THE VOICE A Newsletter from the British Cleaning Council (BCC)
Spring 2017
C E L E B R AT I N G 35 YEARS OF THE BRITISH CLEANING COUNCIL
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: History of the BCC, Members News, Chairman’s View
01 THE VOICE OF THE CLEANING INDUSTRY
THE VOICE OF THE CLEANING INDUSTRY FOR 35 YEARS BEGINNINGS 1982 It was the year of the Falklands War, a loaf of bread cost 37p and Steven Spielberg had everyone spell bound with a strange creature called ET. It was also the year that three industry insiders decided the UK cleaning industry needed to speak with one voice, and so formed the British Cleaning Council. The three co-founders; David Watt, Terence King and Robert Burtinshaw, became inspired after hearing the newly installed Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, David Evans, tell an audience at the Installation Banquet in 1981 that he felt all sectors of the UK cleaning industry, should amalgamate to advance their common interests.
BCC Co-Founder David Watt (left) presents competition prize at BCCE 88, with future BCC Chair Hazel Woodridge
on board right from the start. The BCC’s founder members were: Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (WCEC), Industrial Machine Manufacturers Association (ICMMA), Janitorial Supply Association (JANSA), British Association for Chemical Specialities (BACS), British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC), National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA).
THE CLEANING SHOW The original members were determined that the newly formed Council should not be considered a ‘talking shop’ so it was decided from the outset that the Council would need adequate funds to operate effectively. The board were adamant that they wanted to support and fund members’ schemes, and to do this properly they needed a good source of income. The co-founders therefore decided, with the support of the BCC, to form a company; British Cleaning Council Exhibitions ltd (BCCE) which would join forces with another exhibition organiser, with the aim of setting up and promoting national and regional cleaning exhibitions.
The aim of the new body would be to draw together all the many strands that go to make up the UK cleaning industry and be an umbrella organisation under which all other industry associations could convene. The objectives were to improve health, hygiene and general cleanliness, and to raise the profile of the industry both at home and abroad. These ideals were widely shared and a number of associations came
An early BCCE Show at Olympia
The first joint venture company was Reed Exhibitions, followed by Turret Press, which in turn was followed in the early 90s, by Quartz, who are still the BCC’s Cleaning Show partners today. The first jointly run event ‘BCCE 88’ was held in March 1988 at Olympia in London. The three BCCE poster for the day exhibition first show in 1988 exceed expectations and the next show was organised for the following year. In the 90s the show moved to the NEC in Birmingham, and then came back to London to the Excel in 2015 where it presently resides. The success of the Cleaning Show allowed the Council to plough funds back into the industry in the form of grants to help members’ projects. Over the years thousands of pounds have been awarded to help fledgling projects get off the ground.
THE WINDS OF CHANGE From the 1980s onwards the pace of change in the cleaning industry gathered momentum, with technological, economic and political forces all having a big impact. But the BCC had arrived at the perfect time to meet this change, and was well placed to play a leading role, both by giving the industry a voice, and by being the body the industry could unite behind, as the winds of change swept across the UK.
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cont... One of the biggest changes that took place was the government’s introduction of compulsory competitive tendering, which opened up the market in local authority and NHS service provision.
BCC CHAIRMAN 1982 -2017
The contract cleaning sector exploded overnight as companies sprung up trying to win the lucrative government cleaning contracts.
1982 -1988
David Watt
At the same time this was happening, a great swath of new legislation and regulations, many from the EU, were coming into play, which directly affected the cleaning industry.
1988 - 1990
Terry King
1990 - 1992
Robert Burtinshaw
1992 - 1994
Hazel Woodridge
1994 - 1996
Trevor Iles
1996 - 1999
Peter Bird
1999 - 2001
Andrew Henman
2001 - 2003
Brian Cole
2003 - 2005
Paul Pearce
2005 - 2007
Judith West
2007 - 2010
Steve Wright
2010 - 2012
Mark Woodhead
2012 – 2015
Doug Cooke
The Council was again perfectly positioned to help the industry meet these challenges. And through the collective wisdom and experience of its membership, was able to share best practice and pass on knowledge which members could use in their everyday businesses. With so much change happening and so many new guidelines and rules to follow, companies could see the advantages of belonging to a trade association, and the BCC’s membership continued to grow through the 90s with big associations like the CSSA, and Keep Britain Tidy coming onboard.
