The Standard Issue 4 2024

THE

STANDARD

Edition 4 2024

BICSc AWARDS 2024

Learn more on page 16

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CHAIR'S CHAT!

WITH SOO BARTHOLOMEW MBICSc

CELEBRATIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND A

LOOK TO THE FUTURE

BY NEIL SPENCER-COOK MBICSc

TEAM PROGRESS AND ROLLED SKILLS

ADVANCEMENTS

BY DENISE HANSON FBICSc

HARNESSING THE POWER OF SENSOR

TECHNOLOGY FOR SMARTER CLEANING

SOLUTIONS

BY GARETH LEVERTON

SUSTAINABILITY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

TORK OPTISERVE SAVES TIME FOR

FACILITY MANAGERS AND CLEANERS

P-WAVE LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION

MIDNIGHT COAST SLANT6 URINAL

SCREEN FOR HIGH-END HOSPITALITY

VENUES

BICSc BRINGS THE SPARKLE TO THE

CLEAN & TIDY HOME SHOW!

SC JOHNSON PROFESSIONAL'S PATENTED

FOAM TECHNOLOGY: ADVANCING HAND

HYGIENE BY USING LESS

WHAT A NIGHT!

FEATURE!

BY ZOE LITTLER

CLEANING, CHEMICALS AND

REGULATIONS HOW THEY ALL WORK

TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A SAFE

ENVIRONMENT

BY VIKKI MORRIS

CHSA'S NEW CERTIFICATION MARKS

FOR ACCREDITIED MANFACTURERS

GUARANTEES 'WHAT'S ON THE BOX IS

WHAT'S IN THE BOX'

A WORD FOR THE WISE

CLEANOLOGY'S ANNUAL CHARITY

FUNDRAISER SETS NEW RECORD TO

REACH £115K RASIED FOR THE HYGIENE

BANK

BICSc IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CLEANING

MANAGERS

BY JAMES MARSTON LBICSc

TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE

CLEANLINESS WITH SYNBIOTIX X-CLEAN

REMOVING THE BARRIER OF LANGUAGE

FROM TRAINING

BY AMELIA AMESBURY LBICSc

HONOURING SERVICES TO

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AT

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANERS'

MILTARY AWARDS 2024

AN AWARD WIN IS MORE THAN JUST A

TROPHY

BY KELSEY HARGREAVES LBICSc

NAVIGATING THE FUTURE WITH SMART

BUILDINGS

CSSA INNOVATION SHOWCASE 2025:

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE

CLEANING INDUSTRY

BY PAUL ASHTON

BICSc AWARDS 2024 - OUR LOUISE IS A

WINNER!

SIX ESSENTIAL STEPS TO NAVIGATING

THE WORKER PROTECTION ACT

TRANSITIONING TO A SUSTAINABLE

FUTURE FOR THE CLEANING INDUSTRY

UNDERSTANDING THE LINK BETWEEN

FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND OVERALL

REPUTATION

CLEAN AUTONOMOUSLY, INCREASE

EFFICIENCY

TRANSFORMING FACILITY MANAGEMENT:

SAVEFAST'S IMPACT IN SAUDI ARABIA

59 WELCOMING OUR NEW MEMBERS

Meet the winners!

Find out more on our website!

CHAIR'S CHAT!

SOO BARTHOLOMEW

National Chair

Hello everyone, I hope that you are

all well and were able to find some

sun this summer (there was not a

lot about was there?), as the nights

draw in and the leaves start to fall, I

would imagine that you are all now

looking forward to Christmas and

the New Year and reflecting on the

events and challenges over the past

12 months.

I am certainly reflecting on the

past events as it is hard to know

where time has gone since taking

the Chair at BICSc in September

2023. I promised in my last note

that I would write a bit about the

exhibition in Amsterdam, as it is a

bi-annual exhibition and there is so

much to see every time you visit.

It was evident wherever you looked

at Interclean that the Co-bots and

Robots have arrived and are gaining

more momentum in the industry

with the array of tasks that they

can now perform. The data that we

can gather from these gives us real

insight into cleaning and enables

us to meet the demands of the

client with a shrinking workforce.

Uptake by the front-line cleaning

operatives is also increasing, just

like when smartphones started to

be introduced, the technology does

not appear to be so frightening now

and mapping them is becoming ever

easier.

It was also apparent at Interclean

that sustainability is becoming

more and more prevalent, and that

awareness of the planet's fragility

and limited resources need to be

cared for more than ever before. At

BICSc we are always conscious of

this when working with our clients

and we are proud to be working

with Planet Mark and Citation

to ensure that we accurately

participate and report on our ESG

credentials and strategy, for our

future generations of cleaning

operatives.

We had the Golden Service and

Northern Ireland Cleaning awards

in May and June and before we

knew it we were at our own Awards

in September, it was a fabulous

sold out event and despite having

a cold for the 2nd year running,

I really enjoyed seeing you there

and enjoying the event, and all

our amazing award finalists and

winners. Planning for next year is

already underway so look out for

updates, including details of the

awards.

While the Conference was going

on during the day of the Awards,

I took the opportunity to meet

with other Chairpersons of the

industry – Worshipful Company

of Environmental Cleaners, CSSA,

CHSA and BCC. We agreed that

we are all working towards the

same goal to raise the profile of the

cleaning industry and destroy the

myth that it is not a skilled industry.

We have agreed to all work

together and meet once every 6

months to come up with ideas and

band together on joint ventures

to achieve this. If you have any

questions, please feel free to speak

to any one of us and if you have

any ideas yourself on how we can

progress awareness of the industry,

please speak up.

As I am sure you aware by now

BICSc have some fantastic young

ambassadors within our team, who I

am sure will be happy to talk to you

about engaging with younger people

who are just starting their career

and how you can demonstrate the

wide variety of roles that we can

offer along with a true career path.

There will be more of this over the

coming months from the various

trade bodies that we are now

talking to as discussed above.

For now, I wish you all a fantastic

Christmas and happy and healthy

2025.

Best wishes,

Soo

2 | 3

CELEBRATIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND A

LOOK TO THE FUTURE

TEAM PROGRESS AND ROLLED SKILLS

ADVANCEMENTS

As the festive season approaches,

we all here at BICSc would like to

wish you a great time at the end of

the month if you celebrate and good

luck for the coming new year.

I seem to keep saying this but we

are not showing any signs of slowing

down.

Since my last update we have

celebrated the winners of the BICSc

awards and later in this edition

there is a full rundown of the day

and evening along with some key

photo’s from the BICSc conference,

exhibition and awards, if you were

there see if you can spot yourself

having fun.

We also celebrated a win at the

European Cleaning and Hygiene

awards in Lisbon, where our

very own Kelsey Hargreaves was

crowned the Rising Star, we are all

so proud of her achievements. This

also led to myself and Kelsey being

invited by BBC Northampton Radio

and appearing on the BBC News

website.

We have exhibited and hosted the

ask the expert stage at the Clean

and Tidy home show, and shortly

after this goes to print we will be at

the final event of the year in the UK,

the Cleaning Matters Conference,

Exhibition and Awards.

Kelsey will also be appearing at

Interclean in China.

It may seem like it is all awards and

exhibitions but it really isn’t, we will

in January be issuing The Cleaning

Professional Skills Suite version 3.1,

a few tweaks being made to bring it

back up to date,

and then the work

will begin on a full

review for version

4 to be released in

2026.

Our training is

as popular as

ever, the online

just goes from strength to strength

with over 90,000 courses completed

since its inception and over a third

of these courses being run this

year. The free courses still continue

to be the most popular but who

doesn’t want something for free. Not

forgetting our face to face training

which is growing along with auditing

and project work.

We have sadly said goodbye to

Marion Wood since the last edition

who decided to take it easy and

retire after more than 5 years' of

service to BICSc, we all here are

missing her but wish the best for her

retirement.

In addition to this, Zoe Littler has

now settled into her role, you may

have seen her introduction in the last

edition, if you didn’t Zoe is proving to

be a valued asset in the project team

and her photography skills are being

well utilised.

The Future of Cleaning initiative

continues, I am still really interested

to see what results the study brings.

Along with CSSA, Denise Hanson

and Dr Andrew Kemp are being

kept busy, completing audits and

taking readings so we can follow the

changes and report back to you all.

It's great to see more articles

appearing in the last few editions

from members of the team here at

BICSc and I hope you are finding

their insights useful.

I'll leave it there for now and until

the next edition happy reading.

NEIL SPENCER-COOK

Group Managing Director

This quarter has seen some changes

for the team, and I am grateful that

both Kelsey and Amelia are settling

into their new roles. They have both

had international trips with Amelia

running the face to face assessor

training days and Kelsey verifying

the centres and our new and existing

assessors.

Kelsey joins Maureen as a verifier,

covering the international sites for

in person visits where Maureen

covers the home nations and also the

online verifications for both UK and

international centres.

These verification visits are vital to the

centres, ensuring they are cascading

the BICSc training to their staff in

a professional and comprehensive

manner. We now offer much more

support to our centres with Standard

Operating Procedures being

downloadable from the CPSS Assessor

app and the demonstration videos.

We have also seen the popularity

of the rolled skills start to gain

momentum; meant to simulate the

working practice of the cleaning

operatives, we currently have 5 rolled

skills available to any assessor who

holds the individual components.

• RS1 – Covering BU2, BU5, BU10

and BU12

• RS2 – Covering BU2, BU5, BU10,

BU12 and BU13

• RS3 – Covering BU3, BU5 and

BU6

• RS4 – Covering AU1 and AU2

• RS5 – Covering BU7, BU8 and

AU9

OR TO PUT IN ANOTHER WAY

• RS1 – Toilet cleaning skills

• RS2 – Bathroom cleaning skills

• RS3 – Office cleaning skills

• RS4 – Hard floor buffing and

spray buffing

• RS5 – Tea point cleaning skills

These rolled skills incorporate not

only the individual skills but the order

we recommend they are completed,

seeking a way to implement the skills

into the operatives’ daily routines.

We have plans for future rolls, and it

would be interesting to see which skills

you would like to see put together,

please let me know as if there are

clear favourites then these will move

towards the top of my in-tray! I can be

reached on denise.hanson@bics.org.uk

DENISE HANSON

Commercial Director

THE STANDARD 4 | 5

HARNESSING THE POWER

OF SENSOR TECHNOLOGY

FOR SMARTER CLEANING

SOLUTIONS

BY GARETH LEVERTON, CGO BIRKIN GROUP

Clean 300m 2 in just

1 minute of your time,

with the i-walk

Level up your Cleaning Routine

Combine powerful, modern co-botic

technology with the unmatched cleaning

performance of the i-mop XL. With the i-walk,

upgrading any existing i-mop XL is effortless.

In less than a minute, the machine is operational

and you can get on with other tasks.

Product specifications

Runtime

4 hours

with i-power 9

Practical

performance

up to 700 m 2 /h

Clean 300m 2

in 1 minute

setup time

Why choose i-walk?

Faster

It takes less than 1 minute to put the i-walk to

work which saves time for other tasks.

Cleaner

i-walk offers co-botization combined with the

i-mop cleaning performance.

Greener

Uses 70% less water and chemicals compared

to manual cleaning, thanks to its advanced

recovery system.

Safer

Super dry floor reduces slip accidents because

of the advanced suction technology.

Better for everyone

Improves the lives of cleaners by doing the

repetitive work.

In recent years, the cleaning

industry has seen significant

technological advancements,

with sensor technology emerging

as a powerful tool for enhancing

operational efficiency and creating

cleaner environments. As the Chief

Growth Officer at Birkin Group, I am

excited to share how our company

is implementing sensor technology

to drive smarter cleaning strategies,

leading to significant improvements

in service quality and resource

optimisation.

We are not just responding to

change; we’re pioneering it. By

integrating sensor-based systems

into our cleaning processes, we’re

able to collect real-time data on space

usage, occupancy, and movement

within buildings. This data allows our

teams to make informed decisions,

optimising cleaning schedules based

on actual needs rather than a fixed

routine. For example, if a meeting

room hasn’t been used all day, there’s

no need to waste time and resources

cleaning it that evening. Instead,

our focus can be shifted to hightraffic

areas that demand immediate

attention.

Our use of sensors isn’t only about

efficiency. It also has a significant

impact on service quality. By

understanding when and where

cleaning is truly needed, we can

allocate our workforce more

effectively, ensuring that operatives

focus on the areas that matter most.

In one recent project, the adoption

of sensor technology allowed us

to increase the frequency of hightraffic

area cleaning by 15% during

peak hours, directly responding to

client needs for a spotless and safe

environment without adding extra

hours to our teams’ shifts.

Sensor technology also enhances

accountability and transparency in

our operations. Our management

teams can access data dashboards

that provide insights into cleaning

activities across different sites.

This visibility enables us to ensure

high standards of hygiene are

consistently met, particularly in

critical areas like washrooms and

kitchens. Additionally, this real-time

data allows us to adapt quickly to

any changes in building usage, such

as events or peak visitor periods,

ensuring that our teams are always

prepared to meet demand.

Another remarkable aspect of this

technology is its ability to empower

our cleaning operatives. Sensor

technology reduces the physical

demands of their work by allowing

them to focus on areas that genuinely

require attention. This shift not

only makes their job easier but also

enhances job satisfaction, as they’re

able to see the direct impact of their

efforts on a cleaner, safer, and more

efficient environment.

For instance, in one of our highprofile

client sites, the deployment

of sensors led to a 91% compliance

rate with scheduled cleaning tasks,

as it provided insights that directed

our operatives to high-priority areas

in real-time. This case demonstrated

that the integration of sensors

doesn't just streamline operations

but also reinforces accountability,

ensuring our teams work more

effectively and with greater precision.

As we look to the future, the potential

applications of sensor technology in

the cleaning industry are vast. With

advancements in artificial intelligence

and machine learning, we anticipate

even more precise and predictive

cleaning schedules. Imagine a system

that not only monitors room usage

but also predicts cleaning needs

based on historical data and patterns.

This is where the industry is heading,

and we’re committed to staying at the

forefront of these advancements.

The integration of sensor technology

is transforming the way we approach

cleaning, allowing us to deliver

smarter, more sustainable, and

more responsive services. It’s an

exciting time in the cleaning industry,

and I am proud to see our team at

Birkin embracing this technology to

create cleaner, healthier, and more

sustainable spaces for

our clients.

