The Standard Issue 1 2023
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
TITLE,<br />
THE<br />
STANDARD<br />
SUB TEXT<br />
1St Para [BOLD]<br />
2nd Para [REG]<br />
EDITION 1<br />
<strong>2023</strong><br />
REGISTER YOUR PLACE<br />
FOR A Q&A WITH BICSc:<br />
IS BLEACH<br />
THE ANSWER<br />
?<br />
SUBMIT<br />
YOUR<br />
QUESTIONS<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
Q A<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
DR ANDREW KEMP PhD<br />
Q A<br />
?<br />
?<br />
INSIDE<br />
THIS ISSUE...<br />
?<br />
?<br />
DENISE HANSON<br />
Head of Technical Services<br />
Q A<br />
SPRING INTO ACTION<br />
WITH A NEW CLEANING<br />
MODEL | P5<br />
HOW APPROPRIATE<br />
ARE APPRENTICESHIPS?<br />
| P18-19<br />
BRINGING THE<br />
SCIENCE OF<br />
CLEANING TO THE<br />
HOMEMAKER | P21<br />
BICS.ORG.UK<br />
NEWS EVENTS WORLDWIDE STANDARDS
03 THE CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE<br />
BY LORRAINE DAVIS MBICSc<br />
04 HELLO <strong>2023</strong>!<br />
BY NEIL SPENCER-COOK MBICSc<br />
05 SPRING INTO ACTION WITH<br />
A NEW CLEANING MODEL<br />
BY DENISE HANSON FBICSc<br />
06 INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND<br />
SENIOR STAKEHOLDERS<br />
COME TOGETHER TO<br />
DISCUSS TAKING APPG<br />
REPORT FORWARD<br />
08 ARE YOU MAKING THE<br />
MOST OF YOUR CORPORATE<br />
MEMBERSHIP?<br />
BY KAREN ST JAMES BOYDE<br />
ABICSc<br />
10 SHIFTING ATTITUDES WITHIN<br />
AN EVER-GROWING INDUSTRY<br />
11 DEVELOPING YOUR STAFF?<br />
WOULD LOVE TO!<br />
BY JAMES MARSTON<br />
LBICSc<br />
12 THE FUTURE OF COBOTICS<br />
IS IN DATA – NOT DEVICES<br />
DOMINIC BASCOMBE<br />
– PRODUCT PERFORMANCE<br />
DIRECTOR, ISS<br />
14 ASK THE ASSESSOR:<br />
PRACTICAL ADVICE FROM<br />
SOME OF OUR AMAZING<br />
ASSESSORS BY KELSEY<br />
HARGREAVES LBICSc<br />
16 ENTER <strong>2023</strong><br />
WITH OPTIMISM!<br />
17 IS BLEACH THE ANSWER?<br />
18 HOW APPROPRIATE<br />
ARE APPRENTICESHIPS?<br />
20 PRIVATE HEALTHCARE<br />
IS PEACE OF MIND<br />
21 BRINGING THE SCIENCE<br />
OF CLEANING TO THE<br />
HOMEMAKER<br />
22 DEDICATION AND<br />
DETERMINATION:<br />
A Q&A WITH JESSICA<br />
DRENINOVA BY KELSEY<br />
HARGREAVES LBICSc<br />
23 COULD YOU BECOME A<br />
COUNCIL MEMBER?<br />
BY STAN ATKINS FBICSc<br />
24 SC JOHNSON<br />
PROFESSIONAL<br />
LAUNCHES NEW<br />
WASHROOM SOAP<br />
DISPENSER MADE<br />
FROM 70% RECOVERED<br />
COASTAL PLASTIC<br />
27 WELCOMING<br />
OUR NEW MEMBERS<br />
THE STANDARD
CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE<br />
BY LORRAINE DAVIS MBICSc<br />
Hello and welcome to my first update of <strong>2023</strong>. Whilst the start of this year is different to the last few, there<br />
is still the bad weather, spiralling prices, strikes, Covid, colds and flu, meaning that this year is going to be a<br />
challenging one, and not least for our hard-working, and often underappreciated cleaning teams. Making ends<br />
meet as prices soar, and simply just trying to get to work when trains and buses are not running properly, coupled<br />
with doing physical work, especially if feeling under the weather. <strong>The</strong>re simply isn’t much to shout about.<br />
As responsible employers, there are<br />
several measures we can instigate<br />
that can help our cleaning teams.<br />
We do know that a number of<br />
major employers have already paid<br />
bonuses and one-off amounts of<br />
cash to help offset the cost of living<br />
rises to help the worst affected in<br />
their workforce and they should be<br />
applauded for this.<br />
However, there are a number of<br />
non-cash measures that can also<br />
help too, such as:<br />
1. Survey staff to see what other<br />
help they need.<br />
2. Negotiate with the client to see<br />
if they will pay for the real living<br />
wage (the real living wage is<br />
slightly higher because they are<br />
independently calculated based on<br />
what people need to get by on).<br />
3. Offer mental wellbeing<br />
support. Especially as one<br />
in four employees who have<br />
money worries claim it affects<br />
their work. <strong>The</strong>refore, offering<br />
support, helplines, etc., can<br />
benefit both the employee<br />
and the employer.<br />
4. Ensure that employees are<br />
aware of the current benefits<br />
their employer offers. It is<br />
surprising how many cleaning<br />
operatives/staff are unaware<br />
what benefits and support their<br />
employers are already providing.<br />
This is because they might not have<br />
access to a computer, the company<br />
intranet or that English may not<br />
be their first language. Make sure<br />
toolbox talks and flyers in their<br />
native language are available so<br />
they know what and where to<br />
access them.<br />
5. Having a toolbox session on<br />
how to switch utility suppliers.<br />
A lot of cleaning operatives/staff<br />
(for the above reasons) do not<br />
know how to do this and it will<br />
help them make their wages<br />
go further. Additionally, direct<br />
them to financial information<br />
such as the Government<br />
Money Advice Service.<br />
