WELCOME TO THE 2025 EDITION OF THE VOICE
It is time for another edition of our annual newsletter, packed with news from the British Cleaning Council and our members - and there is a lot to tell you about.
On the opposite page, we preview the London Cleaning Show. This year’s show looks set to be a blockbuster event, with lots to interest and entertain cleaning and hygiene sector staff.
I will be launching two major BCC initiatives on the morning of the first day of the show, March 18. They are our annual research report – an essential industry document for the entire cleaning, hygiene and waste sector - and the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone. If you are attending the show in the morning, I hope you will attend the launch and find out more about both of them.
The UK Cleaning Career Development Zone will be relevant to every cleaning industry colleague seeking to advance their career, offering staff the chance to find out about careers development and training information easily, online.
The cleaning and hygiene sector has been crying out for years for the wide array of disparate course information to be brought together in this way. The UK Cleaning Career Development Zone could be a
game-changer in terms of helping staff progress, and by attracting new recruits.
You can find out more about this exciting project on pages four and five of The Voice.
There are a couple of other BCC projects that I’d like to update you on.
Last year, we launched the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative (CHO) Apprenticeship, which gives sector businesses the opportunity to use Apprenticeship Levy funds to invest in their staff.
It has got off to a good start, with more than 200 apprentices on the programme. We will be continuing to encourage businesses and staff to sign up throughout 2025.
We continue to lobby the Government and other bodies in support of the Embedding Effective Hygiene for a Resilient UK report and are currently looking at collecting further evidence in support of our call for the Government to put hygiene at the top of the national agenda. Watch out for more on this in the next 12 months.
On pages six and seven of The Voice, you can catch up on news from some of the BCC’s members.
Leading environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy will be launching its
tenth Great British Spring Clean campaign from March 21, while our colleagues at The Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) are achieving great results via their accreditation schemes.
On those pages, you can also read about the seminar held by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) to discuss vital issues facing the cleaning and FM sector, and the work of the Textile Services Association (TSA) to remove single-use plastic where possible from the processing of bed linens and towelling.
There are also updates from the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA) about its fantastic Clean Start initiative and the latest on plans by our colleagues at the UK Housekeepers Association (UKHA) to celebrate the organisation’s 40th anniversary in style.
Yours
Delia Cannings Chair, British Cleaning Council
CLEANING SHOW SET TO ENTHRAL VISITORS
The Cleaning Show 2025 returns to the ExceL, London, promising to be even bigger and better than the last show in the capital.
As well as featuring more exhibitors than the 2023 show and more floor space, the show, which runs from 18-20 March, boasts a range of new features.
With more than 7,000 attendees from across the industry expected, visitors will have the opportunity to meet key suppliers, discover the latest products and services, learn from a host of industry experts and network with senior specialists from across the sector.
It is the premier trade event for the cleaning and hygiene industry and is co-produced by the British Cleaning Council (BCC) and Quartz Business Media.
BCC Chair Delia Cannings will open the show, during which she will announce the launch of a new website called the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone, which will bring together training and career development opportunities from across the cleaning and hygiene industry into one place. (You can read more about the website over the page).
Delia will also unveil a key industry document, the BCC’s 2025 research report on the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector, which will be packed with the latest facts and figures about the industry, and give an update on the BCC’s activities over the last year.
Delia said: “The Cleaning Show is a fabulous showcase for one of the UK’s biggest and most important sectors and the highlight of the cleaning and hygiene industry’s calendar.
“The enthusiasm for this year’s show has been incredible and it promises to be one of the best in the history of the event.”
As always, the conference programme will be a key attraction, offering a series of engaging panel sessions over three days, featuring
industry experts such as BCC Chair Delia, Neil Spencer-Cook and Kelsey Hargreaves of The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), Paul Ashton, Chair of the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA) and Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA).
Day one of the conference features discussions on what’s new at the show, sustainability and regulations, training, education and development in the sector, cleaning in the healthcare sector and environmental, social and governance in the sector.