For more info about our imop Lite, visit: i-teamglobal.com

Liverpool • UK • +44 1945 595 177 • hello@i-teamembassyuk.com

6 | 7

SUSTAINABILITY

MAKES THE

DIFFERENCE

DON’T DO

IT YOUR-

SELF

Do it fully autonomously. The KIRA B 50 cleaning

robot is not only impressive at first glance.

But especially so in daily use. karcher.co.uk

At Kärcher, sustainability is an

aspiration and driving force. This

is why they not only impress with

powerful cleaning systems but

also take responsibility for the

environment, products, the supply

chain, society and staff.

Kärcher’s actions focus on

sustainable business development

based on people’s needs by creating

value for their customers, staff, and

the company. This is based on longterm

sustainability strategies, which

the family-owned company has been

consistently pursuing for several

years.

Kärcher’s 2025 sustainability

objectives include production with

green electricity, recycling of raw

materials, and the reduction of

plastic packaging. Sustainability is

also deeply embedded in their global

supply chain. When it comes to social

and societal issues, preserving values

is vital, as is taking on responsibility

– an essential part of the corporate

culture at Kärcher from the

beginning.

In addition, many other milestones

were completed, these included the

first large-scale cleaning project of

the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro,

the commissioning of the company's

own photovoltaic systems on the

company premises, the publication

of the Kärcher Code of Conduct,

research projects for energy-efficient

production, the introduction of a

global energy management system

and the first product parts made of

recycled plastic in series production.

As a leading climate-friendly

company in the cleaning industry,

Kärcher has been using green

electricity for production in all of

their factories worldwide since 2021.

To reduce their carbon footprint, they

save energy and invest in efficient

systems and buildings, whilst many

factories generate their electricity

self-sufficiently through photovoltaic

systems. For Kärcher, sustainability

does not end at the factory gates,

they also consider emissions from

upstream and downstream activities,

which is done by focusing on

appointing regional suppliers.

Kärcher also designs their cleaning

systems to be as environmentally

friendly as possible, from

manufacture and use right through to

disposal. The aim is to reduce the use

of primary raw materials. This is why

they rely on material procurement

from sustainable sources, an increase

in the proportion of recycled plastic

in products, and durable machines.

They are also working on sustainable

packaging and a pilot production

programme for avoiding plastic

waste, as well as committing to the

reduction and re-use of ocean plastic.

Some examples of this include the

production of dry vacuum cleaners

made with recycled materials -

ensuring that the carbon footprint is

offset for every machine in this range

that is manufactured. In their Kärcher

owned Kärcher operated (KOKO

Centers) nurdle shelving has been

created through the revolutionary

method of recycling Kärcher plastic

machine casings.

In their supply chain, Kärcher also

values environmentally friendly

behavior, long-term relationships,

strict social standards, and

transparency. They follow clear

criteria against which measure both

the business and its partners. Kärcher

is aware of their social responsibility

and contributes in this area by

supporting organisations and people

that campaign for the preservation of

nature, culture, and society, including

the RNLI and SOS Children’s Villages.

For more information on Kärcher’s

sustainability goals. Please visit:

https://www.kaercher.com/int/

inside-kaercher/sustainability/

sustainability-goals-2025.html

8 | 9

TORK OPTISERVE® SAVES TIME FOR

FACILITY MANAGERS AND CLEANERS

Designed to enhance efficiency and

reduce environmental impact in the

washroom is new Tork OptiServe®

from Essity.

This toilet paper system allows

managers to use the same coreless

toilet paper refills across an entire

facility.

“Commercial facilities are complex

and usually feature various types

of washrooms as well as cubicles of

different sizes,” said Global Brand

Innovation Manager for Tork Tomas

Gandemo. “As a result, 85 per cent

of facility managers currently use two

or more toilet paper systems in their

buildings.”

Using different types of toilet paper

creates extra work, he said. “It leads to

more inventory checks, makes ordering

more complicated and requires staff

to be trained in the use of multiple

systems.”

A Tork study revealed that 80 per

cent of facility managers would

prefer to use one solution across

their entire facility. “Tork OptiServe

has been designed to meet that need,”

said Tomas. “Having only one solution

across the facility allows managers to

optimise ordering, handling and storage

inventory. It also saves time because

cleaning teams can use the same refill

in every washroom. And this results in

fewer trips to the storeroom to fetch

different types of toilet paper.”

The coreless design of Tork OptiServe

creates less waste than traditional

systems, which helps facility

managers reach their sustainability

goals, says Tomas. “The system comes

in a wide range of dispenser options,

each of which uses the same compact

rolls without a core or outer wrap,” he

said.

THE STANDARD

Tork OptiServe dispensers are

certified as being Easy to Use by the

Swedish Rheumatism Association.

They are also designed for fast

refilling and the refill packs feature

carry handles for easy ergonomic

handling.

The fact that the compact rolls are

coreless means each roll provides

three times more paper and there

is less waste to handle and discard.

As a result cleaning teams need to

refill less often, run-outs are avoided

and facility managers can help to

reduce their environmental impact.

And EU Ecolabel and FSC® certified

refills and certified carbon neutral

dispensers are available with the

system.

The compact rolls take up half the

space on a cleaning trolley, in store

cupboards and during transport

for improved efficiency and

sustainability.

Facility managers need to equip

their teams with efficient, reliable

and smart systems that are easy and

fast to maintain, said Tomas. “Refilling

toilet paper dispensers should be one

of the quickest and easiest tasks for

cleaning staff,” he said. “If systems are

easy to maintain, offer a high capacity

and are reliable they can make a positive

impact on the guest experience.”

P-WAVE LAUNCHES LIMITED

EDITION MIDNIGHT COAST

SLANT6 URINAL SCREEN FOR

HIGH-END HOSPITALITY VENUES

“Our new Slant6 Midnight Coast

limited edition urinal screen ensures we

can reach even more men by taking this

important NHS message into the highend

hospitality sector.”

Leading UK air freshening experts

P-Wave have launched a new Slant6

Midnight Coast limited edition urinal

screen, aimed at high-end hospitality,

and featuring NHS England’s

important men’s health message

“Blood in your pee? Contact your GP

practice”.

“Our new Slant6 Midnight Coast

limited edition is more upmarket than

a celebrity chef’s tasting menu,” says

Mark Wintle, P-Wave’s Brand Manager

from Robert Scott. “The sleek, black

urinal screen allows guests to indulge in

a refreshing aquatic fragrance, balanced

with green palm leaves, fruity and floral

hints, all layered over driftwood and

white musk.

“And while they enjoy the luxury, they

will also be reminded of an important

NHS cancer awareness message –

because even in a 5-star washroom,

health matters.”

ONGOING SUCCESS FOR MEN’S

HEALTH INITIATIVE

Since the end of last year, as part

of a major earlier cancer diagnosis

drive, an NHS awareness campaign

to encourage men to consult their

GPs if they saw blood in their urine,

has been delivered directly to those

at risk through a special message

featured on P-Wave’s Slant6 urinal

screens.

Diagnosing cancer early means it

is easier to treat and can save lives,

which is why the NHS chose to

collaborate with P-Wave to urge men

to be aware of changes in their bodies

and contact their GP practice if they

notice symptoms that could be a sign

of cancer.

The NHS England campaign has been

a great success and sees no signs of

slowing, with over 600,000 urinal

screens carrying the NHS message

expected to be placed in venues from

pubs, restaurants and offices, to

shopping malls and sports stadiums

nationwide by the end of the year.

MORE FRAGRANCE AND KINDER

TO THE PLANET

Slant6 has the highest ratio of

fragrance load to plastic than any

other urinal screen, and consistently

outperforms other 30-day urinal

screens. Slant6 keeps walls, floors

and trousers dry, thanks to its unique

angled bristle design, and is the

first range in the UK that features

the market-leading anti-splash

technology on both sides of the

screen – so they cannot be installed

incorrectly.

Easy to install, the Slant6 has

the lowest plastic content of any

competing premium urinal mat,

and while they are recyclable, they

also feature the EcoPure® additive

that has been proven to accelerate

biodegradation, should they find their

way to landfill.

“The original roll out for the NHS

branded urinal mats featured our

brightly coloured Slant6 screens with

popular fragrances such as Honeysuckle,

Ocean Mist, Cucumber & Melon and

Cotton Blossom” says Mark Wintle.

“We thought that high-end hospitality

deserved something special and the

new stylish black Slant6 Midnight

Coast limited edition delivers a unique

fragrance which is already receiving rave

reviews.”

MAKING THE WASHROOM A

CENTRE FOR WELLBEING

“We were proud to be

chosen to work with NHS

England on this firstof-its-kind

partnership,

which offers a creative yet

simple way to literally put a potentially

life-saving cancer awareness message in

front of men.

“We are delighted to able to make the

washroom a centre for wellbeing and

put a focus on men’s health awareness.

It is great to think that with our P-Wave

urinal mats, we can encourage people

to check for blood in their pee and to

contact their GP practice if they spot it.

“Our new Slant6 Midnight Coast limited

edition urinal screen ensures we can

reach even more men by taking this

important NHS message into the highend

hospitality sector.”

BLOOD IN YOUR PEE

Passing blood in pee – even just once

– is a common symptom for bladder,

kidney or prostate cancers, which

are all among the ten most prevalent

cancers in the country, and generally

affect men more than women.

Other common symptoms for

bladder, kidney or prostate cancer

include peeing very often, sudden

urges to pee or a burning sensation

when you pee, difficulty peeing, a

lump or swelling in your back, under

your ribs, or in your neck, or pain in

the side between the ribs and the hip.

For more about this important

washroom wellbeing initiative visit:

www.p-wave.co.uk/nhs

For more information about cancer

symptoms, visit:

www.nhs.uk/cancersymptoms

10 | 11

BICSc BRINGS THE SPARKLE TO THE

CLEAN & TIDY HOME SHOW!

BY MATT EVANS MBICSc

BICSc, along with many other brands

and members of the public, attended

the Clean & Tidy Home Show over

the weekend of the 19 th and 20 th

October. Hosted in the ExCeL Centre

in London, it was a celebration of

the impact that a clean home has

on your wellbeing. Attending as a

member of the cleaning industry, it

gave the opportunity to connect and

participate with household brands.

Talks were held across various stages

with BICSc presenting on the ‘Ask

an Expert’ stage across both days.

Sunday ended with a stunning award

ceremony that celebrated the leading

companies across 12 different

categories. For those attending with

kids, there was an area just for them

to learn and play whilst the parents

went and got their fill of cleaning

information and freebies.

The ‘Ask an Expert’ stage was where

BICSc resided and provided our

own knowledge to the public on

how best to clean their own homes

and stay safe whilst doing so. Kelsey

Hargreaves captured the crowd with

her talks every hour connecting to

the public and ensuring there was

no shame but just the top tips for

everyone. Over on the ‘Main stage’,

Penny took to the stage as she

chatted with names such as Marie

Kondo and Jemma Solomon. The

‘Demo stage’ had large gathering

crowds to watch Richard Pearson

and the many guest speakers

showing their ways to organise and

recycle. The ‘Extra stage’ gave the

public access to more knowledge

from the experts on how to handle

mental health and cleaning and

creating a safe environment. Finally,

the ‘Community hub’ was there to

provide a relaxed atmosphere for a

friendly chat and a space to connect

with new and old faces!

Whilst BICSc was commandeering

the ‘Ask an Expert’ stage, alongside

Association of Professional

Declutterers & Organisers (APDO),

giving expert knowledge to everyone,

there was even more going on across

the convention. Big names such as

Stacey Solomon and Marie Kondo

were bringing over all the crowds.

Marie Kondo dished out her

amazing tips and tricks

whilst also explaining

her own personal

journey and how this

led to the creation

of the KonMari

method. Stacey

Solomon visited one

of her two stands

and gave us her advice

after the success of her

BBC One show, Sort Your

Life Out. Strolling around the

convention, you would keep bumping

into mascots who provided brilliant

photo opportunities and brought

laughs to all. The awards celebrated

every company that has made an

impact, giving honourable mentions

and revealing who won. Honorary

mentions were given to those who

had sparkling recommendations but

didn’t quite shine bright enough.

Cleaning 101 was an introduction to

the principles, skills and techniques

essential for effective cleaning

and how to apply these to your

own household. The kitchen is a

vital part of the home and can be

difficult to know how to go about

cleaning it in the most effective

manner, Kelsey shared how to

apply the correct hygiene protocols

to make your kitchen adhere to

professional guidelines. Another

talk BICSc offered was around

cleaning bathrooms.

Not many people

enjoy or know

how best

to clean

their own

bathroom

which is

why BICSc

step by step guide was a crucial talk

to attend as it gave us the best place

to start and all the top tips of the

trade. Most of us have heard rumours

and myths about cleaning and what

we should and shouldn’t be doing,

however these aren’t always

correct and sometimes

can cause more

harm than

good so

Kelsey was

there to

debunk all of

the common

myths and shocked the crowd whilst

doing so.

Not only did BICSc attend, but so

did Louie the (toy) Lion! He visited a

range of stands in hopes of winning

prizes and learning even more about

the cleaning industry. Louie didn’t

have to travel far from listening to

Kelsey to visit the BICSc stand as it

was next to the ‘Ask an Expert’ stage.

BICSc stand was manned by Amelia,

Denise, Sam and Neil who were there

to answer all the public’s burning

questions about who BICSc are and

any advice they could give them. Matt

and Zoe covered the photography

and videography for the event

to capture the days and the

shining presence the Clean &

Tidy Home Show had within the

ExCeL Centre.

To round off the fabulous weekend

the prestigious Clean & Tidy Awards

took place at 3pm on the Sunday

with BICSc sponsoring two awards

and BICSc very own Neil Spencer-

Cook taking to the stage to present

the awards for the deserving

winners. Just to mention a few of the

awards given out were the ‘Home

Appliance of the Year’ sponsored by

BICSc, awarded to MyHenry. The

‘Innovation of the Year’ sponsored

by Progressive Housewares, given

to Boss It for the Boss It Rapid

Dryer Ball, and the ‘Cleaning Tool

of the Year’ presented by BICSc,

awarded to The Pink Stuff. The

Awards were a celebration

of the impact that so many

brands and influencers

have over the way that

cleaning takes place in our very own

homes and the way we approach it.

