnell, group managing director at ABM UK, said: "We are delighted to have partnered with The Prince's Trust, and are look-

ing forward to working closely with everyone at the charity, including its dedicated volunteers over the next four years. There are a huge number of young people in the UK who come from a disadvantaged background who are incredibly talented, but are increasingly overlooked by employers. We believe that ABM UK can help to give some of these people the chance and the start in life that they deserve.” www.abm.co.uk

Newly listed Essity outlines vision Essity, which listed on Nasdaq Stockholm recently, is providing customers and consumers with an insight into its vision and strategy.

The listing of Essity follows the decision to split the SCA Group into two independent listed companies - the forest products company SCA, and the global health and hygiene company Essity.

Hygiene and health are firm features in Essity’s vision and strategy which highlights the evolving make-up of the organisation.

SCA’s hygiene business had been known historically for its hygiene products and

brands including TENA, Tork, Bodyform, Velvet, Cushelle, and Plenty. The Essity name is set to be built on a foundation of both hygiene and health products. With an already strong presence in FMCG including incontinence care, feminine care, toilet tissue, and household towel categories, Essity’s vision is to be dedicated to improving wellbeing through hygiene and health solutions.

“We presented our new vision last autumn when the proposed split of the company was first announced,” said Kevin Starr, UK VP sales

an marketing away from home. “This vision identifies hygiene as a means for improving people’s health and wellbeing and that gives us an increased focus and the chance to diversify.”

The opportunity to diversify into new product groups has already been kick-started following the recent acquisition of BSN medical, a leading medical solutions company. In bringing together the company’s existing stable of strong hygiene brands in the UK with its recently acquired BSN medical brands, such as Actimove, JOBST and Leukoplast, Es-

sity is now in a better position to deliver on its vision and mission.

Starr continued: “Being a more focused business with a clear vision and strategy that puts hygiene, health and wellbeing at its heart can only help us become even stronger market leaders.

This is great news for our brands and our ability to innovate and lead the way in sustainability.”

Essity’s commitment to hygiene and health will be supported through Hygiene Matters, an initiative which aims to drive a global dialogue around the importance

Tidy Green Clean launched following management buy out The Scottish arm of Ecocleen, a UK-wide commercial cleaning specialist, has been sold as part of a management buyout. Andrew Alleway, who was previously director for Scotland at Ecocleen, together with his Dundee-based business partner David Moncur, concluded the buyout at the end of June and have relaunched the company under a new name, Tidy Green Clean.

Tidy Green Clean will operate as a franchise model, comprising master franchises, which will be responsible for franchisee activity in regional territories, and local franchisees - the individuals who undertake the cleaning contracts. The deal saw all 50 staff in Scotland transfer from Ecocleen to Tidy Green Clean, and members of the existing team are looking at buying local franchises. With the company targeting 200 4 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

David Moncur (left) and Andrew Alleway, co-founders of Tidy Green Clean. franchisees in the next five years, more jobs will be on the horizon.

Andrew Alleway, cofounder of Tidy Green Clean, said: “This is a really exciting time for Tidy Green Clean, as we take a successful national business into full Scottish ownership. We have

ambitious plans for expansion across the country, and hope that potential clients will be encouraged to ‘buy local’ from a family owned business. Ecocleen was very successful in Scotland, and we want to reinforce that whilst the name and ownership have changed, existing

clients can rest assured that Tidy Green Clean is still the same people and under the same management. We have built our business by providing an exceptional level of service, using high quality, environmentally friendly products and equipment.

Our commitment to a costeffective service, which does not compromise on quality, is what really sets us apart in the local marketplace. Our consistently first-class results come from our people, who are without question the most important part of our business. We allow our staff to take control of their own employment, but as part of a model which boasts proven success. This is an exciting milestone in our plans for growth in Scotland and we look forward to continuing the Tidy Green Clean journey.” www.tidygreenclean.co.uk

of hygiene and its link to health and wellbeing. Hygiene Matters is a global initiative designed to help break taboos, and highlight the economic impact of hygiene.

“Hygiene Matters is central to our strategy and will become a core part of our communications moving forward,” said Starr. “As a hygiene and health company, we have a vital role to play in helping build a more sustainable and circular society by raising these standards all over the world with our products and brands.” www.essity.com

SwingoBot 2000 wins Pulire innovation award Diversey Care’s new Taski SwingoBot 2000, which combines cleaning with the intelligence of Intellibot robotics technology, won an innovation award at Pulire 2017 in Italy.

The machine features developments in connectivity, smarter working, sustainability, and robotics. Ilham Kadri, president of Diversey Care, said: “To win the innovation award with our Intellibot robotic technology in such a competitive category at Pulire is a great achievement. We are experiencing a revolution in the way our industry adopts new technologies in areas such as big data, robotics and sustainability.

The SwingoBot 2000 is at the forefront of this transformation and for it to be recognised as such at a key industry event is extremely satisfying.” www.sealedair.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Seeking out the oldest working Nilfisk machine With over 110 years of history, Nilfisk has complete confidence in the quality, reliability and durability of its product range. To put this confidence to the test the company recently ran a competition to find the oldest working Nilfisk cleaning machine with the winner receiving a new equivalent Nilfisk cleaning machine from the 2017 range as a replacement.

For 60 years a Nilfisk GAE vacuum cleaner has been used daily to collect dust and debris in industrial environments by the Rose family. In 1958 the machine was purchased by Charles Rose of Weldon Quigley & Co Ltd. The company, based in Cambridge, manufactured

printed circuit boards and for over 40 years the vacuum cleaner was regularly used to clean production areas.

On Mr Rose’s retirement he passed the Nilfisk GAE to his daughter who, to this day, uses the vacuum cleaner both on site and to clean company vehicles belonging to I & C Watts Limited, a building contractor based in Harrogate.

Isobel Rose said: “I am absolutely delighted the machine which I inherited from my late father is the winner.

He used it every day in his manufacturing business and I now use it in our building and joinery business….plus cleaning the company vans!

Nilfisk is synonymous with

quality and durability and this proves the machine has stood the test of time. I am, however, equally as excited to discover the advantages the new Nilfisk vacuum will bring to our business.”

Isobel Rose is now the owner of a new Nilfisk VHS42 dust extractor which is designed to meet the tough requirements in building and construction and other industries when picking up hazardous M class dusts. The machine offers more suction power, a sealed dust system, automatic filter cleaning, and a significant boost in productivity and user friendliness when compared to its predecessor. www.nilfisk.com

Mr and Mrs Rose pictured with their new Nilfisk VHS42 M class hazardous dust vacuum cleaner which will be used alongside their 60 year old Nilfisk GAE machine.

CMS jury nominates 17 innovation award finalists The eight members of the CMS Purus Innovation Awards (PIA) jury have nominated 17 entries for the final round of judging.

Launched in 2005, these industry awards recognise intelligently made products, tools and systems that feature excellent usability and an outstanding overall design.

The following products in

six categories have been named for the final round of the CMS Purus Innovation Awards 2017: • Large machines: Adlatus Robotics GmbH Adlatus CR 700 automated cleaning machine.

Diversey Deutschland Taski swingobot 2000.

Nilfisk GmbH - Nilfisk Liberty A50.

• Small machines:

Kenter Bodenreinigungsmaschinen Vertriebs und Service GmbH - i-mop XXL. Nilfisk GmbH - GD5 battery.

Wetrok AG - Monovac Freedom.

• Equipment: Emil Deiss KG – Universal Plus bin liners.

Alfred Kärcher GmbH - Easy!

Force Advanced.

TTS Cleaning - BiLap Twist.

• Washroom hygiene: Lucart Spa - Econatural paper & dispenser system.

Ophardt Hygiene Technik The untouchable.

• Digital tools and systems: Igefa E-Business GmbH igefa process optimisation app.

Alfred Kärcher GmbH Kärcher Manage.

Vermop Salmon GmbH Vermop Digital.

• Cleaning products: Dr. Schutz GmbH - PU Color. tana-Chemie GmbH / Werner and Mertz Professional - advanced Quick & Easy system.

Wetrok AG - Wetrok Granuline.

On 16 September, immediately before CMS 2017 open its doors, the jury will pick the winners. www.cms-berlin.com

Jangro network expands again Kennel working earns Jangro has welcomed Crystal Cleaning Supplies as the latest addition to its independent janitorial distribution network, an expansion which brings the total number of distributors in the group to 44, strategically located across the UK, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Kent-based Crystal Cleaning Supplies is an independent company that has been established for 50 years. As part of the Jangro group, the company will benefit from the increased buying power of the network, and will be able to pass on savings to customers. It will also benefit from Jangro’s years of collective experience, knowledge of best practice in cleaning, and practical support, including offering Jangro’s Learning Management Solution distance training programme to its customers.

Jangro’s operations director, Joanne Gilliard, said: “We are delighted to welcome Crystal Cleaning Supplies on board as the 44th member of our independent Jangro network. It is fantastic that such a well-established, independent company has joined our group. Our network is a dynamic force in the cleaning industry, and looks forward to sharing knowledge and working together to continue to raise the bar for quality, sustainability and customer service in the cleaning industry.” www.jangro.net

Cordant jumps 25 places in Top Track 100 Cordant Group has been named in The Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100 league table, which ranks Britain’s 100 privately owned companies with the biggest sales. The services and recruitment specialist was 70th in the annual listings with £829 million in sales, up from 95th place last year.

The Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100 is compiled by Fast Track and published in the newspaper every July. The company recorded annual growth of 27.7% and a £9 million profit, whilst its workforce has grown to 37,228.

Chris Kenneally, CEO of Cordant Group, said: “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made over the past twelve months, which is reflected by us rising 25 places in this year’s league table. The group’s ongoing success is testament to the hard work and dedication of our whole team and we look forward to the next exciting stage of our sustained growth.”

6 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

cash for rescue charity Contracts manager Philip Kay from Bristolbased Prestige Cleaning and Maintenance swapped the office for a dog kennel recently, to raise funds for Bath Cats and Dogs Home.

The charity’s annual Kennel Break fundraising challenge saw a number of businesses from across Bath and the south west locked into rescue dog pens each needing to hound their connections for donations to buy their release.

Following a hard day’s morning, working behind dog kennel bars, Philip Kay successfully collared contacts and friends to retrieve £535 in donations, in just three hours. www.prestigecleaning andmaintenanceltd. co.uk

INDUSTRY NEWS

Double win for Sodexo at AHCP awards Sodexo is celebrating two wins at the 2017 AHCP (Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals) national awards.

Tatiana Blagorodnova, domestic service manager at Hammersmith Hospital, won the national Cleaning Services Manager of the Year award. Sodexo’s Sam Richardson and Paula Ribero from Stoke Mandeville Hospital then went on to win the national Supervisor Team of the Year award.

James Taylor, CEO healthcare, Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: “This is fantastic news, we are incredibly proud of Tatiana, Sam and Paula. Tatiana is a highly respected manager within Sodexo and within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, she puts patients at the heart of what she does and ensures her team are motivated and engaged. Hammersmith Hospital is an old building and with this comes a few challenges, but no matter what, Tatiana remains calm and ensures standards are maintained. This was

demonstrated with a recent flood at the hospital.

“At Stoke Mandeville Hospital Sam and Paula’s team oversees the cleaning for the hospital’s spinal injuries and maternity departments, both requiring an exceptionally high standard of cleanliness and each with their own complexities. In partnership with our client organisation they have developed and executed new tools to improve cleanliness standards and reduce infection and, as a result, improving the overall patient environment experience. These awards demonstrate the fantastic, committed and dedicated people we have in our teams and are very well deserved.” www.sodexo.com

NIC makes two senior appointments NIC Services Group has announced that Ken Atherton, national operations director, has been promoted to a main board director. This promotion acknowledges Atherton’s achievements throughout the years he has been with the company. He has played a pivotal role in cementing and developing partnerships with many major clients and has been instrumental in the development of bundled service solutions.