THE FUTURE As the BCC evolved, it was able to spearhead the drive for better standards in the industry. In 2010 the Council published its own manifesto to accompany the General Election, and for the first time it was able to write down its core aims and beliefs in a document that all members could sign up to. The Council was now the undisputed voice of the industry and the manifesto highlighted its members’ priorities: Sustainability, Education and Training, Healthcare, Technology, Waste Management, Health and Safety, Public Hygiene and Specialist Cleaning. The 35 years since the BCC’s formation has brought many social, political and economic changes, but the cleaning industry has weathered all the storms that has come its way, and is today in a strong position to face the future. The BCC’s co-founders philosophy from the start was that a collective body of professionals will always be more powerful than an individual person or company, and that is as viable today as it was 35 years ago.
2015 - Present Simon Hollingbery
The BCC is co owner of the Cleaning Show, which returns to the Excel in March 2017
03 THE VOICE OF THE CLEANING INDUSTRY
THREE DECADES OF CHANGE The UK cleaning industry is unrecognisable from when the British Cleaning Council was formed in 1982. New technology, more sophisticated cleaning equipment and chemicals, plus better training, have all played a part in professionalising the industry. Like most UK industrial sectors it has had to suffer a number of recessions, but has always bounced back stronger once the economic landscape has settled. The industry as a whole is hugely important to the UK economy, with the latest figures from the BCC showing the total UK turnover in 2014 was £23 billion. The pace of change shows no sign of slowing with robotics and the Internet of Things coming round the corner. But for this 35th anniversary edition of The Voice, we thought we’d ask two former BCC Chairmen what they think the biggest changes have been.
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Terry King, Founding Member, BCC When we formed the BCC the contract cleaning sector was beginning to move away from traditional office cleaning; vacuuming floors, dusting and emptying rubbish bins etc. Clients began wanting more service for their money and contractors were keen to oblige. Economy in size encouraged contractors to start offering what they called “Bundled Services” to grow on-site invoice values. Controlling standards, costs and contractor services, the client employed what became known as a Facility Manager. New buildings brought bigger floor sizes and there was a gradual change from hard to soft floor surfaces. It meant larger and more efficient machinery was demanded by contractors from manufacturers, to allow them to clean more effectively. The cleaning industry continued to evolve throughout the 1980s-1990s into a multimillion pound worldwide service, providing a range of machinery, chemicals and services to suit the ever changing needed of clients.
Doug Cooke, Chief Executive, Principle Cleaning Services Ltd I believe the biggest changes have come in the last 10-15 years or so with the introduction of the minimum wage, and more recently the Living Wage. There’s also been an improvement in the terms and conditions of cleaners, i.e. enhanced holidays, pensions etc. and Daytime Working, and this has led to greater recognition of cleaning operatives in the workplace. Better pay and protection for staff can bring real dividends for companies. Employees feel more valued and less likely to leave, and they are also more motivated and so more efficient. Also, many who start at the coalface rise quickly after training to become first class supervisors. In terms of innovation/mechanisation it is still a labour intensive activity though faster machines and microfibre technology has helped. Typical production rates of 2000 square feet per hour were the norm 30 years ago compared to typically 4000+ square feet per hour nowadays.
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IN BRIEF FEDERATION OF WINDOW CLEANERS CELEBRATES 70 YEARS The Federation of Window Cleaners is celebrating its 70th anniversary and is inviting window cleaners from all over the UK to get together for a one-day trade exhibition. The event will take place at the Village Hotel in Blackpool on the 25th May 2017, where there’ll be a full day of events with specialist suppliers exhibiting their latest equipment. The day will also feature a Guinness Record Window Cleaning Competition compered by Terry Burrows which will be free to enter for everyone in the window cleaning and associated trades. Register your interest at: info@f-w-c.co.uk
CHSA: ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR DISTRIBUTORS The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association is adding to its three Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes with the launch of a new Accreditation Scheme for Distributors. The scheme went live on 1 January 2017, and all distributor members of the CHSA are being invited to apply to join. Mike Stubbs, Chairman of the Accreditation Scheme Panels and Vice President of the CHSA, said: “Our focus is always on driving up standards in the industry; our existing Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes are widely recognized as already having done so. The increasing number of buyers of cleaning and hygiene products specifying CHSA Schemes in their tenders is evidence of this.” Futher information about all the CHSA’s Accreditation Schemes can be found on the website www.chsa.co.uk
BICSc AWARDS 2017 The BICSc Annual Awards takes place on 14th September 2017 at Whittlebury Hall Hotel in Northamptonshire. This year’s awards promises to be the biggest event yet, with the evening ceremony merging with a daytime Education Programme and Exhibition, which is open to all industry professionals.