The Clean & Tidy Home Show is an

outstanding event that is a safe place

for everyone to gain knowledge

and learn of the best products that

they need in their life. We will most

definitely be attending next year

on the 18 th and 19 th October and

returning to the ExCeL in London. We

hope to see you all there! Best get

your wish list for what freebies you

want to collect and your questions at

the ready!

THE STANDARD 12 | 13

We are the world leader in foam

technology for hand hygiene

products. For nearly 25 years, we

have invented numerous foam

innovations that enable end users

to use less product compared to

traditional lotion soaps, achieving

great results. From washroom

soaps and industrial hand cleaners

to high efficacy hand sanitisers

and antimicrobial hand wash, our

numerous patents mean we now

have the world’s widest range of

hand hygiene products using foam

technology.

We started by inventing and

launching the world’s first wallmounted

non-aerosol foam soap

dispensing system in 1998. This

introduced a solution that enabled

people to use less product, less water,

less energy and less packaging waste

than traditional lotion soaps in a

product format that delivers more

hand washes per cartridge, helping

make the washroom more efficient.

By combining chemistry and

engineering, we created our hand

soap product range, which allows

users to achieve an effective hand

wash with significant savings when

compared to washing with traditional

lotion soaps. Our hand soap range

provides 43% more hand washes per

litre, reduces packaging waste by

26% and reduces water use by 45%

thus also reducing energy usage via

hot water.

THE STANDARD

SC JOHNSON

PROFESSIONAL’S PATENTED

FOAM TECHNOLOGY:

ADVANCING HAND HYGIENE

BY USING LESS

Developing on the foam soap

format, we invented OxyBAC®,

an antimicrobial rich-cream foam

hand wash with a patented biocidal

technology specifically for use in

food manufacturing, catering and

healthcare environments where a

high level of hand hygiene is needed.

One of our most demanding foam

inventions was InstantFOAM hand

sanitiser, which contains 80% alcohol.

Using our deep understanding of

the science of foam, we were able

to develop a high alcohol-based

formula that could dispense as

foam and is preferred to traditional

gel formats. Designed for use in

demanding hygiene environments,

such as hospitals and the food

industry, InstantFOAM was the

world’s first non-aerosol foaming

alcohol hand sanitiser and solved

issues such as stickiness and poor

handleability experienced with gel

and liquid sanitisers . We conducted a

hospital study and, when comparing

InstantFOAM with an alcohol gel

hand sanitiser, we found that 81% of

users preferred InstantFOAM for

skin integrity and 88% preferred its

feel.

Using our experience of foam

technology to deliver better

efficiency and less waste, with

products people like to use, we

have invented our PowerFOAM

industrial hand cleaners. Throughout

industry, hand cleaners are used

frequently every day by workers to

get their hands clean and help keep

them in good condition.

Our patented Solopol® GFX is

the world’s only heavy-duty foam

hand cleaner containing scrubbing

agents suspended in the foam, to

give a deep-down clean for heavily

soiled hands . This invention involved

creating a completely unique foam

pump to inject air into a delicately

balanced formulation of heavy-duty

cleaning ingredients and natural

scrubbing agents. Compared with

a leading traditional hand cleaner,

Solopol® GFX hand cleaner uses

50% less product for an effective

hand wash and in end user testing,

87% of workers preferred it over

their existing lotion hand cleansers.

For lighter, general industrial hand

cleaning we have invented Estesol®

FX foam hand cleaner. Estesol®

FX is twice as effective as the

leading standard washroom soaps

and provides up to two times more

hand washes compared to the same

volume of traditional lotion soap hand

cleaner. In end user testing, Estesol®

FX hand cleaner was preferred by

77% of workers over their existing

traditional lotion hand cleaners.

Bringing foam technology innovations

to soaps, sanitisers and hand cleaners,

we have advanced hand hygiene by

allowing users around the world from

a wide range of industries to use less

and get great results – supporting

skin health and hygiene, whilst also

helping to create a more efficient

hand hygiene solution.

To find out more about SC Johnson

Professional’s foam soaps, sanitisers

and hand cleaners, head to https://

www.scjp.com/en-gb.

A FOAM FOR

ALL ENVIRONMENTS

At SC Johnson Professional® we are proud to have a foam product for every facility, so everyone

can access the benefits our products provide. From our PowerFoam products for the Industrial

market to our Cutan® Healthcare range we have you covered. Our Washroom foam soaps range

from perfume-free to our luxurious, signature fragrances which have been designed by experts

and proven to appeal to a broad range of users.

Our unique foam products

enable us to be the leading hand

hygiene supplier to the NHS.

THE SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS OF FOAM SOAP

30% 43% 1429 45%

product saving per

hand wash vs. lotion

soaps (0.7 ml vs. 1 ml)

Our foam products are kinder

more washes per 1L

cartridge equivalent vs.

lotion soap (1000 washes

vs. 1429 washes)

to the skin.

WASHES per

1L refill 30% more

than traditional

lotion soaps

Easy to use formats

• the foam format prevents drips

or spills

• available in a variety of formats

to suit the relevant usage

requirements

Reduction of up to

45% water consumption

washing hands with

foam soap rather than

lotion soap

WHAT A NIGHT!

BY ZOE LITTLER

The BICSc Awards get bigger and

better every year, and this year has

certainly set a new standard for the

event!

This year, a change of scenery

brought the BICSc Awards 2024

to the Belfry Hotel, famous for its

top-tier golf course, hosting of the

British Masters and many luxury

events being held at the venue.

The prestigious event started

at 9:00am with displays from

industry-leading companies such

as Citation, Planet Mark and Clean

and Tidy where attendees of the

event were given the opportunity

to visit the sponsors' stands to learn

all about their latest products and

innovations.

At 10:00am we kicked off the

Industry Insights Conference

with talks covering sustainability,

vacuum productivity and smart

hygiene for business and the

planet. The conference carried

on throughout the morning until

lunch was served, which was kindly

sponsored by Karcher. Lunch

provided the opportunity for

networking and catching up with

industry colleagues whilst also

giving attendees time to explore the

prestigious grounds of The Belfry

Hotel.

The Industry Insights Conference

continued with talks covering the

employment law updates, the future

of the industry and home habits for

enhanced employee wellbeing and

productivity.

At 3:30pm the conference wrapped

up and BICSc members were invited

to join the Annual General Meeting,

which was held not long after.

The evening awards ceremony

kicked off at 6:50pm in the

glamourous and decked-out

Woodlands Conservatory. After

having their photos taken, the

finalists joined the rest of us in

the Woodlands Conservatory

where they were continued to be

celebrated for their efforts in the

industry and the changes they are

helping to shape.

The main event began with a warm

welcome from our very own Neil

Spencer-Cook and a few words from

BICSc Chair, Soo Bartholomew. Jo

Caulfield then took to the stage

to start the awards in her classic

comedic manner with jokes that

got the whole audience laughing.

It then turned over to our host for

the evening, Kelsey Hargreaves.

Kelsey effortlessly ran the awards

ceremony, announcing this year’s

fantastic winners.

Every year the awards celebrate the

exemplary efforts of the industry

of the global professional cleaning

community.

An array of awards was presented

throughout the ceremony and

we are delighted to say that the

amazing winners for this year were:

The Accredited Training Member

(ATM) presented to HMP Dumfries

for their work as an Accredited

Training Member who, through

BICSc training and assessment,

delivers exemplary cleaning and

hygiene standards whilst promoting

the value of BICSc ethos and

principles. The award looks at

how you deliver BICSc within your

organisation and how you promote

BICSc externally.

The Cleaning Operative of the

Year Award was awarded to Louise

Johnson! This award is the most

coveted award of all, it celebrates

the success of an individual cleaning

operative who has demonstrated

an outstanding level of passion,

professionalism, and commitment

to excellence in their role, whilst

promoting the value of BICSc ethos

and principles.

The Environmental (ESG) Award

which was in collaboration with

the Worshipful Company of

Environmental Cleaners recognises

a BICSc Corporate Member that

is focused on environmental and

social governance (ESG). The

winner needed to display a rounded

and comprehensive approach

to environmental and social

governance (ESG) within their

business and it was imperative the

whole team were engaged in the

journey. The 2024 winner was Tork,

an Essity brand!

The Outstanding Candidate of

the Year Award focuses on how a

candidate has been able to achieve

the recognition of becoming the

outstanding candidate of the year

through adversity or has gone

the extra mile to complete and

receive the qualifications within

the workplace. Mohammad Syful

Islam Rahat Khalifa was this year’s

recipient!

Our Innovation Award was in

collaboration with the CSSA and

celebrates the success of a BICSc

member that has demonstrated

a focus on the use of technology

processes and/or learning and

development to drive an innovative

evolution for their business

or organisation. Focus was on

improving the overall quality of

service, sustainability, safety and/or

cost effectiveness for the business,

as well as an improved workplace

experience for the cleaning

operative. Berkeley Services UAE

L.L.C was recognised for their

efforts and received the award!

Other equally important awards

that were received included:

• The Eric Hill Award presented

to Matt Dean

• The Chairman’s Award given to

Lorraine Larman

• The BICSc International Award

awarded to Mania Kia

• Assessor of the Year presented

to Ramu Thakuri

• The David Bellamy Award given

to Karina Kornuta-Pigozne

Neil Spencer-Cook was thrilled

to see the winners celebrate their

proud moment. Neil said: “The BICSc

Awards are all about celebrating the

incredible and vitally important work

that goes on across the globe within

the industry to keep environments

clean and people safe.

"Our industry-leading awards are

always focused on putting our

exceptional cleaning operatives

in the spotlight and gives them an

opportunity to shine – they were the

true stars of the show."

After the awards were presented,

an amazing 3 course meal

was served to guests. Live

entertainment was performed

throughout dinner by the fabulous

violinist, Naomi.

Shangri-La Fine Dining and a hotel

gift stay. After everyone’s generous

donations the grand total of £2,545

was raised for Diabetes UK.

The end of the ceremony was

established by a toast to celebrate

the cleaning operatives and

everyone who is a part of the

industry.

The party was not over after the

ceremony finished, in fact the after

party was only just starting! Being

kicked off by The Audiotones who

got everyone up and dancing all

night long.

Congratulations to all this year’s

winners with their respective

awards.

It is an achievement to have been up

for a nomination so congratulations

are also in order for every one of

the finalists.

We can of course not celebrate

these fantastic awards without

giving thanks to the amazing

sponsors without whom the

event would not be possible. So a

BIG thank you to everyone who

supported this year!

A massive thank you to everyone

who attended the BICSc 2024

Awards! We are looking forward to

seeing you all next year for what will

be an even more magnificent event!

The Chairman’s Charity prize draw

took place with the opportunity

to win great prizes such as a tank

driving experience, The Shard


AWARDS WINNERS!

The Chairman's Award

Lorraine Larman

The Eric Hill Award

Corporate Member

of the Year

The Mount Charles Group

Accredited Training Member (ATM)

of the Year

HMP Dumfries

Matt Dean

The BICSc International Award

Mania Kia

The David Bellamy Award

Karina Kortnuta-Pigozne

Assessor

of the Year

Ramu Thakuri

Accredited Trainer

of the Year

Immaculate Angwena

THE STANDARD

Innovation Award

In collaboration with the CSSA

Berkeley Services UAE L.L.C

Environmental (ESG) Award

In collaboration with The Worshipful Company of

Environmental Cleaners

Tork, an Essity Brand

Cleaning Operative

of the Year

Louise Johnson

Outstanding Candidate

of the Year

Mohammed Syful Islam Rahat Khalifa

18 | 19

THE STANDARD

20 | 21

THE STANDARD

22 | 23

CLEANING, CHEMICALS AND

REGULATIONS HOW THEY ALL WORK

TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A SAFE

ENVIRONMENT

BY VIKKI MORRIS, ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER, EVANS VANODINE

WHY DO WE CLEAN?

Cleaning is done for many reasons,

not least of which is to remove

obvious dirt and soiling from surfaces

and objects, as well as the less

obvious harmful bacteria and viruses.

However, there are many lesserknown

reasons, which can still have a

big impact.

Health and Hygiene - Regular

cleaning helps with preventing

illness by removing microorganisms

from surfaces, reducing the risk of

infections and illnesses. Cleaning also

helps with allergen control, reducing

allergens like dust, pet dander, and

mould, which can cause respiratory

issues and allergies.

Mental Well-Being - A clean

and organised environment can

significantly reduce stress and

anxiety. Cluttered spaces can be

overwhelming and distracting, making

it harder to relax and focus. Clean

spaces are often more pleasant and

inviting, which can improve your

overall mood and sense of well-being.

Productivity - A tidy environment

can lead to enhanced focus,

helping improve concentration

and productivity by minimising

distractions. Keeping things clean,

tidy and organised means greater

efficiency, as you spend less time

looking for items and more time

being productive.

Aesthetic and Comfort - Clean spaces

offer visual appeal and comfort,

making your home or workplace

more enjoyable to live and work in,

contributing to a better quality of life.

Environmental Impact - Regular

cleaning can help maintain and extend

the life of fixtures and equipment,

reducing waste and promoting

sustainable practices.

WHY DO WE USE CHEMICALS FOR

CLEANING?

Chemicals are used for cleaning

because they are highly effective at

removing dirt, grime, and harmful

microorganisms. Here are some key

reasons why cleaning chemicals are

essential.

Effectiveness - Chemicals and

surfactants are able to tackle dirt and

grease by reducing the surface tension

of water, allowing it to spread and

penetrate surfaces more effectively.

This helps lift and remove dirt, grease,

and other contaminants that water

alone wouldn’t. Certain chemicals can

break down tough stains and deposits

that water alone cannot remove.

Disinfection - Disinfectants contain

active ingredients that kill

pathogens, such as

bacteria, viruses, and

fungi, reducing the

risk of

infections and illnesses. Regular use of

disinfectants in places like hospitals,

kitchens, and bathrooms helps with

infection prevention and control, and

preventing the spread of disease.

Specialised Cleaning - Different

chemicals are formulated to target

specific cleaning challenges. For

example, low foaming detergents

are formulated for use with floor

machines, whereas a washing up

detergent is formulated for cutting

through grease and cleaning kitchen

and catering equipment. Swapping

these products around would not

work, as there would be too much

foam or not enough.