John Spencer, group chairman for NIC, said: “I am personally delighted to welcome Ken to the main board. This promotion is testament to the exceptional contribution and commitment Ken has made throughout his time with NIC.”

CHSA accreditation for Jangro

Ken Atherton.

Gavin Glossop.

The company has also promoted Gavin Glossop to facilities services director. He was previously FM operations manager for UK and Ireland.

Ken Atherton, national operations director for NIC, said: “I am delighted to promote Gavin to this new role

as testament to the fantastic contribution and commitment he has made throughout his time with NIC. I look forward to him continuing to support and expand our bundled services offer to both our current and new clients.” www.nicgroup.co.uk

Jangro has become one of the first distributors to be accredited by the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association’s new Accredited Distributors Scheme, after passing an auditing process.

As well as the accreditation auditing process, regular, independent CHSA audits will also continue throughout the network, with a minimum of two audits taking place each year.

This process offers Jangro customers confidence that its standards are being maintained. www.jangro.net

www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 7

INDUSTRY NEWS

British Institute of Cleaning Science

The rise of green cleaning: what steps can your cleaning operation take to ensure a sustainable approach?

Stan Atkins, CEO of BICSc, reports.

For the last few years environmental sustainability and green initiatives have become big news for the cleaning industry.

More and more businesses are favouring greener cleaning products and sustainable practices to ensure they keep up with client demands.

If you manage a cleaning operation you may already be looking at what you can do to ensure your business operates more sustainably.

In this column, I will discuss the steps cleaning operations should consider to achieve a more sustainable approach to cleaning.

Choose the right cleaning products For any organisation concerned with sustainability choosing ‘green’ cleaning products is especially important. With so many ‘green’ cleaning products now on the market you would think it’s easy to find sustainable products. However, confusing labelling can often get in the way of truly understanding the environmental impact of specific products and, what’s more, just because a product promotes itself as ‘green’ doesn’t necessarily mean it is. It may be that the product’s packaging is environmentally friendly whilst the product itself contains chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

To avoid such dilemmas, when selecting ‘green’ cleaning products make sure you have assessed them from the following angles: • The composition of the chemicals and ingredients used throughout the manufacturing process.

• The manufacturing process itself.

• The supply chain involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of the product.

Only a product that scores highly in all three of these categories can be truly considered as ‘green’.

It is also worth considering whether there are alternatives to using cleaning products at all. For example, innovations in microfibre cleaning offer a much more green solution, requiring less chemicals and water to achieve the same cleaning standard as you would expect with much more harmful products.

Challenge your suppliers As a buyer you have the power to challenge your suppliers on their environmental impacts during the manufacturing process. Where possible, cleaning operations should look to buy from suppliers who are actively working on minimising their waste, their consumption of energy, and their emissions to the environment. Try to use suppliers that have recycling initiatives for their used packaging, and if your suppliers don’t, then ask them to implement this.

Ensure your cleaning practices minimise environmental impacts There are likely many improvements you could make to your cleaning practices that would have a positive impact on the environment.

For example: • Make sure your cleaning operation is using products that deliver the required performance. There’s no point buying cheaper products if ultimately you have to use more to get the same performance as a more expensive alternative.

• Look for opportunities to use concentrated products as this will reduce packaging consumption and wastage.

• Always dilute and use cleaning products according to the manufacturer’s instructions, using accurate dosage systems which are calibrated regularly.

• Ensure staff are trained in the most efficient cleaning techniques and know how to dilute cleaning products correctly.

Although there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to achieving environmental sustainability within the cleaning industry, establishing a commitment across all of these steps is a good place to start and can help your cleaning operation on its way to achieving a ‘greener’ status.

The British Institute of Cleaning Science has been an active promoter of sustainable practices within the cleaning industry for many years. Not only is this demonstrated throughout BICSc accredited training courses, including ‘Licence to Practice’ training which provides cleaning operatives with the skills necessary for accurate product dilution, but it also forms part of the organisation’s mission statement and member code of practice which all BICSc members must adhere to. For more information visit: www.bics.org.uk 8 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

Making a margin: a contractor’s blog

Is client reluctance to pay above the NLW a sector-specific issue?

Nick Gasson, joint managing director of So Clean Cleaning and Support Services, reports.

When the National Living Wage (NLW) was announced in the 2015 budget (for implementation in 2016), the government’s declared intent was that by April 2020 it would reach £9.35 per hour, ie 60% of the median wage for over-25s. That meant a 7.5% annual increase over four years. But with this year’s first annual increase being only 4.1% to £7.50, that target looks out of sight already. It will now take an annual increase of 8% for three years to make it happen.

Disappointing? Yes, unbelievably so. But why is it so much of a struggle to maintain the most basic of pay standards in the UK? I think the problem is to a large extent sector specific. When the Low Pay Commission worked with the government to set the old National Minimum Wage and more recently the NLW, one of their considerations was that it shouldn’t harm employers. It also identified that certain sectors were more likely to be at risk than others - retail, hospitality and social care. Of course it’s not just cleaning staff in these sectors who are subjected to the NLW, but realistically if, as an employer, you are paying core delivery staff the minimum, then there’s no way you’re going to pay your contracted cleaning staff any more, especially if your profit margin is genuinely under pressure.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t help cleaning contractors when it comes to recruiting and retaining cleaning staff in these sectors. As a company, we have clients who won’t pay more than the NLW for this very reason and we are constantly working on ways to keep staff motivated. The irony is that the cleaning jobs themselves are usually more demanding than regular office cleaning - night shifts, challenging environments - and require staff that are physically fit and willing to graft. Inevitably, however, staff won’t take much persuading to move to another role paying £0.50 more if they can get one. That means higher costs for us in recruitment and training and, sad to say, a higher likelihood of service issues if a member of staff walks out with no notice.

So it all comes back to the fundamental argument. You get what you pay for and if you pay people what they are worth, in other words closer to the LWF minimum, then as a client you will see a return in terms of consistency, reliability and continuity. Along with 3300 other companies in the UK, we are now an accredited Living Wage employer. There’s no doubt that this stiffens our resolve when it comes to negotiating new business and when we do hold annual reviews with clients in the low pay sectors, it at least means we are talking from a position of strength. www.soclean.co.uk

Inspiring companies named in new market report New research from global market analysts Plimsoll Publishing Ltd has identified 14 inspirational companies which are prospering within the UK commercial cleaning sector. Plimsoll has produced a new report analysing the financial health of the UK’s largest 1240 UK commercial cleaning companies and the latest analysis has singled out 14 that are going from strength to strength.

These 14 leading companies have reported sales increases of 6% as well as pre-tax profit margins of at least 6% in their latest year of accounts as well as being

rated as ‘strong’ in the study.

The 14 inspiring companies are: • Atlas Managed Integrated Services • Bulloughs Cleaning Services • Churchill Contract Services • Dall Cleaning Services • DOC Cleaning • Elite Cleaning and Environmental Services • Endersham • Kleanline • Peartree Cleaning Services • Principle Cleaning Services • Scott Young Research • The Carroll Cleaning Co. • Vaile Office Cleaning • Workman FM Plimsoll’s chief analyst,

David Pattison, said: “In a competitive market, the challenge for any company is to balance sales growth along with commercial strength. The 14 companies highlighted in the latest Plimsoll Analysis are doing just that.”

Plimsoll’s latest study into the 1240 major players in the industry also reveals: 607 have been rated as ‘strong’, 346 are ripe for takeover, and 362 are making a loss.

The Plimsoll Commercial Cleaning Analysis examines the largest 1500 companies in the UK as well as the 14 inspirational companies. www.plimsoll.co.uk

SPONSORED FEATURE

Why staff hold the key to good waste management Trying to implement effective waste management policies without the support of staff will always be an uphill battle. But if you can persuade them of the benefits and help them to see that it doesn’t have to be difficult, then positive changes will follow. Here, Scott Williams, head of contract management at Grundon Waste Management, provides some tips and hints on how to make a difference.

With sales targets to beat, performance indicators to manage and the sheer day-to-day activity in a busy office, it’s easy for a topic such as waste and recycling to come much further down the agenda.

Persuading someone to leave their desk and walk to the canteen to put their overripe banana in a dedicated food waste bin, or to keep used cardboard to one side until they are near the cardboard bin, can be quite a challenge.

On their own, these examples might sound really small, but across a business small actions will add up to much bigger ones. Very often, it is facilities managers (FMs) who have the task of overseeing waste management and environmental issues. In some cases, such as the disposal of hazardous waste - including light bulbs, toner cartridges and cleaning materials - there are strict guidelines governing their disposal, and any company which falls foul of this could face a fine. Indeed, FMs have previously said that compliance with legislation is their single biggest concern so it is important to get things right from both a corporate as well as environmental viewpoint.

Best practice needs to be led from the top, and employees throughout an organisation need to be engaged in the process and to understand the likely impact on the business of not managing their waste streams correctly. That’s not just in terms of recycling statistics and ‘doing their bit’ for the environment, it’s also about saving money on the bottom line. Many of our customers have seen waste collection bills reduced because items that were thrown away as general waste could, in fact, be recycled at much cheaper cost.

As waste management specialists, we work closely with our customers, studying working practices and reviewing the best way to make small but simple changes which will make a difference. We provide a range of different solutions, many of which have delivered real and long-lasting results.

Some of these are purely practical, like the introduction of new segregated waste bins, some are financial or environmental, and others are less tangible but equally important.

Ideas include: • Hold Waste Awareness Days to help educate your employees about good waste management practice. We regularly organise these events for customers and often find that bringing in a thirdparty expert, such as ourselves, helps drive home the messages more effectively and gives us the chance to share our expertise.

• Develop a ‘Green Team’ or waste committee - it doesn’t need to be made up of senior managers, our Grundon Green Team comprises individuals from different areas of the business and works very well.

• Identify waste champions who can lead by example and help spread the waste management and recycling message among their colleagues.

• Take key staff to visit waste treatment facilities so they can see for themselves what happens to waste.

• Set clear yet achievable objectives and goals, such as zero waste to landfill. But don’t try to change everything in one go, small steps can still make a big difference.

• Invest in new waste containers and bins - they

don’t have to be expensive, but it’s amazing what a difference it makes. If staff see the company is making waste management a priority, they will feel encouraged to do so too and feel proud to make a contribution.

• Ask for containers made from recycled materials - a perfect way to promote the green message.

• Introducing clear communications around the workplace can have a big impact. Posters and signage on containers can have a dramatic effect on engagement by encouraging correct segregation of waste streams and help to boost recycling rates.

• Take advantage of segregating different waste streams - food waste can easily be segregated in eating areas and in-house catering facilities, and sending it for anaerobic digestion is not only cheaper, it also produces renewable green energy and bio-fertiliser.

• Report back to staff so they know their efforts to recycle are being taken seriously. A good waste management provider will share the raw data and statistics with you, such as how many trees have been saved by your efforts, so shout about them on noticeboards, on your intranet and in staff newsletters.

• Incentivise staff - you could even have waste teams in different departments who all strive to recycle the most waste. Reward good results, positive behaviours and excellent ideas by saying thank you and showing your appreciation.

• Enter environmental awards - it’s a great way to demonstrate your success and say thank you to your employees too.

This might sound like a long list but the good news is you don’t have to take them all on board at once. They are simply some suggestions which we know are effective in encouraging all employees to become more engaged with the waste management and recycling process.

If you would like us to come and talk to your organisation and your staff about this topic, then we’d be delighted to meet you. Please contact us via email at info@grundon.com or call us on 01491 834 311. www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 9

INDUSTRY NEWS

‘Largest integrator contract in the public sector’ awarded Sodexo has secured a contract with the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) to provide an integrated asset and estates management service. The contract is for an initial five years with a total turnover in excess of £60 million and is the largest contract of its type in the public sector.

Sodexo, as the integrator, will be responsible for managing the service providers, who are contracted by the DWP to provide facilities management services, security services, project and lease, and landlord management,

with the overall objective to encourage best practice and deliver ongoing savings across the DWP estate.