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Members news ICMMA APPOINTS NEW TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIR The Industrial Cleaning Machinery Manufacturers Association has appointed Mike Bresnihan to lead their Technical Committee. Mike, currently Chief Operating Officer at Cleanfix UK, has over 20 years experience in various operational roles across a range of industries including IT, Retail, Finance, Distribution, Engineering and Manufacturing and has a strong track record of delivering key strategic and operational objectives for blue chip clients. Mike said of his appointment “I am passionate about all things operational and have a keen interest in robotics, innovation and the use of technology as a means to enhance the customer experience whilst driving profitability and productivity. These are areas relevant to the cleaning industry as a whole and particularly to ICMMA members’, and I’m very happy to be able to help lead activities in these areas.”
ABCD TO MEET IN HARROGATE The ABCD is holding its annual meeting at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate on May 11th where it will hold the AGM and announce the Cleaning Team of the Year 2017 Award. The day will continue with a programme of events in which a series of invited speakers will explore a number of management issues that ABCD members have identified as being priorities.
NEW NATIONAL CHAIR FOR AHCP
LIST OF BCC MEMBERS ASSOCIATION OF BUILDING CLEANING DSPS www.abcdsp.org.uk
Lee Peddle has been chosen as the new national chair for the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals.
ASSOCIATION OF HEALTHCARE CLEANING PROFESSIONALS www.ahcp.org.uk BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR CHEMICAL SPECIALITIES www.bacsnet.org
He is the Facilities Manager within Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), leading on all Soft FM services across the Trust.
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR CLEANING IN HIGHER EDUCATION www.bache.org.uk
He told delegates at a recent meeting that he was very proud to have been chosen and he will work tirelessly on behalf of the association. He said his priorities are to increase membership, and embrace the changing face of the NHS. He added that he will also look at the current membership to ensure they continue to feel the value of the AHCP.
BRITISH INSTITUTE OF CLEANING SCIENCE www.bics.org.uk BRITISH PEST CONTROL ASSOCIATION www.bcpa.org.uk BRITISH TOILET ASSOCIATION www.britloos.org.uk
CSSA AWARDS
CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH www.cieh.org
Organisers of the CSSA Awards say the number of entries they have received has exceeded expectations, with a good spread throughout the award categories.
CHARTERED INSTITUTION OF WASTES MANAGEMENT www.ciwm.co.uk
All organisations who entered will receive an invitation to the Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on 15th March at the Bridge Restaurant, Excel Exhibition Centre, during this year’s Cleaning Show.
CLEANING & HYGIENE SUPPLIERS’ ASSOCIATION www.chsa.co.uk CLEANING AND SUPPORT SERVICES ASSOCIATION www.cssa-uk.co.uk
KEEP BRITAIN TIDY
DOMESTIC CLEANING ALLIANCE www.domesticcleaningalliance.co.uk
Keep Britain Tidy has re-introduced their iconic ‘Tidyman’ logo.
FEDERATION OF WINDOW CLEANERS www.f-w-c.co.uk
According to research, more than eight out of ten adults recognise the Tidyman and its meaning, many more than know the recycling symbol and nearly four times more than the vegetarian symbol. Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive, Allison OgdenNewton, said: “The Tidyman icon has been a part of our lives since the 1960s and is the world’s most famous – and ubiquitous - environmental symbol. We are delighted to be reunited with Tidyman and hope that everyone who cares about how our home looks will take him to their heart.”
You can contact the British Cleaning Council at: PO Box10362, Syston, Leicestershire LE7 2WJ Secretariat: Pat Wherton, info@britishcleaningcouncil.org Media, Lee Baker, lee@britishcleaningcouncil.org www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
INDUSTRIAL CLEANING MACHINE MANUFACTURERS` ASSOCIATION www.cleaningmachines.org KEEP BRITAIN TIDY www.keepbritaintidy.org
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NATIONAL CARPET CLEANERS ASSOCIATION www.ncca.co.uk THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHEELED BIN WASHERS www.nawbw.co.uk THE UK CLEANING PRODUCTS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION www.ukcpi.org UK HOUSEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION www.ukha.co.uk WAMITAB www.wamitab.org.uk WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANERS www.environmental-cleaners.com
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CHAIRMAN’S VIEW British Cleaning Council Chairman, Simon Hollingbery, shares his thoughts on the BCC’s 35th anniversary and the London Cleaning Show 2017. It’s a very special time to be Chairman of the BCC as we’re currently celebrating our 35th year as an organisation and are about to have our biggest ever Cleaning Show at the Excel in London. To mark our 35th year we have asked our media guru Lee Baker to look back into the archives and put together a timeline of the BCC from 1982 to present day. We couldn’t have done it without the help of those who were running the BCC at the time, so I’d like to thank co-founders Terry King and Robert Burtinshaw, former secretary John Stinton and the Council’s first press officer Jay Grenby.