Cleaning chemicals can be used on

a variety of surfaces and materials,

offering versatility for maintaining

cleanliness in different environments.

Chemicals can be selected for a range

of applications, dependant on the

environment they are to be used in,

and the desired outcome. For example,

a biocidal product would be used

where there is a risk of contamination

risk, and a general hard surface cleaner

used when there isn’t. The careful

selection of products can eliminate the

need for unnecessary work.

Efficiency - Chemicals are timesaving,

making cleaning tasks quicker and

more efficient by reducing the amount

of physical agitation needed. They

also enhance the overall performance

of cleaning processes, ensuring that

surfaces are not only clean but also

disinfected, where necessary, and

areas are safe to use.

WHY DO WE NEED REGULATIONS

WITHIN THE INDUSTRY?

Regulations play an important role

when formulating products and

selecting raw materials. Regulations

are also there to protect users of

products and the environment. There

are several aspects to the importance

of regulations.

Health and Safety - Regulations help

prevent health issues, ensuring that

cleaning chemicals do not cause harm

to users. For example, some chemicals

can cause skin allergies, asthma, or

even burns if not handled properly.

Labels and safety data sheets provide

correct usage instructions, which

is crucial for using chemical safely,

reducing the risk of harm.

Environmental Protection -

Regulations help reduce pollution and

minimise the environmental impact

of cleaning chemicals, by controlling

their disposal and ensuring they are

biodegradable or less harmful to

ecosystems. They also encourage

the use of low environmental

impact products and sustainable

practices which reduce the overall

environmental footprint.

Quality Assurance - Regulatory

standards ensure that products meet

certain quality benchmarks, making

them consistent and reliable, and

effective when used as directed.

Consumers can put their trust in

products, knowing that they are

regulated and safe.

In conclusion, the interplay between

cleaning, chemicals, and regulations,

is fundamental to maintaining a safe

and healthy environment. Cleaning

is essential, not only for health and

hygiene but also for mental well-being,

productivity, and overall comfort.

The use of chemicals enhances

the effectiveness and efficiency of

cleaning processes, ensuring thorough

removal of dirt, grime, and harmful

microorganisms.

However, the power of these

chemicals necessitates stringent

regulations to safeguard both

human health and the environment.

Regulations such as Control of

Substances Hazardous to Health

(COSHH) 2002, Classification,

Labelling and Packaging (CLP) (EC) No

1272/2008, and Registration,

Evaluation, Authorisation

and Restriction of

Chemicals (REACH) (EC)

1907/2006, ensure that

cleaning chemicals are used

safely and responsibly.

They provide guidelines for

proper usage, handling, and disposal,

thereby preventing health issues and

minimising environmental impact.

Moreover, these regulations uphold

quality standards, ensuring that

consumers can trust the safety and

efficacy of the products they use.

Ultimately, the interaction between

effective cleaning practices, the

strategic use of chemicals, and robust

regulatory frameworks, creates a

safer, cleaner, more efficient world.

By adhering to these principles, we

can protect our health, enhance our

living and working environments,

and contribute to a more sustainable

future.

THE STANDARD

24 | 25

What can Cyber Insurance cover?

Cyber Insurance can offer organisations a wide

range of financial protections, including:

Data Recovery – specialist IT services can get

some or all of your data back. Cyber Insurance

can cover the cost of their fees.

Specialist insurance

solutions and free advice

for contract cleaning and

FM service providers

At Darwin Clayton, we’ve been

BICSc members since their

formation and understand your

industry inside out.

OTHER BENEFITS

INCLUDE:

Insurance tailored to your company

A dedicated Account Executive

Professional advice and guidance

Assistance should you need to

make a claim

Being kept up to date with the latest

industry advice and guidance

FAVOURABLE PRICING

FOR BICSc MEMBERS

GET IN TOUCH

South:

01892 511 144

North & Midlands

0115 951 7030

Email us:

cleaning@dcuk.co.uk

Visit us:

darwinclayton.co.uk

In today's digital age, businesses of all sizes rely

heavily on technology and the Internet to operate

efficiently and reach a wider customer base.

However, this increased reliance on technology

also comes with increased risks, such as cyberattacks,

data breaches, and other forms of

cybercrime.

The consequences of a cyber incident can be

devastating for UK businesses, ranging from

financial losses and reputational damage to legal

and regulatory consequences. This is why

adequate Cyber Insurance has become an

essential part of risk management for UK

businesses.

The Growing Threat of Cyber Attacks on

UK Businesses

According to the 2024 Cyber Security Breaches

Survey conducted on behalf of the UK

Government, cyber threats remain a significant

concern for UK businesses.

The latest survey revealed that over the past 12

months, half of UK businesses reported

experiencing a cyber security breach or attack.

Amongst those, just over one in ten (13%) ended

up losing money. For medium and large

businesses, this cost was approximately £10,830.

In addition, the increased use of technology in the

workplace has led to more stringent regulations

regarding the protection of sensitive data. For

example, the General Data Protection Regulation

(GDPR) requires businesses to report data

breaches to the authorities within 72 hours, and

failure to do so can result in significant fines.

Cyber Insurance policies often provide support

and guidance to help businesses comply with

regulatory requirements and minimize the risk of

fines.

What is Cyber Insurance?

Cyber Insurance is a type of insurance policy

designed to protect businesses against losses

resulting from cyber incidents. These policies

typically provide coverage for a range of risks,

including data breaches, cyber-attacks, business

interruption, and other forms of cybercrime. The

coverage may include costs associated with

restoring systems and data, paying compensation

to affected customers, and legal expenses. In

some cases, Cyber Insurance policies may also

provide public relations support to help mitigate

reputational damage.

Customer Notifications – businesses are usually

required to notify their customers of a data

breach, especially if it involves the loss or theft

of personally identifiable information (PII). Cyber

Insurance can help cover the cost of this

process.

Digital Asset Restoration – Cyber Insurance can

cover the cost of restoring and securing your

systems after a breach.

Extortion Claims – cyber criminals often ransom a

business’s systems and data, refusing to allow

them access until the ransom is paid. Should this

happen, your Cyber Insurance policy will cover

the costs of these demands.

Legal Fees – if an attack leads to a loss of data

or if it infects another organisation’s systems,

you can be left open to legal action and

compensation claims. Cyber Insurance can cover

the cost of defending the case and any

compensation awards that may follow.

Forensic Investigations – these aim to reveal how

the attackers got in and what needs to be done

to prevent the problem from occurring again.

Business Interruption – should the attack mean

you are unable to trade – if, for example, you are

locked out of your system – then business

interruption insurance will provide you with an

income until you can get back to normal. While a

typical policy will give you 12 months of cover,

many insurance experts now believe that 24

months is a more appropriate period.

Reputation Management – cyber attacks can have

wide repercussions and affect customers and

suppliers. Effective reputation management can

help keep third parties informed and protect

important business relationships.

Cyber Attack Prevention – as the threat has

grown and the costs of claims have escalated, so

some insurers now offer policyholders access to

cyber security experts when they take a policy

out. These specialists can undertake system

vulnerability assessments and staff training to

help prevent a successful attack.

While cyber-attacks are a significant and

growing problem for UK contracting

businesses, Cyber Insurance can provide

them with the financial protection they

need. If you’d like to know more about Cyber

Insurance through Darwin Clayton, then

please call our friendly team of specialists

for free advice.

Darwin Clayton (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Ref. 303990).

Darwin Clayton (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Ref. 303990).

CHSA’S NEW CERTIFICATION MARKS

FOR ACCREDITED MANUFACTURERS

GUARANTEES ‘WHAT’S ON THE BOX IS

WHAT’S IN THE BOX’

Buyers of cleaning & hygiene

products can depend on the Cleaning

& Hygiene Suppliers Association’s

(CHSA) new certification marks to

guarantee ‘what’s on the box is what’s

in the box’.

The new Certification Marks have

been introduced to provide greater

clarity to buyers. They clearly state

the Accredited product. Buyers can

quickly and easily see if the Accredited

products are soft tissue, plastic sacks,

cotton mops or cleaning chemicals.

Membership of the CHSA will

be indicated by the new CHSA

Member Certification Mark. This

Mark indicates the member has

signed the Association’s stringent

Code of Practice, which includes the

Competition and Markets Authority’s

Green Claims Code. It does not

indicate Accreditation of a product

category.

Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the CHSA

explained: “Standards are in the DNA

of the CHSA. We have a long track

record of improving and maintaining

standards in the industry, so buyers and

users of cleaning and hygiene products

get what they pay for. The introduction

of these new Certification Marks for our

Accredited Manufacturers is another step

forward, clearly stating exactly which

product is Accredited.”

THE CHSA HAS FIVE ACCREDITED

MANUFACTURER CATEGORIES:

• Accredited Manufacturers of soft

tissue guarantee the dimensions

and count of every product and

other required information is as

indicated on the label.

• Accredited Manufacturers of

plastic sacks guarantee they are fit

for purpose and the dimensions,

count and other required

information are as indicated on

the label.


cotton mops guarantee the

weight, absorbency and, where

relevant, the cotton content. They

also guarantee the dimensions,

count, and other required

information are as indicated on

the label. The dimensions and

count of all ancillary products are

also covered by the Scheme.


cleaning and hygiene chemicals

guarantee the product volume

and other required information

is as specified on the label and

fully supported by relevant test

data. In addition, they guarantee

the containers and plastic bottles

holding the chemical products are

recyclable.

• Accredited General

Manufacturers, who will have

the CHSA Member Certification

Mark, have signed the CHSA’s

Code of Practice.

The CHSA also has an Accreditation

Scheme for distributors of cleaning

and hygiene products. All distributor

members:

• Have committed to buy cleaning

and hygiene products from a

CHSA Accredited Manufacturer

or product that conforms to the

relevant Scheme standard. They

also guarantee cleaning and

hygiene products not covered by

a CHSA Accreditation Scheme for

Manufacturers conform to the

clear and rigorous commitments

within the Code of Practice.

The integrity of the CHSA’s

Accreditation Schemes is underpinned

by Independent Inspection. A quality

assurance professional audits CHSA

members at least annually, confirming

compliance to the Scheme.

THE EVOLUTION AND

REGULATION OF CLEANING

CHEMICALS: CHSA PUBLISHES

WHITE PAPER

Buyers and end users of

cleaning chemicals want

environmentally

sustainable, safe

and effective cleaning

chemicals. The Cleaning

& Hygiene Suppliers

Association (CHSA) is helping

with the publication of a White

Paper – The Evolution and

Regulation of Cleaning Chemicals,

produced by Peter Thistlethwaite,

Technical Manager - Cosmetics and

Biocides at MSL Solution Providers.

The White Paper explains the

evolution of chemical disinfectants,

which began with Arabs’ use of

mercury as an antiseptic in the

4 th century. It also highlights the

importance of standardised test

methods, which provided a way to

remove fraudulent products from the

market.

Buyers are increasingly confronted

with undefined phrases like ‘nonrenewable

chemicals’, ‘chemical-free’,

‘natural’, ‘five times filtered water’, and

‘non-toxic’. In this context, regulations

guarantee safety, efficacy and

transparency. Yet some providers

claim technology is moving too fast for

regulation.

In his White Paper, Peter

Thistlethwaite says: “Regulations are

intended to ensure a cleaning product

is safe for the user and the environment

when used correctly. The aim of enforcing

regulatory requirements is to ensure

products on the market can be trusted

and that the companies selling them

maintain the highest standards of

integrity.

“Product innovation means testing and

regulatory requirements in the biocide

market are becoming more complex,

and the costs to enter markets are

rising. This is expected to lead to a rise

in fraudulent products, bypassing or

ignoring regulations. Many are making

claims about safety and efficacy without

the proper technical support from correct

testing. They are also using eco-friendly

language to appeal to environmentally

conscious consumers. Buyers need to

beware.”

Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the

Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers

Association, said: “Buyers and end users

need to be able to trust the product and

sales and marketing claims. MSL Solution

Providers are experts in regulation and

testing of biocides. We teamed up with

them as they are independent of the

CHSA and to provide our members and

their customers with the knowledge

they need to make safe, effective and

sustainable choices.”

MSL SOLUTION PROVIDERS

MSL Solution Providers was

established primarily for the

cosmetics, personal care, and

household cleansing markets. MSL

offers an integrated regulatory and

laboratory testing service. Its in-house

accredited microbiology and virology

labs provide a comprehensive range

of standard tests, including efficacy

testing against bacteria, fungi, spores,

viruses, mycobacteria, legionella, and

algae. It also offers tailored solutions

for specific testing needs, to support

clients’ individual requirements.

Its expertise includes disinfectant

testing, cleanroom validation,

and claim support for the Biocidal

Product Regulation, as well as claims

substantiation, auditing, and user

trials.

THE STANDARD

28 | 29

THE CHSA

Every member of the CHSA has signed

its rigorous Code of Practice, which

demands members trade ethically.

Amongst other stipulations, it requires

members to:

• Conduct business dealings in

an open, honest, fair and proper

manner and in accordance with

the laws, rules and regulations of

the UK and EU.

• Ensure all public statements made

by and on behalf of the Member

are decent, honest and truthful.

• Ensure no false or exaggerated

claims are made verbally, in

literature, electronically or in any

other way.

• Hold and provide evidence on

request for product and service

claims, particularly with reference

to legislation, certifications and

accreditations.

The CHSA Code of Practice also

includes the Competition & Market’s

Authority’s Green Claims Code. Its

principles are summarised as:

• Claims must be truthful and

accurate.

• Claims must be clear and

unambiguous.

• Claims must not omit or hide

important relevant information.

• Comparisons must be fair and

meaningful.

• Claims must consider the full life

cycle of the product or service.

• Claims must be substantiated.

Finally, every member of the

CHSA’s Accreditation Scheme for

manufacturers of cleaning chemicals

has signed the CHSA’s own ethical

marketing code.

Evans and Sustainability

A certified Planet Mark

member since 2019,

with an overall

carbon reduction

to date of 35%

As a CHSA member, we

abide by their rigorous

Code of Practice, which

incorporates the CMA’s

Green Claims Code

We have held ISO 14001

certification since 2007,

demonstrating our

commitment to

sustainability

We sponsor local

beehives to support

breeding of native

honeybees.