Sodexo will provide insight and advice to inform investment and service delivery decisions in respect of the DWP estate and assets. With more than 900 properties across the UK, including head office locations and job centres, this is one of the largest portfolios in the UK. Mark Seastron, CEO, Defence and Government Services, Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: “We are very proud to be working with the DWP

and applaud their ambition and capability to design a market leading model. This contract represents the way forward for asset and estates management which enables our customers with large, geographically dispersed property portfolios to focus on running their business whilst we concentrate on assisting them manage their estate. We will help the DWP to maximise their property assets to deliver ongoing savings across their estate and ensure that all service providers deliver to high standards.”

Max Curzon-Hope, DWP Estates target operating model lead, said: “We are pleased to have appointed Sodexo as our estates supply chain integrator. We look forward to working with them to deliver a great service for our people and customers and build on the successes and achievements of the past.”

Sodexo’s integrator scope will include over 20 services and will help the DWP to create an effective estate and workplaces through efficient management and having a single strategic overview of

Spinaclean commended at innovation day Spinaclean came in second out of 670 submissions worldwide at the Engie Innovation Awards, with recognition for its SkyVac system.

Yasir Patel, innovation development manager at Engie, said: “Minimising the working at height risk has historically been very costly, but with the long reach of the SkyVac, costs can be significantly reduced, with the added benefit of keeping our engineers’ feet on the ground. SkyVac is a multi-use, low cost, high reach inspection and cleaning system which removes the need for out of hours working and costly plant and scaffold.

The lightweight system eliminates the health and safety risk of working at height. It can also be used into buildings where drones are not allowed to fly. Engie works at 14,000 sites in the UK, and a pilot of SkyVac revealed that 50% of sites may be suitable for the use of SkyVac. This means that savings could be almost £13.9 million across the UK, as well as the 100% elimination of health and safety risks of working at height.” www.spinaclean.com

Axis extends relationship with Guenther Bakeries Axis Cleaning and Support Services has been awarded a new five-year cleaning and hygiene maintenance contract with Guenther Bakeries at its Banbury site.

It has also been re-awarded a contract to deploy the same services at the client’s Heywood site for a similar five-year term.

Permanent employees from the Banbury site have been transferred to Axis under TUPE, where a total of 19 full- and part-time employees deliver 385 hours of cleaning per week. The Heywood site includes 26

full- and part-time employees, delivering approximately 730 hours per week.

Chris Kendall, purchasing manager at Guenther Bakeries, says the overall objectives of the new longerterm contract were to add value, improve standards and rationalise costs and service delivery across the two sites: “Axis demonstrated an in-depth understanding of our sites, as well as the stringent cleaning and hygiene requirements for food manufacture.”

As part of its commitment to best practice, Axis introduced a master sanitisation plan at the Heywood site that informs and controls staff movements and daily working patterns. This will now be rolled out at Banbury. A detailed training plan has also been put in place, including quarterly review meetings where Axis will demonstrate the value that training has brought to the business.

“Employee progression, empowerment, and morale were other key drivers in our tender process,” said Kendall. “Axis has helped us

Paternoster Square contract retained Broadgate Estates has awarded a three-year contract to clean its managed premises at Paternoster Square in London to incumbent provider, JPC Cleaning. In the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral, Paternoster Square is one of the most iconic development programmes carried out in London over the last 30 years. It comprises office space, retail outlets and cafes.

Broadgate Estates provides property management services to a number of areas within the development including both public and back-of-house areas of the square, King Edward Court, St Martin's Court, Paternoster Lodge, and Warwick Court.

JPC Cleaning - the premium London brand for Regent Samsic - has been retained on the strength of bringing high service levels and a range of innovative solutions to site. JPC’s managing director, John Conry Jnr, said: "We are very proud to be maintaining our relationship with our client and service partners at Paternoster Square. We feel that re-securing this cleaning contract measures Broadgate's appreciation of JPC's values and commitment to our and their brand reputations." www.jpc-cleaning.co.uk 10 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

to provide a further enhanced employee training and benefits package that will support these goals. It is also very beneficial to have Axis manage all recruitment, payroll, and remuneration reviews.”

Since working with Guenther Bakeries at the Heywood site, Axis has helped its client achieve its highestever audit ratings.

“We are extremely proud to be extending the relationship,” said Simon Giles, Axis Cleaning and Support Services chief operating officer. www.axis-css.co.uk

these services. Sodexo will provide crucial management information, knowledge and advice ranging from supplier performance, finance, business continuity, compliance, and space planning to asset and health and safety management and helpdesk services.

The contract was awarded to Sodexo’s Government Services division and will commence immediately with an initial nine months’ transitional phase and then will become fully deployed on 1 April 2018. www.sodexo.com

Kingdom acquires FRSStaff Solutions Kingdom has purchased the business of Rugbybased recruitment specialist FRS-Staff Solutions. The FRS brand will move to the Kingdom brand.

FRS is an independent specialist recruitment division that successfully provides talent and flexible labour provisions across the UK. Terry Barton, chief executive of Kingdom, said: “We have acquired a specialist recruitment company to not only support and streamline our own recruitment needs which is at the heart of what we do as a business but to also further support our customer base with an additional new Kingdom service to support their own recruitment needs as well as expanding the current FRS impressive customer portfolio. Our difference will be in the detail. We’ve developed unique skills and a mature and modern operational approach that help us deliver results.” www.kingdom.co.uk

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CONTRACTS

Everything ship shape

After years of neglect, Britain’s canals have been brought back to life with more of us than ever taking to the water whether for leisure, a life afloat, or even just a towpath walk and a pint. This resurgence in interest has also seen returning good fortune for marina

owners, agents, chandlers, and narrowboat hire providers like Calcutt Boats in Warwickshire.

Located at Napton Junction, where the Grand Union and Oxford Canals meet, the 40 year old company operates a hire fleet of 15 narrowboats. Around 6ft wide

and up to 60ft long, and with the whole family on board, they can get grubby very quickly on a wet day. Which is why, last summer, Calcutt asked Pro-Clean over to clean the boat interiors.

What started as a one-off clean has now grown into a regular trip to the marina for

Pro-Clean’s Neil Webber and his team, with up to six vessels cleaned each week.

“The customer used to clean the boats themselves but the extractor being used was taking them three times longer than we found we could achieve with our equipment using Prochem chemicals, so now we are canal regulars,” said Neil Webber, who cites Prochem solutions as the perfect package for the job. “We use Trafficlean for carpets which are on the walls as well as the floor! - along with Neutra-Soft, Urine Neutraliser and Fibre Shampoo.

The spaces are confined with restricted access and a lot of work is carried out on all fours in some areas. But we do love the work and it makes a change from crime and trauma scenes.”

Pro-Clean also provides a professional, discreet trauma cleaning service throughout Oxfordshire and

the West Midlands, as well as across the UK. “We got into the business in 2013 and, after a three-day training course with the National Association of Crime Scene Cleaners in Bristol, began to take on projects of our own along with work on the association’s behalf,” said Webber. “It varies enormously.

We recently had a call from a private landlord to deal with a house that had been used as a drug squat - we removed nearly 1000 needles from the scene along with 71 bin bags of rubbish.”

Not surprisingly, the team go ‘full CSI’ with gloves, masks and suits. Prochem solutions again play an important role in the clean-ups: “Very demanding cleaning jobs…need effective solutions. Rust Remover, for example, is very good at dealing with blood. And we do get through a lot of sanitisers.” www.prochem-uk.com

Contract extension awarded by Johnson Matthey Incentive QAS, the specialist cleaning arm of Incentive FM Group, has secured a major contract extension with Johnson Matthey, a leader in science that provides cleaner air, improved health and more efficient use of natural resources. The new deal, which runs for three years with the option of a further two, strengthens the existing partnership between the companies who have worked together since 2012.

Under the terms of the new agreement, worth in the region of £1.5 million per year, Incentive QAS will de-

liver a range of specialist cleaning and support services across Johnson Matthey’s manufacturing sites at Royston in Hertfordshire and Brimsdown near Enfield. This includes the cleaning of offices, laboratories, manufacturing areas, changing rooms, and security huts. In addition, the company will also provide internal and external window cleaning, washroom services, consumables supply, pest control, and grounds maintenance, whilst also managing the postal and lunch deliveries.

As part of the extension, Incentive QAS will deploy its LEVIY contract management system, which has been developed to provide centralised helpdesk data and collate cleaning audit scores.

The platform incorporates a user-friendly dashboard that allows the team to analyse performance and trends, whilst delivering in-depth reports. The system is fully customised to fit Johnson Matthey’s exact requirements and provides Incentive QAS with a complete overview of the whole operation, leading to huge effi-

ciency gains. The platform is also accessible via smart phones and Incentive’s onsite teams have been equipped with the devices.

Jamie Wright, managing director at Incentive QAS, said: “This is an extremely prestigious contract covering highly secure premises that require exceptional levels of service at all times. Over the past five years we have demonstrated our commitment and expertise to delivering this consistently, whilst also keeping costs under control. This new contract is testimony to the hard

work and dedication of our on-site team.”

Keri Lawrence at Johnson Matthey said: “We have been thoroughly impressed with Incentive QAS’s ability to provide tailored services to fit different buildings across our sites. Their commitment to using the most innovative platforms has provided us with a highly efficient auditing system, whilst also boosting standards across both sites. We are thrilled to extend our partnership for at least another three years.” www.incentivefmgroup.com

Minster Cleaning announces Cleaning supplies contract awarded by software partner Franchised commercial cleaning group Minster Cleaning Services has signed a contract to license TemplaCMS integrated contract management software across its network of UK branches. The franchisees will be using the TemplaCMS Core system, as well as the Customer Service, Quality Audit, Dashboards, and Advanced Forms modules.

The TemplaCMS mobile app will additionally enable field managers to complete a wide range of administrative tasks

whilst on site using mobile devices.

Minster has a total of 44 branches across the UK, with an average turnover approaching £1 million.

Initially, 24 will be using the software to manage their businesses. Leeds and Sheffield, the two largest franchises, both turning over £2 million, will pilot the system before rollout to the other branches. The software will be on a hosted server.

Templa won the contract with Minster in the face of fierce competition from three

12 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

other software providers.

Mike Parker, managing director, said: “A combination of Templa’s reputation, its understanding of our business model and its comprehensive training proposals made TemplaCMS the obvious solution for us.”

Rick Stoor, Templa’s managing director, said: “Minster is our first franchised client and we look forward to working closely with the company to help deliver controlled profit growth for its franchisees.” www.templacms.co.uk

Staffs Council

Arrow County Supplies has recently won the contract to supply of cleaning materials and consumables to Staffordshire County Council, worth £1.2 million over four years. The contract will allow Arrow County Supplies to provide cleaning and hygiene products to all Staffordshire County Council facilities, including schools and academies, leisure centres and public buildings, totalling over 1000 sites.

Bruce Blackledge, managing director at Arrow County Supplies, said: “We’re very excited to have won the Staffordshire County Council contract and we believe it will be the start of a great partnership. Our team will work tirelessly to ensure we provide the best possible service to the council and its facilities, as well as providing additional value through expert advice, training and innovation.” www.arrowcounty.com

CONTRACTS

Castlemeadow Care installs new laundry

Castlemeadow Care, a family-owned business, has been helping the people of Norfolk and beyond to make the most of later life since it opened its doors in 1999.

New build care home, St John’s House, offers a new style of premium luxury care in Norwich. It was designed and built with the belief in creating a place where people can feel at home, receive exceptional care and experience a great quality of life.

Attention to detail and providing an exceptional care service is at the core of St

John’s House. The home has 60 ensuite premium rooms that offer views over the home’s landscaped gardens.