Day two kicks off with a discussion about the post pandemic future of the industry then continues with sessions on AI in the sector, the evolution of cleaning in FM, the future of the sector and the sustainability of tissue paper.
The final day of the show focuses on the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic and debates how to attract the next generation of cleaning professionals.
Show exhibitors include a host of
industry-leading companies from the cleaning and hygiene sector, as well as some of the sector’s biggest associations.
You can visit the BCC stand to find out more about the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone and order a free copy of the research report.
The CSSA will host its annual Innovation Showcase at their stand, spotlighting pioneering technologies and advancements aimed at transforming cleaning operations, from AI-driven solutions to sustainability-led initiatives.
You can also meet fellow showcase sponsors the CHSA on the stand, while the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (WCEC) will be available to discuss the Chartered Practitioners Register. You can also visit the Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC) and BICSc at their stands.
The Window Cleaning World Cup will also return, inviting exhibitors and visitors to put their speed, skill and expertise to the test for the chance to win £1,000.
NEW CAREERS DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE FOR CLEANING PROFESSIONALS
A
new website being launched at the Cleaning Show on March 18 could transform how sector staff find out about careers development and training opportunities.
The UK Cleaning Career Development Zone will bring together information about industry training and development courses in one place for the first time, where they can be easily accessed online. It will feature details of over 40 courses at frontline, supervisory and management levels submitted by 16 education and training bodies, as well as industry case studies, information for employers and useful links. Anyone visiting the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone will be wowed by the opportunities the industry offers.
Showcasing disparate information about professional cleaning education and training opportunities via one website like this will help address the lack of educational structure in terms of pathways for staff progression in the sector.
Industry personnel will easily be able to find the training they need to succeed in their careers on the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone, whether that means moving upwards or sideways into cleaning roles in other sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, education, engineering, manufacturing or local government, to name just a few areas employing industry staff.
Making this information more accessible will also help make the sector a more attractive destination for newcomers, who will be able to see how to advance their careers more easily.
The British Cleaning Council (BCC) developed the new website after consulting relevant members. It expects more courses to be featured on the site as time progresses.
A publicity campaign is leveraging the launch of the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone to promote the attractions of the industry to new joiners, by highlighting how a career in the cleaning sector can provide job satisfaction, the opportunity to succeed, rapid progression and/or options for part-time or flexible working and cleaning opportunities in many other sectors.
WHAT DO CLEANING PROFESSIONALS FEATURED IN THE CAMPAIGN HAVE TO SAY?
DEYSSY
“I encourage people to join the industry. You meet a wide range of people from all around the world and you will have opportunities to progress.”
JEROME
“The learning gave me so much confidence. It enabled me to have a career and progress in this career. Economically, it has contributed to a better life for me, and I am able to provide a better life for my family.”
GYTIS
“I love my job so much. Every day is different. I am so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had. It has been beautiful.”
TENTH GB SPRING CLEAN TO BE LAUNCHED BY KEEP BRITAIN TIDY
National environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has urged people to join its nationwide litter-picking effort ahead of the tenth Great British Spring Clean campaign from March 21 to April 6.
Since 2016, the Great British Spring Clean has become the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign, empowering Litter Heroes across the nation to pledge to pick more than four million bags of harmful rubbish from streets,
parks and beaches – that’s more than half a million wheelie bins.
Some have joined the charity’s ambassador programme and are currently fronting the charity’s national advertising campaign to Love Where You Live.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said:
“Each year the Great British Spring Clean’s fantastic and dedicated Litter Heroes take positive action to tackle litter and show they love where they live.
“This growing culture of small individual actions has added up to an enormous impact with more than four million bags pledged by our army of volunteers during the campaign since it was launched in 2016. Thank you to everyone who has been involved.”
HIGH COMPLIANCE BY CHSA ACCREDITATION SCHEME MEMBERS
The Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) completed 89 audits of its manufacturing members and 52 audits of its distributor members in 2024. Members achieved high levels of compliance, guaranteeing ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’.