EMS 506072

Optimum performance,

minimum impact.

Our environmental

rating system lets users

identify products with

the lowest impact.

GREENTICK

Environmental Impact Rated

As a regional Wildlife

Trust member, our

support helps protect

precious wildlife and

wild places on our

doorstep.

We achieved an EcoVadis

Sustainability Rating,

helping embed

sustainability into every

business decision.

THE STANDARD

+44 (0)1772 322200 | sales@evansvanodine.co.uk | www.evansvanodine.co.uk

Tomorrow’s

A WORD FOR

THE WISE

www.tomorrowscleaning.com

www.tomorrowscleaning.com

Have you ever wanted to get your

words into an issue of Tomorrow’s

Cleaning? Well, I’m here to share

with you information on how you

can be part of our magazine and

share your expertise with tens of

thousands of readers around the

world.

If you’re not familiar with

Tomorrow’s Cleaning, our digital

magazines are free-to-read

publications aimed at businesses

and individuals in the cleaning and

hygiene industry who wish to keep

up with the latest developments,

projects, opinions, advice, products

and services. Issues are available to

view in any web browser, or via the

Opus Business Media app on iOS

platforms, at no cost. It’s also free to

subscribe, so you can be the first to

know when new issues are out.

Our subscriber base is made up of

more than 57,000 people, spanning

a diverse professional audience

ranging from local government to

healthcare cleaners, MDs and CEOs

through to cleaning operatives,

pest control specialists and more.

We also have a special quarterly

publication dedicated to the Irish

market, Tomorrow’s Cleaning

Ireland, which has its own subscriber

base of over 13,000.

Each monthly issue we release

contains special feature sections

focusing on at least three different

topics, such as Floorcare, Technology

and Robotics, Cleaning Chemicals,

and many more. We also run special

previews of large events, such as the

London Cleaning Show or Interclean

Amsterdam, and occasionally

we also release special annual

supplements dedicated to one topic,

such as Sustainability or Washroom

Hygiene.

SO, WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN IN?

While it’s common knowledge that

the simplest way to spread your

news is to share press releases

and information with an Editor like

myself, joining in on the editorial

side is a bit more involved. This is

because articles are meant to offer

readers more than just the basic

facts and bullet points: after all,

who would want to read a magazine

that’s just a collection of product

sheets and press releases?

Simply put, what we’re looking for

are submissions which give our

readers a level of industry insight,

whether it’s how your business

dealt with a challenging contract,

why the latest tech innovations

are revolutionary, or how updated

regulations are making an impact

– for the better or the worse. Case

studies are a great example of

what we’re looking for as you get

to discuss a recent or unique

project, but we’re also after

expert advice and top

practical tips from your

team, thought leadership

pieces from one of your

business leaders about

an industry trend, or

a practical, detailed

look at how a

new product

or service can

improve things.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT

SUBMITTING SOMETHING?

The first thing you should do is visit

our Features List calendar – www.

tomorrowscleaning.com/featureslist

– and identify when a topic is

coming up that you’d like to join. If

there’s nothing for many months,

we can always run something as a

standalone feature, so you’ll never

be without an option.

The second step is to drop me a

quick email (martin@opusbm.co.uk)

letting me know your intentions,

but try to do this as soon as you can.

For example, if you want to go in our

March issue, you want to be getting

in touch by the end of January/start

of February to ensure there’s enough

time for a piece to be constructed,

approved and edited. I’ll get back

to you with information such as the

submission deadline, word count

requirements and details about

how you can enhance the copy with

images or videos.

The final, practical step is the

creation and delivery of the

submission. If you run into any issues

or delays that mean you need some

extra time, let me know as soon as

you can. Once submitted, I will check

over the copy and make some tweaks

to ensure it fits within our style

guide, but if there are any issues I’ll

get back to you to suggest changes.

Once completed, the issue will be

released to the public and will be

free for everyone. Our digital issues

make it simple to read and to share

across social media channels, such

as LinkedIn, X and more, so that

everyone can read. We can even

provide you with a PDF copy if you

want to print out your own copy –

we know of quite a few companies

who have framed copies in their

offices. Get in touch with us today

and highlight how your business can

benefit others to a huge audience.

32 | 33

CLEANOLOGY’S ANNUAL CHARITY

FUNDRAISER SETS NEW RECORD TO REACH

£115K RAISED FOR THE HYGIENE BANK

Over 180 guests cheered as a sellout

event at the internationally

renowned Hard Rock Café in

London’s Mayfair raised a recordbreaking

£32,000 in cash and a

further £5,000 in product donations

to help The Hygiene Bank charity

play a major role alleviating hygiene

poverty.

The much-heralded annual fundraiser

hosted by multi-award winning office

and commercial cleaning company

Cleanology has become such a

huge success that it has now raised

£115,000 in its first four years.

Dominic Ponniah, event organiser

and CEO of Cleanology, said: “I am

overwhelmed by the support we have

received from across the FM industry.

Now in its fourth year, our charity evening

continues to grow from strength to

strength with more and more companies

joining to support. Sadly hygiene poverty

isn’t going away any time soon, and we

will continue to fight it for as long as

we need to. My deepest thanks go out

to everyone who was part of this year’s

event."

Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene

Bank, said: “The Hygiene Bank is

beyond grateful for the generosity of

everyone involved in Cleanology’s fourth

annual fundraiser. The funds raised will

directly help us provide essential hygiene

products to those in need across the

UK, making a real difference in the lives

of those pulled into hygiene poverty.

Together, we are working towards a

future where basic hygiene is a right, not a

privilege – and only through partnerships

like this will we succeed. Thank you,

Cleanology, Dominic, and to all the

sponsors and guests who supported

this amazing event and, in doing so, for

standing with us in this mission.”

The event – held on 9 th October at

the West End venue in Park Lane

– was sponsored by cleaning and

hygiene products manufacturer Evans

Vanodine, janitorial supplier Futures

Supplies, insurance brokers Darwin

Clayton, field service management

software company BigChange,

washroom services firm Liberty

Hygiene, workforce scheduling

firm Rotageek, drainage experts

DALROD and janitorial suppliers

and distributors Bunzl. At the

fundraiser, guests enjoyed an array

of entertainment including a live DJ,

networking, refreshing cocktails and

Hard Rock classic burgers.

The evening saw competitive bidding

for auction and raffle prizes such as

a trip for two to dance music festival

Defected Croatia, a Hot Air balloon

ride for two, two nights bed and

breakfast at luxurious Brama Hotel, a

table for 10 with a free drinks package

on the Hill Club Summer Boat Trip, a

necklace from Monica Vinader, a meal

for four at trendy eatery Dishoom, a

jeroboam of Bollinger champagne and

a motorsport experience donated by

Metsä Tissue.

Guests at Cleanology’s fundraiser

included Cheeky Panda founder Chris

Forbes, Hill Club Chairman Phil Smith,

CEO of Carlisle Support Services Paul

Evans, Soap2O founder Jordan Hurley,

Biovate founder Nick Winstone, MD

of Killis Tibor Killis, Becky Wall BEM

MD of Loo of the Year Awards; as

well as representatives from leading

industy firms including Ark Pest

Control, CBRE, Cleenol, Greenspeed,

Industrial Cleaning Equipment,

Karcher, Kennedy Hygiene, Metsä

Tissue, Recorra, Truvox and

WhiffAway.

Marc Kemp, MD of Futures Supplies,

who recently received BCorp

accreditation, said: “The Futures

Supplies team are very proud to be

sponsoring for the second year running.

This amazing charity is raising funds

for people living in hygiene poverty. We

believe absolutely nobody should have to

make stark choices like having to choose

between buying food or toilet roll.”

Cleanology – headquartered in

Vauxhall, South West London, and

with regional offices in Manchester,

Birmingham, Bristol and Scotland –

runs campaigns throughout the year

to raise funds and awareness for

hygiene poverty and staff participate

in fund-raising opportunities such as

marathons.

Visit: https://cleanology.com/services/

office-cleaning/

Synbiotix is the only complete facilities management software for the healthcare sector

X Clean is our cleaning management and auditing solution, designed to

the National Standards of Cleanliness

Streamline Processes

Rapid Issue Resolution

Patient Flow Optimisation

Compliance Assurance

THE STANDARD

www.synbiotix.com 0330 400 4150 sales@synbiotix.com

n e t zero certificat i o n

BICSc IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

CLEANING MANAGERS

BY JAMES MARSTON LBICSc

Planet Mark

Leading Net Zero

Certification

Start your net zero

journey with us today.

“Our collaboration with Planet

Mark is now in its sixth year. To

other businesses who haven’t

started their journey with

Planet Mark yet or are thinking

about it, I would say go for it.

Planet Mark is an easy, gentle,

supportive guiding hand.”

Book a free carbon clinic

with on of our experts here.

Rising numbers of Senior

Operations Managers and

Executives have attended BICSc this

year to complete their Licence to

Practice and skills. Their reasoning

is to look closely and experience

training and assessment within in

the Cleaning Professional Skills

Suite (CPSS). The objective? To see

BICSc for themselves. Observe

and test if BICSc standards fit their

own team’s development plans and

future business model. They also get

to look at BICSc close up and spend

time in our training centre, which

houses the latest equipment and

training space to accommodate the

43 separate cleaning skills BICSc

trains and assesses for the built

environment.

For some visitors its quite a surprise

at how much knowledge and skills

frontline teams need to know. For

others it’s a refresh in the pursuit

of best practice and successful

outcomes. All share their views

and generally agree that having

a high standard to compare their

performance against is extremely

valuable. Furthermore, their BICSc

experience allows them to consider

their own operations and evaluate

their strengths and highlight

improvements essential in their

own organisations. Quite often as

a Trainer and Assessor I have to

refocus their energy into passing

their assessments as they consider

the implications of positive change

for their own teams during their

visit.

BICSc standards are a great way

of explaining the methods and

techniques to achieve higher

standards of clean. For those new

to BICSc this is the biggest win of

all. Using the nuts and bolts the

standard provides and the outcomes

achieved allows managers to

measure the gap analysis in their

own service delivery. This opens the

door to alternative methods and

provides the answers they require to

close the gap and make the case for

positive change.

This may seem trivial to some.

Finding a method of training,

communication and the introduction

of formal assessments to measure

outcomes can transform a workforce

in my experience. Many Accredited

Training Members (ATM) evidence

the benefits they experienced for the

investment made.

I get a real boost from the amazing

people I meet and the impact BICSc

has on managers and cleaning

operatives alike.

For many it’s not just the awards

they receive but the answers to

previous unanswered questions.

Many discover a new pathway to

their own development and solutions

for their organisations continued

improvement. It’s a win/win.

Hive Cleaning

All BICs members are eligible

for a 10% discount.

36| 37

TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE

CLEANLINESS WITH SYNBIOTIX X-CLEAN

TIME TO CLEAN: PRECISION

CLEANING RESOURCE

ALLOCATION

In the world of healthcare, clean

environments play a pivotal role in

ensuring patient safety, preventing

infections, and creating a sense of

comfort and trust within healthcare

facilities. Synbiotix, has developed

a solution to meet these needs—X-

Clean. This complete cleaning

management solution is designed

to adhere to the National Standards

of Healthcare Cleanliness and is

revolutionising how healthcare

institutions manage, schedule, and

monitor cleanliness.

X-Clean is much more than just a

cleaning management system. With

a suite of innovative features, it

empowers healthcare institutions to

streamline their cleaning processes,

ensure compliance with national

standards, and optimise resources,

all while enhancing operational

productivity and patient satisfaction.

SIMPLICITY MEETS EFFICIENCY

One of the standout features of

X-Clean is its simplicity. Healthcare

environments are fast-paced and

often hectic, so X-Clean has been

designed to be incredibly easy to

use, ensuring that users can navigate

the system with minimal training.

The software offers a seamless user

experience, allowing cleaning staff,

ward managers, and administrative

personnel to efficiently schedule,

monitor, and audit cleaning tasks.

This user-friendly interface

eliminates the need for paper-based

systems, providing healthcare teams

with a digital, automated solution

that optimises cleaning schedules

and allows real-time monitoring of

cleanliness across various zones,

rooms, wards, and departments.

this process by providing a

comprehensive cleaning audit

system. Users can carry out

mandatory, element-based audits

at both the ward and room levels,

ensuring that every area meets

stringent cleanliness requirements.

One feature of the auditing system

is its ability to address cleaning

concerns with agile response

mechanisms. This proactive

approach ensures that cleanliness

issues are addressed promptly,

minimising risks and ensuring that

the environment remains safe for

both patients.

DYNAMIC ROOM MEMORY

STORAGE: TAILORING AUDITS TO

EACH SPACE

One feature of X-Clean is its

Dynamic Room Memory Storage.

This takes personalisation to a

new level by remembering the

specific elements of each room. For

example, if a particular room lacks

a sink, X-Clean will automatically

remember this detail for future

audits, ensuring that no irrelevant

elements are included in the audit

process.

This level of customisation not only

makes the auditing process more

efficient but also reduces the chance

of errors, ensuring that each audit is

accurate and tailored to the specific

needs of the space being reviewed.

SCHEDULING SIMPLIFIED:

CLEANING SCHEDULER

In a healthcare setting, where

cleanliness is critical to patient care,

having a reliable scheduling system

is vital. X-Clean’s Cleaning Scheduler

takes the complexity out of

scheduling planned and emergency

cleans, ensuring that every area is

maintained to the highest standards.

The scheduler allows users to plan

routine cleans in advance, ensuring

that no area is overlooked. It also

includes cleans that may be required

following an audit or emergency

response cleans in situations

where rapid action is needed. By

automating the scheduling process,

X-Clean removes the need for

outdated paper schedules and

allows for more efficient allocation

of cleaning resources.

Moreover, X-Clean can be linked

to QR code check-ins and time and

attendance plans, making it easier

to track when cleans are completed,

who completed them, and how long

each task took. This level of detail

not only ensures accountability

but also helps in optimising staff

deployment and time management.

Determining the required cleaning

hours for different areas within

a healthcare facility can be a

challenge, but X-Clean’s "Time to

Clean" feature offers a solution. This

feature enables domestic services

and cleaning providers to accurately

calculate the cleaning hours

required for any given area based on

risk level, frequency, and the specific

elements that need to be cleaned.