Simon Hollingbery, Chairman, BCC
We’ve documented the Council’s formative years in this edition of The Voice, so please do keep hold of it as it maybe a collector’s item one day! The anniversary gives us an opportunity to take stock and look at what the Council has achieved, and I think the founding members really were onto something when they decided the cleaning industry needed to speak with one voice. They also showed great foresight by forming BCCE (British Cleaning Council Exhibitions Ltd) and teaming up with an experienced exhibition company, first Reed Exhibitions, then Turret Press and finally Quartz – who are still joint partners today. The first show as a joint venture was in 1988 at Olympia, and the past thirty years has seen the event evolve and grow into what is now undisputedly the UK’s premier cleaning exhibition. A successful Cleaning Show means the BCC has funds to help members with projects, and over the years the Council has been able to pour thousands of pounds back into the industry, which was one of the founding principles of the organisation. This year’s London Cleaning Show 2017 at the Excel will be the biggest yet, and it is one of the BCC’s greatest legacies to be co-owners of an international trade event like this. If you are attending the Cleaning Show this March, please do try and take in at least one seminar, as we have a fantastic range of speakers this year. Also, if you need help or advice on any aspect of the industry, please come and see us at the BCC stand (B30) where you’ll be guaranteed a very warm welcome.
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The Cleaning Show at the Excel will feature three days of seminars. They are FREE and open to everyone. Tuesday 14 March 2017 A Country and Workforce of Which To Be Proud 10:30: Welcome and opening address - Jim Fitzpatrick MP 11:00: A Country of Which to be Proud - Alison Ogden-Newton, Chief Executive, Keep Britain Tidy 11:30: Enviro Crime - Chris James, CEO, WAMITAB 12:00: Cleaning and Pests - Simon Forrester, Chief Executive, British Pest Control Association 12:30: Illegal Workers in the Cleaning Industry Chris Edwards, Assistant Director, Home Office Immigration Enforcement 13:00: The New Cleaning Operative Apprenticeship Lorraine Larman, Apprenticeship Trailblazer 14:00: The Living Wage Movement in the UK Katherine Chapman, Director, the Living Wage Foundation 14.30: CSSA Women's Group Meeting and Reception 15:30: Federation of Window Cleaners Awards Presentation 16:00: The European Cleaning Industry – PostBrexit - Andreas Lill, Director General of the European Federation of Cleaning Industries (EFCI)
Wednesday 15 March 2017 Health and Safety 10.30: Health and Safety in the Cleaning Industry Tracy Hamilton, Operational Policy Advisor, HSE 10.45: Working at Height in the Cleaning Industry Colin Chatten, Operational Strategy Team HSE 11.15: Preventing Slips and Trips - Rob Shaw, Technical Team Lead, Falls Prevention, HSL 11.45: Improving Health and Safety for New and Expectant Mothers - Rosie Wallbank, EHRC & Rachel Grant, Head of Vulnerable Workers Team, HSE 12.15: Occupational Respiratory Health in Cleaning Dr Amy Gyte, HSE 12.45: Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment and Debate - Christopher Quarrie, BSc CIEHF, Specialist Inspector in Human Factors and Ergonomics at the Health and Safety Executive Afternoon: Developing Your Business 14.00: Five Trends Changing the Contract Cleaning Market - Dan Weltin, Editor in Chief, Sanitary Maintenance, USA 14.30: Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing Darren Hepburn, Sales Director, NewZapp 15.00: The power of Social Media - Suzanne Howe, Managing Director, SHC 15.30: The Importance of PR, and Managing a Crisis - Chris Klopper, Managing Director, Mulberry Marketing Communications 16.00: Increasing Revenues Through Proven Strategies and Technology- Anthony Wilkey and Michelle Cachucho, Best Minds.
Thursday 16 March 2017 A Look To The Future 11.00 PANEL DEBATE: The future of FM in association with Premises and Facilities Magazine 12.00 Robotics: The shape of things to come? Darren Marston, Chairman, ICE
The VOICE is the newsletter from the British Cleaning Council Edited by Lee Baker. Published by A&R Print Solutions: www.aandrprint.co.uk
THE VOICE OF THE CLEANING INDUSTRY