Within the home is a state-of-the-art dementia unit that features spacious en-suite bedrooms. Facilities within this suite include a reminisce lounge, a scenic canal walk, a village store, The Oak Tree Inn restaurant, a deluxe cinema, and book emporium. The design of the suite is centred around a village square theme that includes an indoor illuminated Cherry Blossom Tree focal point.

Business development manager, Kesh Punj, said: “Castlemeadow Care was introduced to Girbau four years ago and we’ve been using their machines ever since, across all our care homes.”

When first approached by

Castlemeadow Care, a Girbau laundry consultant listened to its specialist laundry needs and provided detailed advice on laundry design and equipment choice for optimum infection control, operational efficiency and quality. The Girbau team worked closely with the main contractors for the project to ensure a smooth installation and commissioning. New staff recruited for the laundry were also given introductory training on laundry operation and machine use.

The on premise laundry comprises two Girbau HS6013 each with a capacity of 14kg, enabling the housekeepers to process bed linen, bath towels and residents’ daily laundry. The robust washers are paired with two energy efficient Girbau ED340 gas dryers, and a 1m GMP flatwork ironer. There is also a Norris steam ironer for finishing residents’ personal laundry.

Prior to this project, Girbau also supplied replacement machines to three of the group’s other homes including The Paddocks, Lincoln House and The Mayfields care homes. www.girbau.co.uk

Cleaning and security contract at Houndshill Axis Group has been awarded a three-year contract to deliver cleaning and security services to Houndshill Shopping Centre, Blackpool. The contract includes a total of 20 security officers and cleaning operatives, with all employees transferring to Axis Group under TUPE. Axis Group’s training is also designed to support Houndshill Shopping Centre’s commitment to excellent customer service and the centre’s status as a WorldHost-recognised destination. Axis Group will continue to develop all cleaning operatives and security officers as ambassadors of the centre, and this will be complemented by Axis Group’s membership of the Institute of Customer Service.

To improve communication and management information for the shopping centre, Axis Group will be introducing the latest auditing system from Overtec. This solution has been designed to improve traceability, auditing, and to address the major causes of ‘slip, trip and fall’ accidents. It allows all cleaning activities on site to be tracked, improving cleaning efficiencies and ensuring that, in the event of an accident, all necessary information is immediately available.

Mark Hickey, deputy centre manager at Houndshill Shopping Centre, said: “Axis Group demonstrated a clear understanding of the requirements set out in our tender, and not only provided the best operational solution, but also was deemed as a good cultural fit for the centre. Houndshill Shopping Centre is located in the heart of Blackpool with an annual footfall of over 10 million. All businesses in the town form part of the Blackpool Tourism Academy which was formed with the aim to achieve WorldHost Destination status and delivering continuous excellent customer service.

Axis Group understands the vital role that the centre’s cleaning and security staff play in supporting the best customer experience.” www.axis-groupservices.co.uk

www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 13

BRITISH CLEANING COUNCIL

Over to you…

By Stan Atkins, chairman, British Cleaning Council.

It may be a strange thing to say, but there’s a good chance that this might be both my first and last column as the new chairman of the British Cleaning Council.

One reason for this is, as some of you may know, that I already write a regular piece for Cleaning & Maintenance on behalf of the British Institute of Cleaning Science, and therefore inflicting two doses of my personal opinions on readers might well be considered excessive in any one month. But more importantly, in future editions I

want to let our members use it as a platform to share news and views from their particular perspective, as well as continue to highlight more general issues within our industry.

That’s because I believe that through working more closely with our members we have a great opportunity to build on the fantastic work that our outgoing chairman, Simon Hollingbery, has achieved, and strengthen the BCC’s reputation even more in the process.

Clearly, with over 20 trade associations working across a very diverse range of sectors, there will be some topics which will not be pertinent to everyone. However, there are many areas where we are all facing similar challenges. For example, we all know that despite great increases in the number of apprentices being created within commercial

14 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

Contact details

cleaning and an appetite to drive up professional standards across the industry, delivering the right kind of skills, including on-the-job training, remains a barrier to growth for many companies.

And the way that skills agenda feeds directly into the issue of increasing automation, and the arrival of more and more hi-tech products and services across all of our markets, is a further example of a challenging situation which most of us are facing. Wages, what will happen with Europe, and the state of the UK economy are also areas which will no doubt impact on all of us, regardless of our size or specialisation.

With over 35 years’ experience, the BCC remains the most authoritative and credible voice within British cleaning. This means if anyone has the mandate to highlight concerns, offer

solutions and generate new opportunities within the sector it is us. But we are only as strong as our membership, which is why as chairman I want to try to find ways to increase member engagement even more than we do already. I want to work more closely with members to focus on the themes and topics which affect all of us, whether wheelie bin washers, housekeepers, pest controllers, or window cleaners.

I want to better understand how our members feel we should go about addressing these issues, and how we create a roadmap for the future to ensure we tackle them for the benefit of the whole industry.

Under Simon’s tenure as chairman we have come a long way on this path already, and with the reinvigorated (and now annual) Cleaning Show we have a great opportunity to join together every year to celebrate the massive contribution we make to the UK economy, and demonstrate our industry’s commitment to professionalism, improving standards, driving

innovation, and tackling problems. This, combined with the help of valued BCC members, gives all of us the opportunity to raise the profile of the cleaning sector even higher in the years to come.

I’m greatly looking forward to working with you to achieve this aim, and to ensure that the BCC is not just an individual voice with regards to national cleaning matters, but is actually all of our voices combined.

Finally, as I sign off from what might be my one and only column as BCC chairman, I would like to extend my thanks for all of the work Simon has undertaken on behalf of the organisation. He leaves some big shoes to fill, but with your support I am confident we can maximise his legacy, and make the BCC even stronger going forward.

For further information on the British Cleaning Council and details of its members contact: The General Secretary, BCC Ltd, PO Box 10362, Syston, Leicester, LE7 2WJ, UK E: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org W: www.britishcleaningcouncil.org

SPECIAL REPORT

Out of darkness cometh light Michael O’Connor, chairman of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners’ Charitable Trust, says that it’s time to make more of the help we give to others.

The City of Wolverhampton’s motto is ‘Out of darkness cometh light’. Following the recent spate of terror attacks, this saying could also be associated with London and many other cities across the world. In the face of atrocity, we have seen people respond in the best way possible. Through their bravery, generosity, care and, in many cases, humour, our humanity has indeed come to outshine the darkness.

This really should come as no surprise.

On the whole, people are good, kind and caring but it doesn’t always seem that way - either because such behaviour doesn’t normally make a good story in the media or people would rather keep their actions private. At the Environmental Cleaners we think more should be made of the good work people do for each other - after all, one of the primary purposes of a Livery Company is to look after the community it serves. For us that means supporting education, the military and especially ‘looking after our own’, for example our members who have fallen on hard times or the dependents of members no longer with us.

Charity an essential component There are many aspects to being a member of a Livery Company and people have different reasons for joining, but making a contribution to our Charitable Trust is an essential part of membership of the Environmental Cleaners. We distribute approximately 4% of the Trust’s capital every year to good causes, so we need to make sure that our investment returns are well above this level to grow our capital and continue this valuable work.

We have now raised over £1 million through the Trust and members’ continuing contributions greatly assist with building up the capital base, to ensure future and growing investment income.

Supporting education Among the recipients of our educational funding is Treloar’s School and College which enables children and young people with physical disabilities to learn, achieve

and gain an education. Treloar’s work has a life-changing impact on students and it must raise £1.5 million annually to support specialist services, including assistive technology, visual impairment, speech and language therapy, dietetic support, chaplaincy, work experience, and transition support and music therapy, together with specialist medical equipment, vehicles, outdoor spaces, and sporting equipment.

Around 170 children and young people currently live and learn at Treloar’s.

Treloar’s specialist services, facilities and residential houses are crucial to students leading a fulfilled and independent life and that success has been quantified by an excellent Ofsted inspection. Without donors, such as the Environmental Cleaners, Treloar’s would not be able to educate students in such a holistic way and provide opportunities that would be unlikely to come from elsewhere.

Michael O’Connor, chairman of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners’ Charitable Trust.

Supporting the City and beyond

Supporting the military Each year, the Environmental Cleaners holds a Military Awards ceremony to recognise the work and achievements of medical staff in the military. It celebrates military doctors, environmental health technicians (EHTs) from the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) and the RAF Environmental Health Cadre, and the WCEC’s affiliated Cadet Units. Winners of the awards have gone on to have successful careers, including: • Sgt Stuart Steele who went on to be commissioned within the RAMC and is now Officer Commanding the Environmental Health Training School in Lichfield.

• Cpl Damon Beaufoy has just finished a successful posting as Sgt Major Instructor at Lichfield and has just been promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1 (the equivalent of an RSM).

• Cpl Sue Johnson (now McFarlane following her marriage) has completed successful tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, represents the Army at triathlon and road cycling, and has just been commissioned as an officer in the RAMC and became Captain McFarlane on 3 April 2017.

• LCpl Donovan Davey has recently been

commissioned into the Royal Navy and is now Lt Davey RN. • Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Bullivant is currently the Officer Commanding of the RAMC Joint Services Health Unit in Cyprus and is shortly due to be promoted to Major and posted to the UK NATO HQ in Gloucestershire.

• Cpl Amponsah is now Staff Sgt Amponsah and has recently completed tours of Iraq and Kenya.

• Sgt Claire Steele is now Staff Sgt Steele and is currently Environmental Health Team Leader in one of the RAMC’s two Operational Divisional HQs. The Charitable Trust also presents annual bursaries to its military affiliates to support their vital work and promote environmental health. The Trust has recently supported medical assist with detection dogs, and the new square at the National Arboretum with a York stone slab engraved with company armorial bearings as well.

Each year, the Environmental Cleaners holds a Military Awards ceremony to recognise the work and achievements of medical staff in the military. It celebrates military doctors, environmental health technicians (EHTs) from the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) and the RAF Environmental Health Cadre, and the WCEC’s affiliated Cadet Units.

Within our own industry, we assist in sponsoring, on an annual basis, the City and Guilds awards and our own founder's award. The Eric Hill Memorial Award goes to the college, training provider or company that has produced the greatest number of successful candidates in Cleaning Science and Cleaning Services Supervision qualifications during past year.

We support the City of London’s annual Sustainable City Awards as part of its expert judging panel, and sponsor the Innovative Spaces category. We also present a certificate and cheque to the Square Mile’s Outstanding Sweeper of the Year, and the runner-up, in the City of London Corporation Clean City Awards.

As a City institution we ensure our support reaches those in need in London and we’ve also made donations to hospitals, hospices and a number of national charities (including the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the British Heart Foundation) chosen in memory of members who have recently died.

The board of our Charitable Trust invariably has difficult decisions to make when allocating funding, but we always look to bring light where there is darkness and show that whatever the issue, people care and will help. www.wc-ec.com

www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 15

FEATURE: Training & Education

The digital training revolution It can be difficult for cleaning operatives to find the time and money to attend training courses, making ongoing training a challenge. But high quality, relevant and ongoing training has never been more accessible thanks to the digital revolution, reports Jangro’s operations director, Joanne Gilliard.

for companies that comply with recognised quality standards such as BS EN ISO 9001:2000, as well as other international safety and quality standards. If the company takes quality seriously for its own services, it is highly likely to make it a main focus in offering training to the wider industry too.

Training topics

to do in the event of a spillage or accident.

Most chemicals used in the cleaning industry are not dangerous if they are handled properly, and if users are correctly trained as to what to do if something goes wrong, such as a spillage.

Cleaning operatives also often work alone or unsupervised in small teams throughout a facility, and protecting cleaning operatives, the facilities they clean, and the wider environment is both a legal and moral obligation. The responsibility lies with the entire cleaning supply chain. Training is clearly key to maintaining high standards of health and safety in our industry.

Digital opportunities

Many cleaning operatives still think the traditional training model of days in a training centre physically learning from an instructor is the only way to gain knowledge about the latest practices and products in the cleaning industry.