By using this data-driven approach,

healthcare facilities can ensure that

cleaning tasks are appropriately

resourced, preventing both overand

under-allocation of staff. This

not only improves staff efficiency

but also enhances the overall

cleanliness of the facility.

RAPID RESPONSE CLEANING:

OPTIMISING PATIENT FLOW

In a fast-paced healthcare

environment, emergencies can arise

at any moment, requiring immediate

cleaning attention. X-Clean’s Rapid

Response Cleaning feature allows

healthcare providers to stay on top

of these situations by optimising

patient flow through dynamic

cleaning task management.

The rapid response mechanism

is crucial in maintaining high

cleanliness standards, particularly in

areas that need to be prepped for

new patients quickly.

By minimising downtime between

patient transitions, X-Clean

contributes to smoother patient

flow, which, in turn, enhances the

overall efficiency of the healthcare

facility.

COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE:

MEETING NATIONAL STANDARDS

One of the most critical aspects of

managing healthcare cleanliness

is ensuring compliance with

stringent infection prevention and

control (IPC) guidelines. X-Clean is

designed to provide comprehensive

documentation and auditing that

showcases adherence to national

standards. The system helps

healthcare facilities demonstrate

that they are meeting or exceeding

the National Standards of

Cleanliness, ensuring a safe and

hygienic environment for patients,

staff, and visitors.

By documenting every aspect of the

cleaning process—from scheduling

to audits and rectifications—X-

Clean ensures that healthcare

institutions can easily showcase

their commitment to maintaining a

high standard of cleanliness

during internal reviews or

external inspections.

ENHANCING STAFF EFFICIENCY

AND PATIENT SATISFACTION

X-Clean enhances both staff

efficiency and patient satisfaction.

By providing cleaning teams with

intuitive tools and streamlined

processes, the software enables

them to perform their tasks more

effectively. Automated scheduling,

real-time monitoring, and dynamic

task assignment allow cleaning

staff to focus on their jobs without

worrying about administrative

burdens. For patients, a clean

and well-maintained healthcare

environment contributes to

a more positive experience.

When cleanliness standards are

consistently met, patients feel safer

and more comfortable, which can

have a significant impact on their

overall satisfaction with the facility.

For more information about X-Clean

or any of the other software

solutions Synbiotix offers visit our

website at www.synbiotix.com

CLEANING AUDITS: ENSURING

STANDARDS

Auditing cleanliness is an essential

part of maintaining healthcare

standards, but it can be a daunting

and time-consuming task without

the right tools. X-Clean simplifies

THE STANDARD

38 | 39

REMOVING THE BARRIER OF LANGUAGE

FROM TRAINING

BY AMELIA AMESBURY LBICSc

As a trainer I know the job doesn’t

come without its difficulties, that

is why whenever I am delivering

training, I always finish the session

asking if anyone needs any advice,

the most common concern most

trainers, new and old, come to me

with is how to overcome language

barriers. A language barrier is

something that we will all come

across at some point in our careers

but it’s about how you deal with

it and overcome it that matters,

remember to always be respectful.

I know from my experience both

training in the UK and in the Middle

East that the key to overcoming a

language barrier is the ability to be

adaptable and thinking on your feet

and not to take it personally.

When I first started training, I didn’t

have all the answers, I still don’t but

I wanted to share with you some

useful tips that I have learnt on the

job and advice that has been given to

me over the years.

BE MINDFUL OF THE WORDS

YOU USE AND HOW YOU

SPEAK

Each trainer has their own

individual style of training, and

it is very easy once we start a

training session to get caught

up in our own way of speaking

and communicating, remember

to keep your words simple, slow

down your speech and speak

clearly, the worry is that you may

come across as patronising but

like most things there is a balance

and it takes practice.

VISUAL LEARNING – COPY AND

PASTE

The great thing about our industry

is that due to the type of work

we do a lot can be trained using

visual aids, more specifically

demonstrating something. A

lot of the time I either have

a demonstration video or I

demonstrate what I am trying

to train, I get the individual to

watch me and then get them to

repeat it back, I often refer to

this as ‘in person copying and

pasting’. If they are watching

you do something nothing can

get lost in translation, there also

isn’t anything to overcomplicate,

getting the person to show it back

to you gives you the opportunity

to see if they have understood or

if you need to do it again.

TRAIN IN A GROUP

I unfortunately only know the

one language: English, and I have

found that a lot of sites adapt and

communicate in English for my

sake and sometimes English isn’t

their first language. Because of

this I find there is often different

levels of understanding, you

may meet people who speak the

language fluently, others who

only know the basics and anything

in-between. If we train in a group,

then the individuals in the training

session can help each other, I have

often had where someone offers

to translate what I have said so

everyone can understand, it also

helps to relax the trainees and

take away the pressure of that

intense one to one training.

CREATE A SAFE SPACE

For those of you who don’t know

me I am a Yorkshire girl and

when I am training, especially

in the Middle East, I do my best

to try and hide my accent as I

know it isn’t the easiest accent

to understand but when I get

excited or comfortable I can hear

it slip out, so because of this I

begin most training sessions by

introducing myself and saying that

if, at any point, I begin speaking

too fast or if I say something that

doesn’t make sense please stop

me and tell me, I promise I won’t

be upset, just say Amelia you're

talking funny we didn’t get that.

The reason I do this is because

I want to create that safe space

where they are comfortable to

ask me to repeat myself without

feeling embarrassed.

We have probably all been in

that situation where we haven’t

understood what somebody

has said and we ask them to

repeat it and we still don’t

understand, until in the end we

feel embarrassed and just nod or

make up an answer to what the

other person has said because we

are too uncomfortable to keep

asking them to repeat themselves

but as trainers we can’t risk this

happening as we need everyone

to understand and follow the

session, ask at regular intervals if

everyone understands, ask if you

need to go over anything.

USE TOOLS THAT ARE

AVAILABLE TO YOU

We can also use translation

tools to assist us if we are really

struggling, it could be a certain

word that you are stuck on, use

the translation tool to help you

get back on track. You could also

use a translation app to translate

an appropriate greeting that

works for the group you are

training; I have found that when I

make the effort to speak the same

language as the trainees it helps

them relax and makes them happy

that you are making the effort

with them.

These tips have worked for

me, and I have learnt from my

experiences but it doesn’t mean

they will work for everyone,

maybe you have your own tips and

tricks you would like to share and

if you do we would love to hear

them as we are all always willing

to learn!

THE STANDARD

40 | 41

HONOURING SERVICES TO ENVIRONMENTAL

HEALTH AT THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANERS’

MILITARY AWARDS 2024

The livery and honoured guests

attend the annual celebration, an

acknowledgement of environmental

health provision in our military.

The Worshipful Company of

Environmental Cleaners (WCEC)

hosted their annual Military Awards

on the 24 th of September. This year,

the prestigious event took place at

the historic and beautiful Stationers’

Hall in London which dates back to

the 17 th century.

The ceremony was attended by

Lorraine Larman, the Master of the

WCEC, alongside Darren Marston,

the Senior Warden, Kevin Meighan,

the Junior Warden, and Mike

Jenkins, the Clerk of the WCEC.

Special guest speakers on the day

were Lord Mayor Elect Alderman

Alasdair King and Major General

Ewan Carmichael CBE.

The WCEC has a long-standing

tradition of supporting, recognising

and honouring the exceptional

contributions from the Military’s

environmental health technicians

and cadets. They consistently

demonstrate high levels of skill,

knowledge, and dedication in the

face of various challenges, whether

at home or abroad. This year’s

awards celebrated the outstanding

achievements and contributions

THE FOLLOWING AWARDS WERE MADE:

• Post Graduate Medical Officer General Practice Award - Captain

Daniel Snelson

• Army Senior Non-Commissioned Environmental Health Technician

Award - Officer Staff Sergeant Hall

• Army Junior Non-Commissioned Environmental Health Technician

Award - Officer Staff Sergeant Shaw

• Royal Air Force Environmental Health Technician Award - Warrant

Officer Tillett

• Reserve Forces Award for Excellence in the Field of Environmental

Health - Captain Netherton

• Best Army Cadet - Cadet Oloyede-Aliyu

• Best Sea Cadet - Cadet Ellis Chamberlaine

• Best Royal Marine Cadet - Marine Cadet Max Owe

• Best Air Training Corps Cadet - Cadet Alexandru Corcodel

to environmental health by several

individuals.

Lorraine Larman, Master of the

WCEC, remarked: “The WCEC is very

proud to continue a robust relationship

with the cadet corps and environmental

staff. We are constantly seeking future

leaders for environmental cleaning,

particularly as the sector confronts

mounting global challenges. Supporting

young people in their development is

crucial, as they bring fresh perspectives

and energy that can help our industry

thrive in the future.”

If you would like to find out more

about the Worshipful Company

of Environmental Cleaners, its

initiatives, events or membership,

please email clerk@wc-ec.com or

visit www.wc-ec.com

AN AWARD WIN IS MORE THAN JUST A

TROPHY

BY KELSEY HARGREAVES LBICSc

I have been asked a few times to

comment on how it felt to win

Rising Star of the Year at the

European Cleaning and Hygiene

Awards, and the truth is, I’m not

sure that there is one word I can

use to describe how I feel. One

of my favourite things about my

career and my job at BICSc is that

it enables me to celebrate so many

amazing people within the industry,

and in addition to this celebrate the

incredible industry.

I still do not think I have completely

taken in the fact that I was a finalist,

let alone that I was selected as

a winner. And although it was

incredible to win, I was beyond

honoured to be recognised alongside

6 other people within my category as

a rising star in the European cleaning

industry:

• Bruno Alexandrino, Principle

Cleaning Services

• Christopher Telford, The Mount

Charles Group

• Max Reames, Peartree Cleaning

Services

• Sony Prajapati, Bidvest Noonan

• Sandra Jekabsone, Derrycourt

Cleaning Specialists

• Corey Watts, CleanEvent

Services

I have had the pleasure of knowing

quite a few of the these finalists for

a number of years, and watched, as

I’m sure they have with me, their

careers and knowledge grow, but

also their impeccable impact within

the industry. I am a big believer in

recognising talent, but an award

like this, even being put forward for

it, is one of many things that can be

done in the industry to recognise

and retain the next generation of

cleaning professionals.

To echo the words of Neil SC, BICSc

Group Managing Director, this

award is truly one of the highlights

of my career, but it is not only those

in “higher” positions that should have

the opportunity to shine. We all love

to be recognised, and we are all very

much deserving of it. But there are

millions of operatives on the floor,

that deserve it a lot more. I know

that without them, this award of

which I am still so elated over, would

not be possible.

I am not a person that enjoys praise,

or should I say, knows how to deal

with it! But I can tell you that this

award, the celebration from BICSc

and colleagues outside of it has

meant the world and has breathed

a whole new sense of confidence

and pride into the work that I do.

It may have been one award night,

but the impact that this has had on

me, will last a lifetime. So truly, from

one very fortunate person, to all of

our colleagues out there: please, put

your staff forward, celebrate them,

research different awards available,

write about them, share about

them and show them what they

do matters. You never know, they

may just be fortunate enough to be

considered among the best!

Bruno, Chris, Max, Sony, Sandra and

last but certainly not least Corey, it

was truly an honour to be recognised

alongside you. Congratulations on

your achievements and I look foward

to catching up with you all soon.

And for the rest of you, whether

it's at the BICSc Awards 2025, ECH

Awards 2025, NICA 2025, Clean and

Tidy Home Show 2025 or Golden

Service 2026 and all the others out

there, I cannot wait to see who you

put forward!

THE STANDARD

42 | 43

ARE YOU AN

EMPLOYER

INTERESTED

IN ACCESSING

FUNDS TO

DEVELOP YOUR

WORKFORCE?

The Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative

Apprenticeship enables cleaning and

hygiene sector businesses to invest in their

staff, providing employees an opportunity

to access a recognised work-related

cleaning qualification.

BENEFITS FOR BUSINESSES INCLUDE:

Helping develop a workforce with skills

specific to your business.

Providing you with a motivated and fastdeveloping

workforce.

ORGANISATIONS CAN USE

APPRENTICESHIP LEVY PAYMENTS TO

FUND THESE APPRENTICESHIPS.

As well as unlocking millions of pounds

a year for staff training in the sector, the

apprenticeship will help the sector and

staff achieve greater recognition for their

vital and skilled work which contributes to

the health and wealth of the nation.

THE BRITISH CLEANING COUNCIL IS

A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE BICSC

ANNUAL AWARDS

BRITISH CLEANING COUNCIL

YOUR INDUSTRY • YOUR VOICE

FOR MORE

INFORMATION ON

APPRENTICESHIPS

SCAN QR CODE

NAVIGATING THE FUTURE

WITH SMART BUILDINGS

The term ‘smart building’ is more

than a buzzword; it represents a

transformative shift in how we

think about and manage our built

environments. However, the concept

is often met with confusion due to

its multi-faceted nature. So, what is

a smart building, and why is there a

growing interest in this concept?

WHAT IS A SMART BUILDING?

Smart buildings improve the

efficiency, sustainability and comfort

of the environment they house by

integrating systems and technologies

into a cohesive network, enabling

real-time communication and data

sharing across platforms. It goes

beyond mere automation – it is about

creating an ecosystem where every

element of the building – such as

lighting, climate control, security and

cleaning - works in harmony.

This interconnectedness enables

building to adapt to changing needs

and allows for more intelligent

decision-making, helping facility

managers optimise performance,

reduce operational costs and enhance

occupant experience.

WHAT’S DRIVING DEMAND?

Smart buildings offer a solution to

governments and organisations

striving to meet sustainability goals

by optimising energy use, reducing

waste and improving resource

management.

With environmental controls and

real-time monitoring, smart buildings

are also well-positioned to meet the

heightened focus on health, safety

and wellbeing in our post-pandemic

world, offering an improved occupant

experience.

Finally, the rise of the Internet

of Things (IoT) has made the

implementation of smart

technologies more accessible and

cost-effective, enabling even older

buildings to be retrofitted with smart

systems.