Conducting the audits, the independent inspector checked over 1,700 labels and 1,000 products across all CHSA manufacturing schemes. Within the distributor scheme approximately 31,250 products from accredited manufacturers and over 4,000 products from non-accredited manufacturers were checked. The latter were classified as compliant with the relevant scheme at the time of audit.
Any member that falls below the required standard is issued with a warning notice. They are then re-audited to ensure the appropriate remedial action has been taken to maintain their membership. This occurred twice in 2024, and the members involved have now completed three consecutive successful audits.
Lorcan Mekitarian, chair of the CHSA, explained: “We offer buyers of cleaning and hygiene products an important guarantee. Our inspection process means they can trust our accreditation scheme marks. It means the products that carry an accreditation scheme mark match the specification and are fit for purpose. ‘What’s on the box is what’s in the box.’”
VISIT WWW.CHSA.CO.UK
EXPERTS DISCUSS CHALLENGES AND SHOWCASE INNOVATION
At an event at Oulton Hall in Leeds, delegates from local authorities, organisations, and expert speakers from across the UK discussed the challenges facing the cleaning and FM sector including workforce issues, transitioning to net zero and meeting customers’ expectations.
The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Facilities, Catering and Cleaning Management Seminar 2025 also explored sustainability and how services could be made ‘fit for the future’.
Sunil Shah from the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management provided guidance for developing sustainable business cases, while Kesley Hargreaves from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) and Mohammed Basharat of Derby City Council discussed trials with AI-powered cleaning robots.
The seminar also featured the APSE Soft FM Innovation Awards. The winning submission was from Nottinghamshire County Council.
HUGE PROGRESS THROUGH PLASTIC-FREE LINEN SERVICE INITIATIVE
Traditionally, cleaned linens for hospitality businesses have been protected by plastic covers during transit from the laundry and while they are stored before being used.
In recent years, hospitality linen services have used 100 tonnes of plastics a week to protect clean textiles – of which only about nine per cent has been recycled.
In 2023, the Textile Services Association (TSA), UKHospitality (UKH) and the UK Housekeepers Association (UKHA), along with members, agreed to work towards removing all single-use plastic where possible from the processing of bed linens and towelling by this year.
A recent TSA survey found that 83 per cent of respondents have started removing plastics from their operations and nearly 40 per cent say their delivery of hospitality linens is already plastic-free.
It’s estimated that up to 80 per cent of single-use plastics have already been taken out of the linen delivery system in the UK.
“There is a huge amount of support for this campaign across our
CLEAN START VISITS
SCHOOLS IN LONDON AND THE NORTH WEST
industries,” said David Stevens, CEO of the TSA.
“We’ve already made enormous progress, which is down to everyone involved being committed to the objectives. These are significant steps in the progress towards net zero.”
The Clean Start initiative, a mission by the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA) to change people’s perceptions of the cleaning industry, has now expanded to reach schools in both the north and south of the UK.
The campaign, which promotes the message that the industry is a viable and positive career option, is led by Daniel Cross, committee member of the CSSA Northern Community Group.
Mr Cross recently exhibited at the Hindley Academy careers fair in the North West. Members of the CSSA Southern Community (SCG) also attended the Highams Park School careers fair in London.
Merci Marosi, of the CSSA SCG, said: “Together, we brought a range of expertise and had a fantastic time engaging with the students, answering their questions, and highlighting the many career paths available within the sector.”
FOR MORE, VISIT WWW.CSSA-UK.CO.UK/CLEAN-START
UKHA CELEBRATES RUBY ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE
The UK Housekeepers Association (UKHA) will be celebrating a very special occasion this summer – the association’s ruby anniversary.
The 2025 summer ball will take place on Friday 27 June at The Palace Hotel, in the lovely spa town of Buxton, hosted by UKHA Manchester and North West.
The national celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the association features a drinks reception, four-course meal with wine, cheese and port, music to dance the night away and a raffle.