But it can be a challenge for busy operatives, particularly those working in smaller companies, to find the time and resources to attend training courses. Courses often take place during working hours, and the cleaner must also sometimes travel to another town or city to take part - which becomes more of a challenge and causes greater disruption with ongoing training programmes requiring multiple sessions.

There are also higher costs to a business associated with sending operatives on training courses, including travel and the cost of the courses themselves, not to mention the cost of lost work if courses take place during working hours.

Maintaining standards However, the cleaning industry deals with chemicals that could be dangerous if handled inappropriately, as well as other tools that require proper training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to operate. Operatives must also be well-trained in what 16 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

Joanne Gilliard, Jangro’s operations director.

But change is afoot. The digital revolution is democratising training for the cleaning industry - e-learning modules can be a highly effective way of providing high quality training to a large audience, and are often highly cost-effective or even free. The key advantages are that that this type of training does not take time out of a working day, while the best distance learning platforms can be accessed on smart phones and on desktop computers, so the majority of cleaning operatives already have the hardware they need.

A key question is quality - how can cleaning companies be sure that they are still receiving the highest standard of training when it comes to this kind of distance learning? There are a number of points that managers and operatives should bear in mind when deciding whether distance learning is the right tool for them, and choosing between the different platforms and opportunities on offer.

Signs of quality platforms The best e-learning training platforms for cleaning operatives will generally be offered by existing, well-known brands in the cleaning industry, and developed in association with independent, reputable industry experts. The first thing for a cleaning contractor to do is to check these credentials, which usually doesn’t take long and are often listed on the training platform website as clearly as possible.

At the same time, only suppliers that can prove tight quality control procedures should be considered by cleaning contractors as appropriate training partners. Look

Quality e-learning courses will cover a wide range of topics, such as manual handling, health and safety basics, the rules around control of substances hazardous to health, colour coding, and infection control. They will also look at other more specialist activities such as floor care, carpet care, and kitchen and washroom hygiene.

Ideally, course lengths would vary, with users able to train remotely at times that suit them. This allows cleaning operatives to dip in and out of short sessions or longer sessions, making learning highly flexible and accessible. Meanwhile, key features which cleaning supervisors should watch out for when selecting an e-training platform should include the ability to remotely monitor the progress of students and generate progress reports.

Supporting information As well as certification of courses undertaken, ideally e-learning providers would also supply a range of free supporting health and safety information, as well as technical data sheets, and product usage guides if the training is offered in connection with the use of specific products. And the best e-learning platforms will also help professional cleaning operatives by providing documentation of training programmes undertaken. These can be used when submitting contract bids, demonstrating a commitment to high standards.

Those offering e-learning should also make it clear that they are not trying to replace the hands-on training approach, but rather offer an extra form of highly flexible and accessible training, with the aim of raising standards of health and safety in the industry.

There is a misconception that our industry is behind the times when it comes to innovation, and has been slow to adopt new technologies, but in fact many professional cleaning operatives are waking up to the benefits of new technology, and to how distance learning can directly benefit their business. Training in the cleaning industry should be accessible and cost-effective, and e-learning allows high-quality training to reach a large audience that may not otherwise have undertaken such a programme - and this can only be a good thing for health and safety standards in our industry. www.jangrolms.net

FEATURE: Training & Education

Training in uncertain times To help address the need for accredited The cleaning industry is currently facing a period of ‘FUD’ There are training The British Institute of Clean(fear, uncertainty and doubt). Stan Atkins, group CEO ing Science (BICSc) will be moving also several issues towards the delivery of cleaning at the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), causing doubt for the supervisory and management future of the sector - for reports. modules delivered through its The fear of changing technologies such as the rise of automation and robotics, as well as the impact this will have on the role of the cleaning operative, is still high on the agenda. Many people have concerns about the idea of robots taking over the industry resulting in job losses. The truth is, that’s unlikely to happen in our lifetime. Instead, innovations in robotics are adding to the tools at our cleaning operatives’ disposal, helping them do a better job for their clients - and this can only be a positive move for cleaning.

Recently, uncertainty has taken hold of the industry with Brexit bringing up the question mark of future supply of labour. It is widely known that the UK cleaning industry relies more on migrant and EU workers than any other industry in the UK, with around 24% of all workers in the cleaning industry not possessing UK-nationality compared to an average of 18% in all other industries. We are already seeing the negative effects of Brexit suffered by other industries. In the healthcare sector, for example, it was recently reported there has been a 96% drop in EU nurses register-

example, we still don’t know Cleanlogic brand. The new if the cleaning industry will have a modules will lead to individuals ing to work in Britain since the being able to gain continuous Level 2 Cleaning Operative vote. For now, we can only specuprofessional development late whether we will see similar is- Apprenticeship. Even if one were (CPD) points, which in turn sues arise in the cleaning industry to be launched, there is a need may lead to higher memberand how this might affect future ship grades through the educafor technical elements to employment rates. tional route within the Institute.

There are also several issues caussupport the qualification, The new Cleanlogic modules will ing doubt for the future of the sector be delivered through a range of inwhich are currently for example, we still don’t know if the teractive workshops, specifically tainot in place. cleaning industry will have a Level 2 Cleaning Operative Apprenticeship. Even if one were to be launched, there is a need for technical elements to support the qualification, which are not currently in place.

Despite these uncertain times there is an abundance of training for the cleaning industry, although there is a definite lack of training which is accredited. I am still appalled that the cleaning industry has no national colour coding standard for cleaning and hygiene. This could be easily addressed through accredited training which sets out one standard for all individuals to adhere to. One of the problems with training in the cleaning industry is it is so disparate, in that anything that is delivered appears to be only ’adequate’.

lored for the cleaning industry. One of the planned workshops, the ‘Level 1 Inspector Module’, will train individuals to become cleaning inspectors (often wrongly referred to as cleaning audits/auditors). There are predominantly two types of cleaning inspection - a daily checking inspection which allows for re-work to be carried out, or a final inspection, which is quality controlled in that the outcome cannot be altered.

The Institute has also recently added to its portfolio of training courses with the launch of a two-day ‘Train the trainer’ course as well as car valeting, on premises laundry training, and a health and safety workshop for the cleaning industry. www.bics.org.uk

www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 17

FEATURE: Training & Education

Training in the spotlight: at home and away

Our bespoke At Kärcher we treat training as seriously facility will enable year-round indoor customer training can training if the weather dictates, allowing as we do the design and quality of our products. Specifying the correct more users than ever to access our be machine specific, equipment is really only the first covering only the machines unique blend of theory and practical stage in getting the optimum clean learning delivered by our onsite exin a customer’s fleet, or - if it’s used incorrectly cleaning pert team. industry specific – after all, the results, efficiency, savings, and Training is crucial to our tailorhygiene-critical challenges of made solutions approach. An inmachine longevity can all be compromised. hospitality and healthcare are novation-driven company like Kärcher Academies are market- different to the safety concerns Kärcher has an ever-evolving portleading training facilities and exist folio so it’s important to provide a of heavy industry or internationally. The UK Academy place to allow employees, distribuseasonal variations in was originally founded in 2008 in tors, customers, and the wider cleanKärcher’s former premises. Prior to ing community to use the latest grounds care this a sales centre and technical training machines and learn how to master diffirequirements. centre had served some 100 training recult cleaning tasks. quests a year. Fast-forward to recent years Beyond usage, safety and basic mainteand even the old building was accommonance, our training helps explain the medating 1000 trainees per year and in the chanics of cleaning as well. When past 18 months we’ve spent 763 man days inefficient floor cleaning leaves a floor a litjust on training our own staff. tle dirty after each clean, or traps dirt At the end of 2016 Kärcher relocated, and under layers of polish, it’s easy for users to the new Academy is a sight to behold. The be blind to the detrimental build-up and 832m2 Academy boasts 27 different floor gradual discolouration. Our Kärcher team types to help replicate many different is famous for its ‘clean stripe’ demos which cleaning situations, as well as demonstrarestore the original colour and non-slip tion, workshop, and classroom space - it safety to floors - often to the amazement of really is the perfect environment to develop the business involved! Frequency of clean is and enhance technical know-how. The new nothing if it’s not effective, and in my 34 facilities will enable the further developyears at Kärcher I see the same simple ment of our training portfolio, in particular mistakes undermine cleaning results time to accommodate the larger floorcare and and time again. municipal machines within our expanding Incorrect charging can have a real impact product range and specialist industrial soon a battery’s lifespan and effectiveness, so lutions like ice blasting, ultra-high pressure its important users understand the differand industrial vacuums. Moreover, the new ent types of battery. Opportunity charging is 18 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

only suitable for Lithium-Ion batteries standard lead batteries need to be run down before charging.

The misuse of detergent can make floors more slippery or sticky. It’s down to iconics - similar to the way magnets attract or resist each other - get the positive/negative wrong and dirt will cling not repel. And gently does it! Whether you’re travelling too fast or scrubbing too hard it will compromise performance.

But learning doesn’t only take place in the classroom. No matter where our machines are in use, operators can have confidence they’ll receive the same level of high-quality training as they would back at Academy HQ. Our team of application technicians carries out over 500 demos a year and return to train at point of delivery to help users transition to new processes and regimes with the minimum downtime and maximum efficiency.

The crew are no strangers to antisocial hours and work in all weathers. A timed delivery window and training schedule must be kept, especially on complex jobs such as when a major supermarket has a nationwide rollout or a major event – for example, our Academy team made 72 visits to Olympic venues.

Getting an entire cruise liner shipshape before her maiden voyage involved training all 400 operators during the sail back between being built at the shipyard and arriving at the docks. But that was short haul - I once spent six months supporting the MOD

Continued on Page 19.

Despite managing a purpose-built academy, Nigel Adams, Kärcher UK’s applications training and academy manager, often finds himself on the road. Here he explains how, from ankle biting penguins to the external lift at the top of Canary Wharf, he goes to great lengths to ensure he takes Kärcher training wherever it’s needed.

Continued from Page 18.

FEATURE: Training & Education

before deployment. In one of the more unusual Kärcher adaptions, the same burner that heats our HDS hot water pressure washers is used to form an OFCS (Operational Field Catering System). Used by the Catering Corps, each burner can feed 50 men.

It’s fascinating to see behind the scenes at theatres, stadiums and other venues the general public don’t usually get to see. One of my weirdest yet most rewarding tasks was helping a sealife centre to clean debris from its coral without damaging it - albeit cleaning the penguin enclosure was less fun when they turned out to not only be curious, but downright ‘peckish’!

We do it because hands on training is, and always will be, key in our industry. You cannot learn and experience how cleaning products and their detergents work without it. Cleaning is a complicated business.

While you don't need to know the exact details of a customer’s job to sell a car, Kärcher employees have to know enough about a baker's job to be able to advise on the proper disposal of potentially explosive dust, and how difficult it is to clean the non-slip tiles in a butcher's shop or the serious problems that can arise from using the wrong high-pressure nozzle to clean an engine.

All our employees go through, and must pass, product training. Our advanced technical training certifies all our Kärcher service technicians and those of our accredited dealer network.

Bucking the Internet order trend, we believe that selling effective cleaning solutions requires application-specific knowhow that should be shared with customers face-to-face to help them make in-

formed, sustainable purchase decisions.

And that’s why we sell the way we do, providing free site surveys, demos and advice as part of the buyer journey.

Our bespoke customer training can be machine specific, covering only the machines in a customer’s fleet, or industry specific – after all, the hygiene-critical challenges of hospitality and healthcare are different to the safety concerns of heavy industry or seasonal variations in grounds care requirements.

On a corporate level our ‘train the trainer’ and specific courses for ops directors, supervisors, buyers and FMs ensure they have all the knowledge and skill sets they need to cascade good practice throughout their organisation. Kärcher trainers often meet cleaning operatives who have never encountered mechanised cleaning before, and for some who have never driven cars achieving hand eye coordination can be a challenge at first. Here we coax users to

The 832m2 Academy boasts 27 different floor types to help replicate many different cleaning situations, as well as demonstration, workshop, and classroom space.

change a lifetime of behaviour and allow them to shadow seasoned operators before we test and certify them. Fortunately, the results speak for themselves - functions like our single dial Easy operation and multilingual KIK (Kärcher Intelligent Key) system make for easy, error-proof use and simplified training.