THE BENEFITS

Smart buildings help solve complex

challenges. For example, if energy

efficiency is a critical concern, smart

buildings can adapt to real-time data

to ensure that energy is used only

when and where needed.

Smart buildings also simplify the

increasing complexity of building

management by integrating all

systems into a single platform to

streamline management and enable

predictive maintenance.

ADAPTING AND REACTING TO

REAL-TIME DATA

Real-time data can provide invaluable

insights into how a building is being

used, allowing for continuous

optimisation of its operations.

For example, areas where energy

is being wasted can be identified

and adjustments made to reduce

consumption. Or occupancy levels,

foot traffic and air quality can be

analysed so that spaces are cleaned

only when necessary.

The data collected can inform longterm

strategic decisions and be

used to forecast future needs, plan

maintenance schedules, and justify

investments in new technologies.

The key is to use data meaningfully

- transforming raw information into

actionable insights that drive better

outcomes.

THE ROLE OF FACILITY MANAGERS

IN THE SMART BUILDING

REVOLUTION

As the adoption of smart buildings

continues to grow, the role of

facility managers is pivotal - but

they need to be proactive

in seeking opportunities for

improvement.

• Understanding the

building’s current

capabilities and

infrastructure is the

first step toward a

successful smart building

implementation. Are existing

systems compatible? What

upgrades are necessary?

• Focus on identifying areas where

smart technology can deliver

maximum value and impact. For

instance, if energy consumption

is a concern, explore options

for smart energy management

systems.

• Engage with stakeholders,

including building occupants, in

the planning process. This will

ensure that the smart building’s

features align with user needs,

enhancing overall satisfaction.

• Stay informed about the

latest advancements in smart

technology to maintain a

competitive edge. Consider

attending industry events,

joining professional networks,

or collaborating with technology

providers to explore new

solutions.

CONCLUSION

Smart buildings represent an

evolution in the way we design,

operate, and manage our built

environments. Facility managers

should embrace this trend in order

to unlock new opportunities that

add value, reduce costs and improve

overall building performance.

The question is no longer whether to

adopt smart technology, but how to

do so effectively. By asking the right

questions, leveraging data and staying

informed, facility managers can lead

the charge in transforming their

buildings into smarter, more efficient

spaces for the future.

44 | 45

CSSA INNOVATION

SHOWCASE 2025:

PUSHING THE

BOUNDARIES OF THE CLEANING INDUSTRY

BY PAUL ASHTON – CHAIRMAN OF CSSA/ CEO OF BIRKIN GROUP

SUPPORT SERVICES

As Chairman of CSSA, I'm thrilled to

highlight the upcoming Innovation

Showcase 2025, taking place at The

Cleaning Show at London’s Excel.

This year’s showcase has set new

records for submissions, showcasing

a surge of innovative solutions that

will drive our industry forward.

The recent Dragons' Den sessions

were energising and revealed

groundbreaking ideas that will soon

be in the spotlight.

ANNOUNCING THE FINALISTS

In the coming weeks, we’ll reveal

the exceptional category finalists

whose innovations were selected

to be featured live at the show.

These finalists represent the best

and brightest solutions in the

industry, tailored to address real

challenges with creativity, efficiency,

and sustainability. Seeing these

innovations up close will be a highlight,

and I invite everyone to stop by and be

inspired by the future of cleaning.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS AT

THE CSSA STAND

Beyond the showcase itself, I’m

pleased to announce that our CSSA

stand will host interactive workshops

and engaging sessions. These events

are designed to empower attendees

through knowledge-sharing and to

encourage the kind of collaboration

that drives progress. Whether you’re

new to the industry or a seasoned

professional, these workshops offer

insights that could help shape your

approach to the future.

A VISION FOR INNOVATION

In the next few years, I see

tremendous potential in data-driven

cleaning, the continued development

of robotics, and the use of coating

technologies to reduce resources like

water and energy. These advances are

not only aligning with sustainability

goals but also providing solutions that

improve efficiency and effectiveness.

It’s innovations like these that we’re

excited to celebrate, and we believe

that the Innovation Showcase finalists

will set new standards for our sector.

AN INVITATION TO THE CLEANING

SHOW 2025

I invite everyone in our industry to

join us at The Cleaning Show in March

2025. It’s a unique opportunity to

engage with the innovations that

are shaping our future, connect with

peers, and join in celebrating our

shared progress.

SOLUTIONS DESIGNED

AROUND YOUR ENVIRONMENT

About Us

As industry specialists, we offer an array of

support solutions designed to meet your

unique needs. From maintaining impeccable

cleanliness to enhancing the appeal of your

space, our dedicated team is here to deliver

exceptional results.

Our Vision

Fusing technology and people with passion,

we create sustainable, scientifically backed

solutions for clean, safe spaces, ensuring

quality and empowering client success.

Caretaker & Premises Teams

Windows & Gutter Cleans

Landscaping

Kitchen Deep Cleans

Carpets, Floor & Stone Cleaning

Floor Restoration

Multi-Skilled Operatives

Industries We Serve

Education

Distribution

Pest Control

Waste Management

Public Sector

Commercial

Construction

Non-profit

Fem Hygiene

Thermal Coating

CONTACT US

Chewing Gum Removal

THE STANDARD

01707 322 228

www.birkingroup.co.uk

info@birkingroup.co.uk

BICSc AWARDS 2024 –

OUR LOUISE IS A

WINNER!

HW Facilities are proud to announce

that the ‘Cleaning Operative of the

Year’ 2024 is our very own, Louise

Johnson. Louise is a shining example

of dedication, loyalty and hard work

and we are extremely excited that

this has been recognised at the recent

2024 BICSc Awards.

Louise started work as a cleaning

operative at the AXA Ipswich building

in 2012, working her way up to

supervisor in 2015. HW Facilities

took over the cleaning contract in

November 2020 and quickly realised

that Louise was going to be a real

asset. Louise was recognised for her

outstanding organisational skills

and dedication to both her work

and colleagues and promoted to

Senior Supervisor for AXA Ipswich

and their nearby office, Haverhill.

Unsurprisingly, Louise excels in this

position and continues to make the

role her own, guiding others, inspiring

and supporting them, so that they too,

succeed in what they do.

Reliability and flexibility are among

the traits that we appreciate Louise

for. Swapping her shifts whenever

necessary to fit around staff absences,

she can always be relied upon to

keep operations running smoothly.

Communication is also key, and Louise

is both professional and approachable.

Her colleagues talk about how

supportive she is towards them,

helping them through personal and

work situations alike.

Being a BICSc Accredited Training

Member, HW really admires

employees who strive to push forward

their own professional development

and training. Having passed her BICSc

‘Licence to Practice’ Louise is now

working through the skills modules.

She embraces this way of working

and passes on the BICSc principles

of cleaning methodology as she

instructs others through induction and

specialist task training. Louise has also

carried out additional, formal training

including Health & Safety, and we will

be encouraging her to go further on

her learning journey.

High standards of cleaning and

smooth-running operations are

essentials for our clients and Louise

is there, with her colleagues, pushing

through these high standards. Alan

Dunne, CBRE’s Regional Facilities

Manager at AXA was happy to share

what impresses him about Louise. He

told us “Louise is a credit to HW, she

gives every task her all, no matter how

big or small and truly cares about her

work. She is very competitive with her

audit scores and strives to get the best

score possible every month. They are

consistently high due to the hard work,

she and the team put in every day.”

We were keen to congratulate

Louise for her achievement. Louise

responded: “It is an absolute honour

to work for HW. It’s not just about me,

it’s the whole team that supports me

and enables me to do the job that I do."

We join Louise and extend our thanks

to all of the HW team at Ipswich.

Acknowledging the outstanding

talent within the cleaning industry

is so important. It is not an easy

occupation, and we would like to

recognise the valuable and often

thankless work of all cleaners. It is

bodies such as BICSc which allow

us to shine a light on the cleaning

industry and the often ‘invisible work’

they do, creating opportunities to

value the great people in this sector.

Beyond the front line of cleaning staff

is also the management and backoffice

staff, together they make for

the smooth running of each of our

cleaning contracts. We work as a team

and strongly believe that the peoplecentric

culture at HW has a ripple

effect throughout all areas of the

business, resulting in high morale and

customer satisfaction.

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THE STANDARD

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SIX ESSENTIAL STEPS

TO NAVIGATING

THE WORKER PROTECTION ACT

In the cleaning industry,

maintaining high standards of

service while managing diverse

teams in a variety of settings

presents unique challenges.

The services you offer to your

customers can often go unnoticed

but contribute to the health and

well-being of everyone – creating a

clean and safe environment. With

the introduction of the Workers

Protection Act, the cleaning

industry must adopt a proactive

approach to safeguard their staff

and business.

The Worker Protection (Amendment

of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023

came into force on 26 th October

2024 – and now, all employers

are required to take all

reasonable steps to prevent

sexual harassment of their

employees. This legislation is

a big shift to a proactive duty

to take reasonable steps to

prevent sexual harassment –

but it might be a bit daunting for

businesses to take on. That’s why

our expert Partner Citation is here

to help, with a guest article from

their Director of Employment Law

Gill McAteer explaining the law and

what you need to do now.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUR

CLEANING BUSINESS?

The EHRC guidance around the

Act outlines a couple of key points

that business owners need to know,

including:

• The new responsibilities are

anticipatory duties – meaning

you shouldn’t wait until sexual

harassment happens before

doing something about it.

• The duty to take reasonable

steps to prevent sexual

harassment includes thirdparty

harassment, for example,

members of the public or a

client’s employees, managers or

even visitors.

• You’ll need to carry out a

risk assessment to set out

how you’re going to prevent

sexual harassment and protect

employees.

For cleaning businesses, this means

implementing clear policies and

robust training programmes to

educate staff on recognising and

addressing harassment. Creating a

respectful and safe environment is

not only a legal obligation but also

crucial for retaining a motivated and

productive team.

Failure to comply with these

new obligations can have serious

legal and financial consequences.

The Equality and Human Rights

Commission (EHRC) has the

authority to enforce these

regulations, and businesses may face

increased compensation claims if

found in breach.

GETTING READY FOR LEGAL

COMPLIANCE

Meeting legal requirements while

addressing the unique challenges

faced by cleaning businesses can be

daunting. However, we’ve developed

six simple steps to support you in

partnership with BICSc, so you're

not alone:

STEP 1 - REVIEW YOUR

HR POLICIES

Your cleaning business must

have clear policies on sexual

harassment. Whether they’re

covered in their own distinct

policy, or in broader policies,

you should define sexual

harassment, provide concrete

examples, and ensure there is

no ambiguity.

STEP 3 – CREATE

REPORTING SYSTEMS

Create or develop easily

accessible reporting systems

for sexual harassment. You

should include anonymous

options to encourage

anyone to come forward. If

an employer breaches this

obligation, the Equality and

Human Rights Commission

(EHRC) can take enforcement

action and increase

compensation by 25%.

HOW CITATION CAN HELP YOU

At Citation, we proudly partner

and collaborate with BICSc to offer

specialised advice and support in

HR, Employment Law, and Health

and Safety that you need the most.

When running a cleaning company,

you don’t always have time to

also be the full-time HR Manager.

It’s an industry that has its own

specific concerns and issues that

STEP 2 – IDENTIFY

THE NECESSARY RISK

ASSESSMENTS

Look to identify areas of your

business that might make

someone more susceptible to

sexual harassment. Cleaners

often work alone in isolated

areas or during late-night

or early morning hours,

increasing their vulnerability.

Unsupervised at client

sites, they face unfamiliar

environments and people. It's

vital to implement tailored

measures to address these

specific risks and ensure team

safety.

STEP 5 – SPOTLIGHT

ON STAFF TRAINING

You should provide every

member of staff with regular

training sessions that inform

them of ways to recognise

sexual harassment and what to

do if it occurs.

can be quite complex and often

require the expertise of a qualified

HR professional. Our mission is

to simplify complex compliance

matters, allowing you to focus on

your core business — making your

customers’ premises shine.

If you’d like to chat about how we

can assist your cleaning business

navigate the ever-evolving world

of Employment Law and Health &

STEP 4 - FOSTER A

SUPPORTIVE CULTURE

By building a supportive

workplace culture within

your cleaning business, you

can encourage victims or

witnesses to speak up. Look

to actively engage with your

staff to build trust and ensure

prompt investigation of

complaints.

STEP 6 –

DOCUMENTATION

AND MONITORING

Keep detailed records of

everything your cleaning

business is doing to

prevent and address sexual

harassment. Not only could

these help you refine your

strategies, but they can also

help you demonstrate legal

compliance, should you ever

need to.

Safety compliance call 0345 844

111 or email hello@citation.co.uk

and quote ‘BICSc’ to access your

preferential rates.


TRANSITIONING TO A SUSTAINABLE

FUTURE FOR THE CLEANING INDUSTRY

The cleaning industry, alongside

many other sectors, is at a

crossroads when it comes to

sustainability. As we return to

physical offices following the global

pandemic, cleaning companies have

continually adapted to provide safe

and healthy spaces for work and

collaboration. This sector is also

seeing rising customer expectations

for cleaning services to use more

sustainable products and practises

that provide greater environmental

and social benefits, often at the

same or more competitive prices.

These customer challenges can

seem daunting, but solutions offer

authentic opportunities for change,

growth and revitalisation within the

industry.

At Planet Mark we work in

partnership with the top industry

members to guide cleaning

companies toward a brighter, more

sustainable future. We empower

organisations to achieve net zero,

and with a community of 800+

certified Planet Mark Members

across multiple industries, we are

leading the global movement toward

this ambitious goal. No two journeys

to net zero are alike: achieving this

goal requires time, commitment

and collaboration. Planet Mark are

dedicated to guiding you through

every step of the process.

“Our collaboration with Planet Mark

is now in its sixth year. To other

businesses who haven’t started their

journey with Planet Mark yet or are

thinking about it, I would say go for

it. Planet Mark is an easy, gentle,

supportive guiding hand.”

HIVE CLEANING

Consulting with our members and

partners we have summarised the

key challenges experienced by the

cleaning industry:

• Costs: Balancing affordability

with sustainable practices is

difficult, especially in a cost-ofliving

crisis.

• Client Demand and Business

Growth: Clients expect higher

sustainability standards, which

can increase costs but offer

long-term growth opportunities.