Early bird tickets for the glittering event are available until 1 April 2025 and after that, at full price, and hotel accommodation is offered at a discounted rate.
Anyone who wishes to provide sponsorship or raffle
prizes, please contact UKHA Manchester and NW. The UKHA will be donating funds towards nominated charities.
The association was formed in May 1984, with the backing of the Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine and with Lord Forte of Ripley as patron.
By the end of its first year, it had over 100 members from all parts of the UK and across the sector. It rapidly made a name for itself as an association for professionals.
For the second year running, the UKHA has held a national conference and all committee members pledged to uphold the UKHA Vision Statement Aims, Values and Priorities.
FOR MORE, VISIT WWW.UKHA.CO.UK
ABOUT THE BCC
Established in 1982, the British Cleaning Council (BCC) is the authoritative voice of the UK cleaning, hygiene and waste industry, a sector which according to figures reported last year, was worth almost £60bn a year and employed around 1.47m people, making it one of the UK’s top ten industries.
The council’s membership is made up of 21 trade and membership associations which are all linked to the cleaning, hygiene and waste professions.
From contract cleaning to waste management, pest control to housekeeping, training providers to machine manufacturers, chemical suppliers to wheelie bin-washers – the BCC coordinates, campaigns and supports the affairs of the whole of the UK’s cleaning industry.
Key priorities for the BCC and its membership include seeking recognition and key worker status for sector staff, raising professional standards, employee health and well-being, career development and training, improved quality control and better procurement practices.
We are also committed to promoting higher levels of cleaning and hygiene across all environments – commercial, domestic and public.
The BCC continues to lobby the Government to ensure the sector’s voice is heard and is working to re-establish an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the sector, after all the UK’s APPGs were dissolved last year ahead of the General Election.
The BCC continues to promote the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship, which offers businesses the opportunity to use Apprenticeship Levy payments to invest in staff, and is also launching the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone website.
The BCC is co-producer of the world-renowned Cleaning Show, which alternates annually between London and Manchester (pictured above).
THE BCC’S WE CLEAN, WE CARE CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS THE VITAL AND SKILLED FRONTLINE ROLE STAFF HAVE IN KEEPING OTHERS SAFE AND WELL, AND IN PROTECTING THE NATION’S HEALTH AND WEALTH.
Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
ASSOCIATION OF BUILDING CLEANING DSPS (ABCD)
ASSOCIATION OF HEALTHCARE CLEANING PROFESSIONALS (AHCP)
ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE EXCELLENCE (APSE)
BRITISH CHEMICALS ASSOCIATION (BCA)
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR CLEANING IN HIGHER EDUCATION (BACHE)
BRITISH INSTITUTE OF CLEANING SCIENCE (BICSC)
BRITISH TOILET ASSOCIATION LIMITED (BTA)
BRITISH PEST CONTROL ASSOCIATION (BPCA)
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CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (CIEH)
Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
CHARTERED INSTITUTION OF WASTES MANAGEMENT (CIWM)
Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
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@BritishCleaning
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Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
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CLEANING & HYGIENE SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION (CHSA)
CLEANING AND SUPPORT SERVICES ASSOCIATION (CSSA)
@BritishCleaning
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Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
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Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
DOMESTIC CLEANING ALLIANCE (DCA)
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Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
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Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
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FEDERATION OF WINDOW CLEANERS (FWC)
Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
INDUSTRIAL CLEANING MACHINE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION (ICMMA)
Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
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KEEP BRITAIN TIDY
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
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Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
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NATIONAL CARPET CLEANERS ASSOCIATION (NCCA)
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHEELED BIN WASHERS (NAWBW)
Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
@BritishCleaning
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Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
TEXTILE SERVICES ASSOCIATION (TSA)
@BritishCleaning
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Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
UK HOUSEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION (UKHA)
@BritishCleaning
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Web: britishcleaningcouncil.org
Email: info@britishcleaningcouncil.org
WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANERS (WCEC)