Kärcher offers an unrivalled one-stopshop for all things cleaning. And our passion is finding the right solution for our customers - that's why our product range spans some 3000 machines across nine core product families, ensuring we really can tailor the best solution for you and your business. A single source supplier from a tub vac to a ride on city sweeper or gantry truck wash we really do clean it all. Our expert UK team provides free site surveys and consultation, alongside comprehensive training and support, with customisable service, repair, loan, hire, and leasing options. www.karcher.co.uk/professional

q 0800 243 919

E secretary@chsa.co.uk H www.chsa.co.uk

CHSA Stands Up for Standards

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Be certain ‘what’s on the box is in the box’ Buy from CHSA Accredited Distributors; specify CHSA Accredited Products

tŝŶĚŽǁ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ &ĞĚĞƌĂƚŝŽŶ Offering: Membership with Benefits ~ IOSH Safety Accredited Training ~ Safety Accredited Member (SAM) Procurement Scheme ~ Secure online shopping www.f-w-c.co.uk/shop.htm And much more Formed in 1947 the professional Trade Association for Window Cleaners Federation of Window Cleaners Tel: 0161 432 8754 /0161 432 9280 Email:info@f-w-c.co.uk ± Web: www.f-w-c.co.uk

CHSA - driving up standards in the industry Our Standards. Your Guarantee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHSA AND ITS MEMBERS

VISIT WWW.CHSA.CO.UK FREEPHONE 0800 243919 www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 19

FEATURE: Training & Education

Creating a learning culture Peter Clay, training and development manager at TCFM, looks at the importance of training and education within the business.

‘Access to At TCFM we recognise that the most valutraining materials able asset and resource within any comneeds to be pany is its people. They are central to instantaneous and easily everything we set out to achieve and are digestible, hence our therefore vital in helping us not only mainmove towards an tain our standards but to also drive our ever-growing range of business forward. Getting information to on-line modules.’ and from such a large and wide-spread workforce such as ours was logistically a huge challenge, as was trying to ensure that we captured every training intervention being carried out across the business. It was quickly identified that we needed to make the best possible use of available technology in order to compliment any classical classroom-style delivery we carried out.

We have, therefore, designed a range of training products and support tools that are not only easily accessible, flexible and simple to use but can also open the door to learners across all levels of the business.

Our programmes have been specifically targeted to provide the support and skills needed by both our front-line staff and management teams to enable them to be better equipped to handle the daily operational tasks and to also give them an insight into developing their people management skills that are needed to support a dynamic operation.

To do this we have created a training model that supports both management and operational training that focuses on those key elements that are essential in the effective running of the business but, at the same time, enable the company to develop existing and new talent. Using a range of both on-line internally designed and externally sourced modules we are able to reach our large community far more swiftly and effectively than ever before. With the use of handheld technology, we can deliver train20 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

ing directly to the individual, allowing us to support all our people and have immediate feedback.

Part of our blended solution has been to create our own quick-byte cartoon videos.

These cover a range of basic health and safety topics that all our staff must be trained on. They can be used as part of an initial induction training programme or as a training aid when delivering refresher training. They have been designed to be fun and easy to use.

Our people A key part of our company’s vision of ‘Right people and culture’ is to develop our people. To achieve this, we ensure that all our

staff have a development review with their immediate manager. From this we can map a training and development plan for each staff member. Part of this process also enables us to identify potential talent from amongst our workforce and help them develop their skills.

Aligned with this, we have also introduced two new management development programmes that run in conjunction with our internal training programmes. Reach and Pertino target both potential and current managers within our organisation. Each programme focuses on the specific needs of each individual and provides support through coaching and mentoring during their time on the programmes.

Reach is aimed at those current and potential new managers and recruits joining our company. Working with an approved supplier, we have set up development programmes to enable staff across the company to attain nationally recognised qualifications through the apprenticeship scheme, covering disciplines and skills related to the roles and tasks they are expected to perform as part of their duties.

We have already seen a number of staff from across the business successfully complete their programmes.

The Pertino programme is designed to support our more experienced managers who wish to develop their skill set. As with the Reach programme, they are encouraged to take on a relevant apprenticeship qualification, committing to a period of study over a 12-18 month period, dependent upon the programme and qualification.

Each recruit has a development plan and a senior member of the management team has their mentor to coach and support them throughout the programme.

These programmes, together with our own internally designed training courses, set up the foundation for the development of all our staff. This helps us ensure that our people have access to as wide a range of training material as possible across the whole business.

Finding the right training solutions Training has to be proactive to anticipate how our business will evolve and adapt to the changes in how people receive and send information as well as what they expect from the technology we make available to them. To this end, there has also been a change in how they learn. Access to training materials needs to be instantaneous and easily digestible, hence our move towards an ever-growing range of on-line modules. In turn, this can provide us with up to date evaluation data, quicker access to training records, the ability to monitor and track what training has been carried out, and track when refresher training is due.

Effort spent on delivering operational training is often time critical and therefore any opportunity to reduce the time each staff member is away from their duties helps us contribute to any efficiencies we can make that will either reduce costs or enable the time saved to be spent on other tasks. www.tcfm.co.uk

FEATURE: Training & Education

The Axis Academy - a dedicated learning and development business Axis Group - the security, cleaning and support services business – has launched The Axis Academy, a dedicated learning and development resource, to reflect its commitment to putting people at the heart of the group’s future success.

Created as a new group company, The Axis Academy will not only help develop the careers of Axis Security, Acuity and Axis Cleaning and Support Services employees, but it will also ultimately offer its services to clients, third-party providers and private individuals as the business develops.

The Axis Academy will deliver a ‘blended’ approach to learning and use a combination of training delivery techniques, methods and channels, including e-learning, to give people access to the best training in the most appropriate ways.

Courses in such fundamental areas as health and safety and first aid will be complemented by more sector-specific training in skills such as control and restraint and food hygiene.

Axis Group’s HR director, Naomi Austen, will head the new operation: “Delivering meaningful training is a high priority for any business operating in the service sector, and until recently most have relied on external providers. By building our own resource, and our own skills, we are develop-

ing a new in-house model that will not only support our future success, but also the future careers of employees. Our ambition is to further improve skill levels and professionalism across the board. We believe we can do this even better if we can more directly manage, control and monitor the quality and the relevance of the training provided to every learner.”

Jonathan Levine, CEO of Axis Group, says that the group already has a strong ‘people strategy’, and an established reputation for recruiting and retaining the best people: “We recognise that people hold the key to future success, and are our key strength, so we have built a strategy around making their working lives more enjoyable and more rewarding. To us, a ‘people strategy’ has to be meaningful, and is evidenced by providing the necessary skills to perform the job they are doing today as well as creating a strong career path for the future.”

The Axis Academy will be based at Axis Group headquarters in London. www.theaxisacademy.co.uk The Axis Academy will deliver a ‘blended’ approach to learning and use a combination of training delivery techniques, methods and channels, including e-learning, to give people access to the best training in the most appropriate ways.

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FEATURE: Training & Education

Estimating made easy Karel-Jan Boel is director of programme development EMEA at ISSA, where a key part of his role involves developing the training and certification programmes. He is currently working on adapting ISSA’s current training offer for the UK market and will roll it out to the industry later in the year.

Here he highlights the first opportunity for cleaning professionals to refine a skill that is fundamental to success in the industry.

If you initially feel that the headline - Estimating made easy - is based on a contradiction then you’re probably not alone. As a subject, it may or may not leave you amused or bemused, but it will almost certainly prompt a wry smile.

Estimating is a task that provokes a certain amount of dread - or at best a feeling of mild apprehension. It can appear daunting regardless of the amount of experience you have gained in the cleaning industry.

It’s daunting if you are the owner of a small cleaning company faced with pricing a oneoff commercial job that is on a previously unfamiliar scale, or if you are working for a large cleaning organisation competing for a major long-term contract across multiple facilities.

The cost of making assumptions Do you struggle with knowing exactly where to start with an estimate? Do you know all the elements that are involved, but you’re not sure how they actually relate to each other to achieve success? Or is it simply down to the pressure of getting the price right?

Yes, it is all about winning that contract however, the true cost of getting your strategy wrong is not measured purely in financial terms but can have knock-on effects that stress future budgets, taint your reputation in the industry and affect your ability to retain staff.

Taking the guess work out of the equation Never assume. Unless gambling with your business is an absolute priority. A ‘guesstimate’ inevitably makes assumptions which put you at the mercy of the many variables that exist in the costing equation. Those seemingly unaffected by the responsibility involved often advocate the ‘guesstimate’ method. The approach is random - this is underlined by how difficult it is to identify either the breadth or lack of experience behind the sentiment.

Those new to estimating will often resort to a ‘guesstimate’ as they don’t know enough of what is required to do any different, while the experienced consider this license enough to ignore what they should know - choosing instead to rely on what is often presented as intuition honed in the school of hard cleaning knocks.

Learning the science behind the skill Estimating is a skill but it is one that is based on a science. Understand the science and you improve your chances of win22 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

It’s how you organise your resources You no doubt find that the expectation from your customers is huge: expectation that is not always matched by the size of the budget available. Consequently, like most cleaning professionals, you are probably trying to do a lot more with fewer resources. ISSA’s workshop programme will show you how to match your facility requirements with the right cleaning system to maximise resources and take your organisation to the next level of development.

The programme is delivered by a professional cleaner and trainer of long-standing reputation and addresses all the elements of a well-managed cleaning organisation, as defined by the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS).

Surviving budget cuts is a subject that is particularly apt to recent times and one that is thoroughly dealt with. The programme illuminates the flexibility you will require to change your management strategies, or reduce turnover. It also sheds light on how to assess your staff’s productivity rates and cleaning times. In fact, everything necessary to provide you with the best chance of success.

Key is the ability to work load any facility and deliver labour efficiencies. Work loading is the opposite of the ‘guesstimate.’

The tuition will show you how to gather the precise information that will affect your estimate on any facility, such as floor type, specific measurements and the number of fixtures in the building. It will show you how to efficiently match these up with the right schedules of cleaning tasks and associated production rates to produce an average cleaning time. From there you can achieve an accurate, estimated cleaning time which is fundamental to the correct and competitive pricing of any job. It is the essential requirement to move forward confidently in formulating long-term plans and as the basis for your cleaning industry success.

The right estimate

The first Estimating made Easy training workshop takes place on 21 September at Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Fradley Park, Lichfield.

ning contracts. The Estimating Made Easy workshop is designed for cleaning contractors of all sizes, as well as representatives of in-house facility management, as part of ISSA’s ongoing commitment to raising standards in the industry.

No two buildings are alike. No single cleaning method fits every situation. So why are you rigidly applying the same ‘tried and trusted’ method to all of your estimates?

ISSA’s workshop programme details cleaning estimating and work loading to provide strategies and solutions for all cleaning professionals. Estimating Made Easy is a management course which looks at all the defined systems of costing for contracts.

The course will give you practical insights on the organisational structures, disciplines and benefits of each estimating system. In addition, those who attend will also learn how to motivate staff to increase cleaning performance and quality.

The training pack that is provided to participants consists of items that are specially priced and includes: the InfoClean Software - an essential tool to help you simplify work loading. You will also receive the Estimating Made Easy workbook and an indispensable copy of 612 Cleaning Times - which provides general guidelines for cleaning times and is a good foundation on which to build your business.

To register for Estimating Made Easy: or to take advantage of the early bird registration discount, please send an email to Karel-Jan Boel: kj@issa.com.