• Sustainable Products:

Transitioning from harmful

chemicals to eco-friendly

products while maintaining

quality and efficiency.

• Communication: Educating

clients and employees on the

benefits of sustainability and

ensuring products are used

correctly.

• Plastic Waste: The widespread

use of single-use plastic gloves

contributes to significant

environmental waste.

• Water Usage: Water

consumption is a growing

concern, with solutions focused

on optimizing water use in

cleaning practices.

• Data: Lack of data transparency

makes it difficult for cleaning

companies to track and reduce

emissions.

• Automation: Innovations like

robotics can offer environmental

benefits but must be balanced

with human labour needs.

Broader sustainability goals and

the race for net zero are closely

aligned - there’s no doubt about

it. However, net zero specifically

refers to balancing an organisation’s

greenhouse gas emissions with

the amount removed from the

atmosphere, achieved through

emission reduction, removal, or

both. Net zero targets set concrete

goals for organisations seeking to

strengthen their environmental

credentials and drive meaningful

change.

At Planet Mark we offer verified

sustainability certifications, as well

as tailored Net Zero Certification

Programmes, to help organisations

clearly understand and communicate

their carbon footprint and social

contribution. We are thrilled to be

official partners of the UN-backed

Race to Zero campaign, the largest

global coalition of organisations

fighting climate change,

demonstrating the Planet Mark as an

internationally recognised symbol of

sustainability progress.

Turn ambition into transformative

action by joining Planet Mark,

the membership partner for

organisations committed to

advancing sustainable practices.

We’ll support you to measure,

manage, and reduce your carbon

footprint with a Net Zero

Certification Programme that is

aligned to your business’s and supply

chain’s needs and objectives.

All BICSc members are eligible for a

10% discount.

UNDERSTANDING THE LINK

BETWEEN FIRST IMPRESSIONS

AND OVERALL REPUTATION

The power of first impressions is

well-known – but not always wellactioned,

and it starts with your

communications.

Those who greet visitors or answer

the phone sat on the front line of

customer service and are often the

prospect's first contact with your

business, holding full responsibility

for that crucial first impression.

Today, business communications

have modernised, integrating digital

tools and emphasising service and

efficiency. As customer service

provision changes, one thing remains

– the power of the first impression.

Here, Jess Pritchard, Head of

Corporate at leading outsourced

communications provider

Moneypenny, explores how

businesses can make the best first

impression while ensuring they

balance traditional hospitality skills

with the ability to navigate advanced

technologies.

THE PHONE IS KING

The phone is still a vital means of

communication, so it’s a crucial

consideration when addressing first

impressions.

For example, busy or senior team

members shouldn’t be expected to

answer calls. That’s partly because

unnecessary interruptions kill

productivity, and these people are

generally not trained in customer

care, so their skills are better spent

doing whatever they do best.

When designing your

communications strategy, you need

to play people to their strengths.

The optimum solution is to have

a dedicated resource for all call

handling either in-house or via an

outsourced partner. Being strategic

with resource planning is integral

as it protects employees’ efficiency

and wellbeing, as well as the first

impression.

BE READILY AVAILABLE

You can only create a positive

first impression if you understand

the broader trends shaping your

customers’ behaviour. The Amazon

Effect is real; as consumers, we’ve

all gotten used to getting everything

now. Customers have high

expectations of super-quick service

and expect communication to be

easy.

You must recognise that failure to

give customers and prospects what

they want quickly could impact

their first impression. Undoubtedly,

this desire for immediacy can

present challenges for service

delivery, so when businesses don’t

have adequate in-house support

to manage their incoming calls,

overflow or fully outsourced support

can be a welcome solution.

Consistent periods of high demand

can make it challenging to ensure

a consistently positive first

impression. Outsourcing alleviates

some of the frustrations and

missed opportunities that a busy

switchboard can create.

PRACTICAL STEPS TO

GUARANTEE POSITIVE FIRST

IMPRESSIONS AND PROTECT

YOUR REPUTATION

• Put yourself in the customer's

shoes. Think about what irritates

you as a customer and what

would impress you. Review

your internal procedures and

customer touchpoints to ensure

your business shines from all

angles.

• Make call handling a strategic

consideration. Answering

the phone is often treated as

something that just happens

rather than a business-critical

activity that can determine your

reputation and new business

success. By putting the right

resources in place, whether

in-house or with the help of an

outsourced provider, companies

can minimise disruption for their

team and improve call-handling

efficiency.

• Manage expectations.

Guarantee positive impressions

by being clear, honest, and

upfront about what customers

can expect. Establish whether

callbacks are necessary and, if

so, when they’ll be made (i.e.,

within 24 hours). If live chat

can’t provide an immediate

answer, when will someone get

in touch, and how? Put businesswide

standards in place and

communicate them well.

• Think digital. The nation is

more comfortable than ever

using digital channels. Making

websites more informative and

interactive can add tremendous

value—not just to the customer

experience but to internal

processes, too. Adding live chat

to answer FAQs and queries in

real-time helps handle queries

without needing a call. A live

chat operator can manage three

chats in the time required to

manage one call.

• Assess your ‘Calls to Action’.

Ensure that the channels you

direct people to, whether a

phone number or a managed live

chat, offer a good experience.

Are they available 24/7, and can

people access the information

they need quickly?

• Don’t procrastinate about new

tech. We’re still hearing from

businesses whose outdated

legacy phone systems can’t

keep pace with agile working

or are hindered by paper-heavy

processes. Consider where

technology could streamline

processes to improve customer

care, reputation and profitability.


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THE KIRA B 50 scrubber dryer

robot utilises a proven roller brush

technique, with a pre-sweeping

function and side brush to

clean up

to the wall, 55cm working width,

160 Ah lithium-ion battery, and area

performance of up to 15,000m²

per day (when used in conjunction

with the docking station). The robot

delivers consistently outstanding

results, even on textured or

uneven floors, efficiently

completing a time-consuming

job and freeing up cleaners to

manage more complex cleaning

tasks.

Suitable for floor cleaning in

both smaller and large areas,

KIRA B 50 is ideal for

multiple sectors, including

transport (airports, stations,

logistics warehouses),

retail units and shopping

centres, healthcare

settings (hospitals, care

facilities), public buildings

(schools, universities,

museums, sports halls) or

in the industry for cleaning

production and manufacturing

halls.

THE STANDARD

The water volume, detergent dosing

and cleaning speed can be precisely

pre-set, ensuring the cleaning fleet

can be deployed based on speed. This

safeguards a high level of cleaning

quality, while simultaneously freeing

up resources and reducing costs.

To maximise KIRA B 50’s autonomy,

the optional docking station allows

the unit to re-fill its water tank,

drain and rinse the wastewater

and recharge its battery with no

intervention. All functions on the

robot are easy to operate via the

large touch display featuring an

intuitive menu and user guidance,

allowing for multiple user

profiles and even different

language options.

With integrated laser

scanners, 3D and

ultrasonic sensors

and a powerful

onboard computer, KIRA

B 50 is capable of 360

detection of its surrounding

areas with quick reactions

and reliable navigation to

ensure safety. It detects changes in

its surroundings and initiates evasive

manoeuvres, while integrated light

modules notify people nearby of the

robot’s behavior, such as turning or

charging. KIRA B 50 is safety certified

for use in public areas according to the

new industry standard.

Kärcher also offers a comprehensive

service package through KIRA Care

and KIRA Care Plus, with features

such as web portal access, software

updates, and a functional guarantee,

with trained and experienced service

technicians on-hand to support.

The plus package even ensures an

immediate machine replacement in

the event of machine failure.

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TRANSFORMING FACILITY MANAGEMENT:

SAVEFAST’S IMPACT IN SAUDI ARABIA

In the rapidly evolving facility

management (FM) sectors of Saudi

Arabia and the UAE, excellence

defines top service providers.

SaveFast, as the exclusive regional

partner of the British Institute of

Cleaning Science (BICSc), is poised

to drive transformation in FM

companies through a blend of audits,

customised training, and continuous

support. This approach makes

SaveFast a significant force in setting

and raising operational standards

across the industry.

COLLABORATION WITH

REGULATORS AND CLIENTS

SaveFast collaborates with Saudi

regulators, including the Ministry

of Education (MOE), Ministry of

Health (MOH), and Ministry of

Culture (MOC), alongside large-scale

projects like NEOM, to establish

quality standards and improve

FM practices. This collaboration

involves determining staffing needs,

deployment plans, and structuring

regular and deep-cleaning routines.

By working with influential bodies,

SaveFast has positioned itself as

a critical player in enhancing FM

practices and setting minimum

standards for cleanliness and hygiene.

SUPPORTING SMALL AND MEDIUM

ENTERPRISES (SMES)

As Saudi Arabia’s economy grows,

so does the FM industry, with many

new companies emerging to meet

the demand. SaveFast bridges the

knowledge gap for these newer

entrants, helping them adopt best

practices in operations, labour, and

capital expenditure management.

Partnerships, such as with Diyar Ltd.,

exemplify SaveFast’s role in helping

SMEs adopt effective FM practices,

providing them with the foundational

expertise for long-term success.

DEVELOPING CAREER

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMBITIOUS

INDIVIDUALS

The expanding FM industry presents

unique opportunities for individuals

new to the field. SaveFast has

established itself as a leading training

provider for those interested in a

career in professional cleaning, giving

new entrants the skills and confidence

to excel.

UNDERSTANDING CLIENT NEEDS

THROUGH AUDITS

SaveFast’s process begins with

comprehensive audits that

assess a client’s FM operations,

from cleaning procedures and

maintenance to employee training

and customer satisfaction. These

audits go beyond basic compliance

to identify underlying inefficiencies

and improvement opportunities.

Mohammed Hazath, Head of BICSc

Training for SaveFast, emphasises

that these audits provide actionable

insights for effective decision-making.

"We dig deep to uncover the root causes

of challenges, enabling us to create

targeted solutions that are both practical

and effective."

CUSTOMISED TRAINING PLANS:

PAVING THE WAY TO EXCELLENCE

Based on the audit findings, SaveFast

collaborates with clients to develop

tailored training plans that align with

specific operational needs. Training

covers a wide range of topics, such as

cleaning techniques, health and safety,

and customer service, combining

theoretical and hands-on learning for

immediate applicability. By providing

this targeted training, SaveFast

empowers FM staff to perform their

roles with both skill and confidence.

Mr. Islam, Project Manager at

ZOMCO, highlights the impact: "Our

teams not only gain new skills but also a

renewed sense of purpose and pride."

IMPLEMENTING AND DEPLOYING

NEW STANDARDS

With training in place, SaveFast

guides clients through implementing

new practices. This crucial phase

involves putting theory into action,

with SaveFast supporting clients by

providing a clear deployment plan and

working closely with management and

staff to ensure effective integration.

This approach fosters a culture of

ownership and accountability within

client organisations, reinforcing

SaveFast’s commitment to sustainable

improvement.

IMPACT OF BICSc TRAINING ON

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

SaveFast’s BICSc training has been

transformative for the Ministry

of Education (MOE) FM supplier

SAFARI. Initially, an audit revealed

a 25% compliance score, but after

completing the tailored BICSc training,

this score rose to 60%, establishing a

foundation for ongoing improvement.

BICSc standardised, practical cleaning

methods emphasised risk reduction,

best practices, and consistent quality.

Through hands-on workshops and

engagement, SaveFast equipped

SAFARI’s team with the skills needed

to enhance quality and compliance

standards significantly.

ELEVATING CLEANLINESS

STANDARDS IN HEALTHCARE:

MINISTRY OF HEALTH SUCCESS

STORY

The Ministry of Health (MOH)

recognised that maintaining high

standards of cleanliness is essential

for patient safety and operational

efficiency. SaveFast’s project with

MOH began with a comprehensive

audit to identify key areas for

improvement, followed by the

development of a specialised training

program focused on infection

control, risk reduction, and crosscontamination

prevention. SaveFast

also supported a deep-cleaning

initiative across MOH facilities, setting

a new benchmark for healthcare

cleanliness standards.

The results were evident:

• Higher Productivity: Enhanced

training improved efficiency,

allowing tasks to be completed

quickly without sacrificing quality.

• Improved Quality: Patients,

visitors, and staff noted higher

cleanliness standards.

• Enhanced Infection Control:

Reduced cross-contamination led

to safer environments.

• Reduced Re-Cleaning: Clear

standards minimised rework and

improved efficiency.

• Greater Staff Satisfaction:

Empowered by new skills, staff

morale and motivation improved,

reinforcing a high standard of

care.

This collaboration not only helped

MOH achieve its goals but also

established a new standard for

healthcare cleanliness in the region.

REGIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS:

SUCCESS STORIES

SaveFast’s holistic approach has

positively impacted numerous

FM companies across the region.

Clients like JASH, Al Mohallem,

BMCO, and IFAS report significant

improvements in service delivery,

efficiency, and customer satisfaction

following their partnership with

SaveFast. These improvements

reflect deeper cultural changes

within organisations, leading

to higher client retention

rates and improved employee

morale. Emad Abdoun, a senior

manager at a regional FM firm,

praises SaveFast’s influence:

"Having SaveFast as our training

partner has been a gamechanger.

Their expertise has

transformed our operations and set us on

a path to sustained excellence."

LOOKING AHEAD: A BRIGHT

FUTURE FOR FACILITY

MANAGEMENT

With Saudi Arabia’s FM sector

continuing to grow, SaveFast is

dedicated to supporting clients’

journey toward excellence. By

focusing on audits, customized

training, and ongoing support,

SaveFast positions itself as a key

partner for FM companies looking to

enhance their operations. The success

of SaveFast’s approach is evident not

only in the achievements of its clients

but also in its impact on regional FM

standards. By fostering a culture

of accountability and excellence,

SaveFast is shaping the future of

facility management across Saudi

Arabia and the UAE.

SaveFast’s commitment to

transformation goes beyond merely

providing services; they are a partner

in change. Through a comprehensive

approach, SaveFast empowers FM

companies to elevate their operations

and deliver high-quality service,

positioning them as a valuable asset

in the industry’s future. The future

looks promising for SaveFast and its

clients, with continued growth and

an unwavering focus on excellence

shaping the path forward.


THE

CONFERENCE

CBS ARENA COVENTRY 4 TH DECEMBER

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