The first Estimating made Easy training workshop is on 21 September. Workshops will often be hosted at ISSA member facilities, or if required they can be customised to be taken to your own facility. On this occasion the workshop will be held at Rubbermaid Commercial Products at Fradley Park, Lichfield. www.issa.com

FEATURE: Training & Education

Web tool aids office cleaning Tork has launched a new web tool aimed at helping organisations to improve their business through better hygiene and cleaning.

The free tool looks at today’s office environment and considers how to tackle new cleaning challenges that arise from practices such as hot-desking, shared equipment and the increasing use of screens.

“The office as we know it is changing,” said Tork FM sector sales manager, Stuart Hands. “The office environment is increasingly being seen as a physical showroom to define and strengthen a company’s brand.

This makes hygiene and cleanliness essential to the image of a business. Additionally, in a world where competition for the best and brightest is fiercer than ever, managers are realising that a sustainable, hygienic and likeable office environment is crucial in order to attract talent.”

He says hygiene is business-critical in every part of the office from the reception area to the washroom, conference rooms and kitchenette. But he adds that changing practices at work are producing new hygiene challenges: “For example, break rooms are increasingly becoming areas where employees don’t just eat and socialise but where they also bring their computers and have ad-hoc meetings. This demands more flexible maintenance in order to ensure good hygiene. However, it is often unclear whether it is the cleaners or the staff who are responsible for keeping these areas clean. Our new web tool pro-

vides tips and advice for exactly this type of situation.”

The Tork web tool uses an interactive graphic of an office building and highlights the hygiene and cleaning challenge in each part of the facility. Recommendations are then given for meeting these challenges.

The web tool also considers: • Office trends: The upcoming trends for today’s office and how to clean more effectively in a modern connected building.

• Practical insights: How to best place dispensers in an office building to improve hygiene and cleanliness based on people flow and research.

• Tips and tricks: Cleaning checklists, tips and advice for common areas in offices to enhance hygiene and cleanliness.

“Cleaning and hygiene challenges can increase in particular when transitioning to a new office environment, such as from cubicles to open landscapes,” continued Hands. “Our web tool helps customers to consider how cleaning is planned in different parts of their office and how to make the most of their office building.” www.tork.co.uk

The Tork web tool uses an interactive graphic of an office building and highlights the hygiene and cleaning challenge in each part of the facility. Recommendations are then given for meeting these challenges.

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SPECIAL REPORT

What makes the ‘s’ in ‘wipers’ so important?

The face of industrial wiping is changing dramatically as a growing number of workplaces adopt the Japanese ‘Five S’ principle. Rachel Thompson of Tork manufacturer SCA explains how an effective wiping system ties in with the Five S ethos and makes industrial premises more productive than ever.

Manufacturing plants and workshops are often rather chaotic environments. It is not uncommon to come across surfaces covered with tools, components and soiled cloths which can make it difficult for staff to find the equipment they need when they need it.

A certain amount of mess is inevitable in environments where substances such as oil, grease, solvent, and cutting fluid are used on a daily basis. But a messy workplace runs far less efficiently than a tidy one and a chaotic appearance will make a poor impression on any customers visiting the premises. As an increasing number of organisations recognise the need to create smarter, more streamlined workspaces there has been a growing take-up of the Japanese Five S system in industry.

The Five S principle sets out clear guidelines for organising work environments in a bid to improve safety, efficiency and staff morale. The methodology consists of five fundamental elements that all begin with the letter S. The first is: Sorting, or removing all but the most essential items from the workplace. This allows operatives to quickly locate the equipment they need in order to improve productivity. Next is: Setting in order. Equipment should be arranged in such a way as to promote the most efficient workflow. The third S is Shining, or keeping the workplace clean and uncluttered; then comes the Standardising of all work practices to keep them consistent. And the final S stands for Sustaining these procedures on a day-to-day basis. So the old saying of ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ more or less covers the methodology.

Where tools and equipment are sorted and set in order, staff will know immediately where to find them - and this leads to much less time spent hunting around for implements. The same can be said of industrial wipers.

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When a spill occurs or when greasy hands need to be wiped clean in a hurry, operatives will typically reach for the nearest cloth or wiper roll. This will ideally be close at hand but in a disorganised workspace it could just as easily be in a colleague’s work bay, on a wiper roll some distance away or nowhere to be found having been hidden under equipment or fallen on to the floor.

Wiping tasks are usually urgent since any floor spill could become a tripping hazard while an operative’s soiled hands could go on to contaminate other equipment which would then also need to be cleaned. So it is important that appropriate wiping and cleaning products should be kept close at hand to allow any clean-ups to be dealt with swiftly and efficiently. Installing a system of disposable wipers in easy-to-locate, fixed positions supports the Five S approach since this will ensure that all wiping products are ready to use at the point of delivery.

Some factories still use mixed rags for wiping, but rags require sorting before use to weed out any non-absorbent, stained or

unsuitable cloths - which can be an inefficient and time-consuming process. Since rags are not thrown away after use they tend to be left lying around on worktops where they create an impression of disorder and may conceal other equipment beneath them. Rags soaked with solvents or other chemicals can also represent a health hazard if operatives breathe in the fumes from the cloth.

Many workshops today use disposable wipers on a roll. However, loose rolls can easily become misplaced, pilfered or soiled by industrial fluids which means they will then become unusable. A smart dispensing system for wipers and cloths can facilitate the Five S work model by ‘sorting’ the environment and removing the need for abandoned rags and loose wiper rolls to be left lying around on the work surfaces.

These wiper dispensers will also ‘set in order’ the premises if they are positioned in the right place for optimum workflow since this will help to improve productivity. Eyecatching dispensers that are either wallmounted or placed in easy-to-spot positions will become a familiar sight for operatives who will automatically head for them when they need a wiper, reducing the amount of time spent away from their work bay.

A cohesive dispenser system will also improve the appearance of the workshop and provide a ‘shining’, uncluttered image. Tork Performance dispensers, for example, have a striking red/smoke housing that make them easy for staff to spot while also helping to ‘shine’ the surroundings.

Meanwhile, the fact that all disposable wipers are clean and ready for use - unlike rags which may contain zippers or other fasteners - will help to ‘standardise’ work practices in an industrial environment.

Standardisation improves both productivity and employee morale: when equipment is stored in the same place the employees become more productive and are less likely to need to waste time hunting around the premises for what they require. Ensuring that the floor stays clear of clutter through standardised, streamlined processes will also result in fewer spills while reducing the risk of accidents.

Sustaining any new initiative can be a challenge, but regular audits will help keep the workforce on track. And once wiper dispensers have become familiar sights in the workshop their regular use will be incorporated into the operative’s working day and become ‘sustained’.

So a cohesive system of disposable wipers is an essential element of any Five S workplace. Ready-to-use wipers teamed with smart dispensing systems will make the workplace more attractive and allow it to be run more efficiently. And the fact that waste will be reduced and productivity will increase means the bottom line of the business can only benefit. www.tork.co.uk

SPECIAL REPORT

Keeping records: why it can make or break a business Lynda Allan, director at Polished Insurance, reports.

You may have the peace of mind that you have the right insurance in place for your cleaning business, but did you realise that one of the most important things you can do, to ensure that you are successful in defending an insurance claim, is to keep detailed records?

The cleaning industry is a risky business and as insurance brokers who specialise in insurance packages for this market, we deal with many personal injury claims involving slips, trips and falls from height.

The vast majority of contract cleaning businesses provide relevant and ongoing training for their employees and undertake all the required risk assessments. However, it is the businesses who have the most comprehensive records who successfully defend claims, should it come to it.

What can go wrong if records aren’t kept up to date?

An experienced and competent employee is injured when working on a routine cleaning job. The MD of the cleaning company, where the employee works, is extremely

confident that he can successfully defend the claim, due to the employee’s competence. However, documentary evidence of the employee’s training and competence is not available and the claim is not as easy to defend. The outcome is that the MD is not successful in defending the claim and the cost to the business is significant, all because up to date records were not kept.

Have you found yourself in a similar situation and how do you prevent it happening?

Accurate, up to date and detailed documentary evidence is critical to help an insurer’s lawyers build a suitable defence against a claim. Having documentation to hand will also enable costs to be reduced.

For insurers, clients with good documentary procedures in place are seen to be the ‘better risks’ and as such will be rewarded with premium discounts. Alternatively, discovery by insurers that a business does not have relevant documentation in place may mean they must settle a claim which could have been avoided. This can result in increased premium levels or withdrawal of cover.

What can you do to ensure you have the right documentation?

• All training exercises should be documented and signed by all participants.

• If working practices change or replacement equipment is purchased the training Continued on Page 26.

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WWW.CLEANINGSHOW.CO.UK/MANCHESTER www.cleaningmag.com l AUGUST 2017 l 25

NEW PRODUCTS

Colour-coded hand protection system Hand protection specialist Globus has launched I-Con a brand new colour-coded glove system providing chemical protection for workers in the cleaning and hygiene sector. The new glove system not only protects workers’ hands against the most common chemicals and substances found in contract cleaning but also helps prevent contact contamination from bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and vaccines that may be encountered.

All of the gloves within the I-Con system are manufactured exclusively from nitrile. Every glove is CAT III certified in accordance with the EN374-1 chemical resistance standard whilst cross contamination

threats in infection control areas are also reduced significantly thanks to the ICon colour system - with individual coloured gloves designated for specific work areas.

There are eight I-Con system gloves - four single-use, four reusable - all manufactured from 100% nitrile, which follow the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) approved and

adopted colour-coded system for infection control.

“Effective protection from chemical hazards is paramount for those working in the cleaning and hygiene sector,” said Globus marketing manager, Steve Shale.

“However, wider risk factors exist such as contact contamination from bacteria, viruses, pathogens and even medicines. As a result our new I-Con system has been designed to protect the worker from both risk factors whilst at the same time reducing the threat of cross contamination. By reflecting the BICSc recommended colour code, workers and managers can quickly and easily ensure that the right gloves are being used in the right environments to prevent bacterial transfer.

Worker protection is also a

key element of the new range which has been designed to provide an effective barrier to the most common chemicals and substances found in contract cleaning environments.”

To support the EN compliant range, Globus can also provide tailored support packages to aid the implementation of the I-Con system. Nicholas Green, Globus corporate accounts director, added: “We recognise the importance of underpinning dedicated high quality hand protection solutions with ongoing training, education and support. This approach really helps workers understand the importance of their role within the infection control process and the support package has been designed to help deliver this.” www.globus.co.uk/icon

Latest Sapphire is largest jewel in the crown Five years post-launch and Prochem Europe is celebrating the introduction of the Sapphire range with its latest variant. The new Sapphire 870SS liquid-cooled triple-operator truck mounted carpet and upholstery cleaning system delivers more heat, more vacuum and more pressure than any other unit in the Sapphire range.

For durability and performance, this high extraction capacity machine employs premium components throughout including the commercial-grade 1.6 litre Hyundai petrol power unit, the unit’s triple-source heat co-generation deliver-

ing day-long strong and consistent cleaning on the largest jobs.

As one of the most powerful slide-in truck mounts available, the 870SS features a heavy-duty tri-lobe positive displacement blower, general pump HTS2016S producing 5.6 GPM, and patented thermal well system with tube coil design and thermostatic control, capable of operating two hard surface tools simultaneously.

There are now six options to choose from in the Sapphire range. All are built on a unique narrow platform that makes the most of available space in your existing van or

provides the opportunity for a move to a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle. Each model incorporates heat exchanger technology that captures and retains heat efficiently and gives you control to provide a constant hot cleaning solution.

A ‘short reach service design’ has no component more than 10 inches from the outside, putting all belts, filters, oil drains, and other service points within easy reach. Sapphire truck mounts also have an exclusive through-frame belt cooling design that extends belt life to help reduce maintenance costs. www.prochem-uk.com

Keeping records: why it can make or break a business Continued from Page 25. must be updated and documented accordingly.

• Careful consideration should be given to the records to be kept and for how long - ask your insurance broker if you are unsure.

• Some records are required to be kept by various pieces of legislation, while others may be useful in defending legal actions.

• Carry out specific risk assessments for: COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health); manual handling operations; work at height.

• Records of specific risk assessments may have to

be kept for a prescribed minimum period, as described under specific regulations.

• If you are a business with five or more employees, you must record the significant findings of all risk assessments and they must form part of your health and safety policy.

What happens if your business has an accident and incident investigation?

As soon as you are made aware of an incident it is important that you report it to your insurer, even if at the time there is no indication of a claim. This is so that they can assist in the immediate investigation of the incident

26 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

and gather all required evidence and documentation, in preparation of a defence.

If your business is under investigation, you need to ensure that detailed records are made. These should record not only the details of the event, but all relevant findings of the investigation, including: • Details of the accident/incident.

• Details of all injuries and injured persons.

• Details of all witnesses.

• Causes of the accident/incident.

• Keep photographic evidence if possible as this can be of assistance in defending a claim.

• Details of corrective ac-

tions to prevent reoccurrence of the accident/ incident.

• Provision of health and safety training and all training records.

In the event of more serious accidents and injuries, there are reporting requirements under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013). RIDDOR incidents may be reported on-line or by phone. These regulations require records of reportable injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to be kept. If you are an employer who must keep an accident book, the record you make to RIDDOR will be an adequate record.

If insurers only receive notification on receipt of a formal claim, which in some instances can be months or even years after the event, it can prove very difficult for them to prepare a defence, often resulting in them having to concede liability.

To conclude, if you know that your records aren’t up to date, ensure that you start to rectify this now. If you are unsure as to the records you need to keep, specifically for your business, speak to your insurance broker. They will advise you if you have the right documentation, or if more detail is required. www.polishedinsurance.co.uk

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Support for firms moving into Gelpack receives CHSA accreditation data-driven cleaning Tork has issued a guide offering practical support for other companies seeking to stay ahead of the game with data-driven cleaning. The ‘Insider’s guide to data-driven cleaning’ explains how the use of data can help companies make better-informed decisions that lead to improved productivity and happier customers.

The Tork EasyCube system – claimed to be the first facility management software of its kind - uses connected devices to provide information about washroom cleaning needs and dispenser refill levels. Tork is now using its own experience and customer case studies to support other firms seeking to take the leap into data-driven cleaning.

“When staff and managers gain real-time data about cleaning needs it becomes possible to stay ahead of the game and do exactly what’s needed when and where it is required,” said Tork marketing director, Jenny Turner.

“Data-driven cleaning turns the operation of a complex facility such as a stadium or an airport from a frustrating guessing game into a factbased mission.”

Gelpack, the manufacturer of refuse and recycling sacks and high performance flexible packaging, has joined the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) Plastic Refuse Sacks Accreditation Scheme.

Membership of the scheme provides customers with the reassurance that they receive what they order - that products are fit for purpose and accurately labelled so that they know what is inside the packaging. Rigorous CHSA audits are carried out regularly to ensure that customers get what they pay for.

The new CHSA range includes 5, 10, 15 and 20kg sacks, all available on rolls or flat-packed in cartons of 200. Cartons will display key dimensional information such as length, width and minimum net weight, as well as the special CHSA logo, which differentiates between light, medium, heavy and extra heavy duty sacks to help users identify the most appropriate product for their needs.

Gelpack's managing director, Geoff Davis, said: "Gelpack has been manufacturing quality sacks from its UK base for more than 45 years. Some of our distributors have asked for a CHSA product that gives their customers the added reassurance that this accreditation represents. Produced in the four most popular design weights, our new CHSA range allows us to offer an even more comprehensive choice." www.gelpack.co.uk

The new guide incorporates case studies, input from industry experts and benchmark examples from other industries. It also provides practical tips on how to successfully introduce datadriven cleaning into a workplace. The guide explores the need to choose the right partners and set specific goals while also offering advice on how to ensure that all major stakeholders - includ-

ing cleaning staff - comprehend the positives of the switch.

“Empowering managers and cleaners with data to make better decisions is what will really change the game,” continued Turner.

“We at Tork are in the middle of this process and by sharing what we have learned so far we can help the industry at large to take the leap.” www.tork.co.uk/easycube/

The changing shape of Make sure you get what you pay for urinal screens P-Wave has launched its latest innovation in air freshening/deodorising technology. The Hex 3D is a 30-day urinal air freshener that, because of the new hexagon shape, is claimed to have a better fit by folding into any size of urinal.

The Hex 3D features P-Wave’s pioneering protrusions to reduce splashback and catch debris, and they feature on both sides so it’s impossible to put the screen in the wrong way round.

The new screens also contain P-Wave’s patented 30 day fragrance. The screens contain odour-controlling enzymes and a clock system to remind you when they need changing to ensure a fresher washroom.

Dave Carson from P-Wave said: “These revolutionary new screens have been fully market tested in the USA and have proved very popular. We’re delighted to be introducing them to the UK and know they will go down well here too. This is our fourth urinal screen, because we are always looking for ways to improve our products to meet our customers’ needs.”

The new screens can be used in waterless urinals, are VOC compliant and come in several fragrances, including a new cucumber and melon option, and citrus. www.p-wave.co.uk 28 l AUGUST 2017 l www.cleaningmag.com

Recent analysis of the of the CHSA’s accreditation schemes for soft tissues, plastic sacks and cotton mops has shown that scheme members achieved near perfect compliance in 2016 and has reiterated the importance of the need for buyers of such products to specify scheme members in their future tenders.

CHSA scheme member and Robert Scott sales director, Alastair Scott, said: “As one of the first members of the scheme and as one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of mops and janitorial cleaning supplies - almost half million mops each week - I have long been a supporter of the need for an industry standard of quality which ensures that potential buyers of these products can purchase them in the knowledge that they not only do what they say on the label, but are also manufactured in the most ethical and environmentally sensitive

manner. This means that each individual item can be traced back to its manufacturer and batch number but also, in the specific case of cotton mops, that the weight and absorbency of each mop is guaranteed as per the label it carries.”

The audit carried out by independent inspectors confirmed that, overall, 98.6% compliance was achieved by the mop scheme members, demonstrating that now, more than ever, purchasers can be certain that they get what they pay for. Building on the success of the accreditation scheme for its manufacturing members, the CHSA in January launched its Accredited Distributor Scheme. As with the manufacturing standards, accreditation applicants will be admitted on completion of an auditing process.

“As a company Robert Scott has, over the years, done all it can to adhere to a number of accreditations and standards set up to ensure both the

Alastair Scott.

quality of our product range and the welfare and environmental standards that so many companies now demand from their suppliers, “ continued Scott. “This includes everything from ethical trading policies and the use of child labour in the supply chain through to environmental policies and minimising environmental impact, the use of FSC certified products and a dedicated move away from a reliance on the use of harmful chemicals - all of which Robert Scott supports. And with the vast majority of mops manufactured here in Saddleworth we’re proud to wave the flag for made in Britain products.” www.robert-scott.co.uk

NEW PRODUCTS

Hand towel solution helps the fight against HAIs The new Scott Control Rolled Hand Towel solution from Kimberly-Clark Professional brings the latest in hygiene innovation to healthcare cleaning professionals, helping the fight against hospital acquired infections HAIs. Continuing pressure on budgets in the healthcare sector means efficiency must be pursued, but not at the expense of good hand hygiene compliance which is critical to maintaining high standards of infection control and preventing HAIs. Scott Control Rolled Hand Towel enables healthcare teams to achieve hygiene and efficiency at the same time.

Made with patented Airflex fabric technology and eucalyptus fibre, Scott Control Rolled Hand Towel is softer and more absorbent, so fewer towels are needed for a hygienic hand dry. Additionally, the stamp embossing of the towels increases

user preference by more than 40%, according to the company’s research.

“About 20-30% of HAIs are preventable, and research shows that the number one prevention method is good hand hygiene,” said Sophie Rice, EMEA healthcare segment marketing manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional.

“However, staff compliance can be a challenge for healthcare facilities. Workers often have to wash and dry

their hands up to 20 times every day which can cause sore skin and irritation. Scott Control Rolled Hand Towel is softer to use and therefore kinder to hands, which encourages hand hygiene compliance.”

The towel system is teamed with a new compact dispenser, the Aquarius. It has a smooth design with no dirt traps that might harbour bacteria which enables easy one-wipe cleaning, helping

Scalable management tool for cleaning sector Make Life Easy, a tech start-up headquartered in the UK, has launched a new management app (MAAPP) designed specifically for the commercial cleaning industry. MAAPP is designed to create cost efficiencies by saving time, eliminating paperwork, helping manage staff, and promoting a superior service to clients.

Company founders Niall Moffat and Rod Leach have more than 15 years’ experience in commercial cleaning, having previously held senior management roles at a national company employing 1200 staff and an office network spanning the UK. Rod Leach, co-founder of Make Life Easy, said: “No

one was asking why. Why do we still rely on paper written reports? Why do we accept that actions can take hours or even days to be filed depending on where a manager is or how busy he or she is? There was a mindset that because we were ‘just’ a cleaning business, digital technology wasn’t relevant.

In an era where everything is available online and I can receive breaking global news within a matter of seconds, it’s time the cleaning industry caught up. One of the greatest hurdles for many cleaning businesses adopting new management technology was the prohibitive cost of implementing largescale IT. We realised there

was an opportunity in the market for affordable, scalable technology designed specifically for the cleaning industry. We wanted to create something which challenged the status quo and help people see there is another way, a better way.”

The company’s new MAAPP technology allows cleaning managers to record actions around health and safety, training and quality audits in real-time while on site using an iPad. The data is immediately sent to company headquarters for action. Crucially, clients are also given access to a portal where all data is replicated, meaning quality checks and health and safety alerts, for

the fight against cross-contamination. Towel dispensing is efficient and hygienic, with users only touching the sheet they use. The neverrun-out feature ensures a continuous rolled towel supply. The stub roll is used to the full with normal single sheet dispensing until the roll is finished. It does not feed twice, and the transition to the new roll is seamless, with no overlap, which maximises efficiency and controls budgets.

“Healthcare facilities shouldn't have to make a choice between maintaining high standards of hand hygiene and budget control,” continued Rice. “With Scott Control Rolled Hand Towels there is no compromise. The system drives hygiene compliance with a continuous supply of towels providing a softer, elevated hand dry helping to protect against cross-contamination.” www.kcprofessional.co.uk

example, are communicated to them immediately.

Leach continued: “This completely eliminates the need for paperwork and creates more time for managers to focus on important tasks such as building strong client relationships and supporting staff. We’ve also had really positive feedback from clients who love the idea of using the portal to gain transparency in reporting, up to the minute information and a fast response time from all enquiries they send to their cleaning partner. Put simply, it makes life easier for everyone involved.”

Make Life Easy’s MAAPP technology is available for cleaning businesses of all sizes and can be scaled to suit small operators through to large national organisations with multiple sites and thousands of employees. www.mleltd.com

Published by Quartz Business Media Quartz House 20 Clarendon Road Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QX Tel: 01737 855086 www.cleaninghub.net

Editor Neil Nixon neilnixon@quartzltd.com Tel: 07957 713316 Sales Manager Vanessa Van Santen-Smith vanessavss@quartzltd.com Tel: 01737 855041 Business Development Manager Michelle Andrews michelleandrews@quartzltd.com Tel: 01737 855086 Production Manager Carol Baird carolbaird@quartzltd.com Tel: 01923 437619 Managing Director Steve Diprose CEO Paul Michael Paid Subscriptions Elizabeth Barford subscriptions@quartzltd.com Tel: 01737 855028 Circulation Enquiries Circdata quartzmedia@circdata.com Tel: 01635 879303 Annual Subscriptions 12 copies per year UK: 1 yr: £122 2 yrs: £220 Rest of the world 1 yr: £170 2 yrs: £306 C&M is free for qualified readers in the UK .

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