6. Introduce Income Streaming.<br />
This allows the employees to<br />
draw down some of their<br />
earned wages before payday<br />
which can help them avoid<br />
getting into debt.<br />
7. Provide a virtual GP<br />
service so that help is<br />
available when staff are<br />
unwell and cannot easily<br />
access a normal NHS GP<br />
appointment.<br />
8. Organise a car share<br />
arrangement and fund the<br />
fuel and additional time the<br />
team member takes to pick<br />
up members of staff that<br />
cannot get to work due<br />
to strike action.<br />
Finally, a simple ‘thank you’ and<br />
delivering praise for a job well<br />
done goes a long way to making<br />
an individual feel valued and<br />
appreciated. This cannot be<br />
underestimated at any time.<br />
Meanwhile, to finish on a more<br />
optimistic note – spring is on the<br />
way, along with warmer weather,<br />
less viruses and hopefully a more<br />
stable economy and this time next<br />
year we can but hope for a much<br />
better start.<br />
Best wishes<br />
Lorraine<br />
LORRAINE<br />
DAVIS<br />
2 | 3
THE BICSc<br />
BULLETIN<br />
HELLO <strong>2023</strong>!<br />
BY NEIL SPENCER-COOK<br />
MBICSc<br />
NEIL SPENCER-COOK<br />
Chief Operating Officer<br />
Well, it’s a new year and I’m<br />
sure we will all have some new<br />
opportunities in the coming<br />
months. We’d like to take this<br />
opportunity to wish every one of<br />
our readers a happy and healthy<br />
<strong>2023</strong> from all of us here at BICSc.<br />
BICSc enjoyed a really positive<br />
2022 with travel restrictions lifted,<br />
a return to face-to-face training<br />
as well as an enhanced offering on<br />
the Virtual Training Suite (VTS) that<br />
saw a doubling in the candidates<br />
successfully undertaking training<br />
on the BICSc 2021 figures.<br />
This increase in numbers has meant<br />
that we are working again to expand<br />
our VTS offering. Namely, we have<br />
plans for even more free courses<br />
this year as well as extending the<br />
CPSS skills that can be undertaken.<br />
This is on top of creating more<br />
online learning opportunities in<br />
the field of healthcare.<br />
Nationally and internationally,<br />
we have enjoyed meeting more<br />
of our Accredited Training<br />
Members in person as well as<br />
a variety of potential customers<br />
right across the globe, from<br />
Reading to Riyadh.<br />
We are always grateful for<br />
the hospitality that our centres<br />
offer as well as for the opportunity<br />
to work with the centre staff to<br />
enhance their training skills and<br />
to offer support where it is needed.<br />
We also learn ourselves on these<br />
visits and we’re grateful for<br />
the centres who have taken the<br />
time to submit articles or be<br />
interviewed for inclusion in<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Standard</strong>. Please remember<br />
we are keen to receive your<br />
articles as sharing best practice<br />
is a key part of BICSc mission!<br />
We were also fortunate to be included<br />
as speakers at a number of cleaning<br />
shows in 2022 and as we have been<br />
asked to speak again in <strong>2023</strong>, we’re<br />
assuming this was positively received.<br />
Please come along to see us if you<br />
have the opportunity and we are<br />
always happy to answer any questions<br />
you may have.<br />
Now that leads nicely onto our plan<br />
to have an online Q&A in April, our<br />
scientific lead, Dr Andrew Kemp, has<br />
kindly agreed to take part again and<br />
we would like to invite questions<br />
regarding cleaning and disinfection<br />
that can be put to our panel.<br />
We’ll be putting out more requests<br />
on social media platforms and as<br />
this will be a “Teams” event we’re<br />
hoping to grow a wide audience<br />
with lively participation.<br />
HELLO <strong>2023</strong>!<br />
THE STANDARD<br />
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS MONTH’S ISSUE!
SPRING INTO ACTION WITH<br />
A NEW CLEANING MODEL<br />
BY DENISE HANSON<br />
FBICSc<br />
Coming into the New Year with the<br />
spring hopefully just around the<br />
corner, HEY I’M AN OPTIMIST, my<br />
mind has started to wander to the<br />
subject of spring cleaning…. And<br />
I’m wondering, if in reality this is<br />
something that we still carry out<br />
at home or has this become an<br />
outdated or old-fashioned idea?<br />
Also do we need a season to give<br />
rooms a good fettling – for everyone<br />
not from Yorkshire that means a<br />
deep clean. Or do we deep clean,<br />
as and when we have the time or<br />
inclination.<br />
Indeed, where does the term come<br />
from? Well, according to Wikipedia:<br />
“Spring cleaning is the practice of<br />
thoroughly cleaning a house in the<br />
springtime. <strong>The</strong> practice of spring<br />
cleaning is especially prevalent in<br />
climates with a cold winter.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> practicality being I suppose,<br />
that we can open the windows and<br />
items deep cleaned will dry more<br />
easily than on a cold damp winter<br />
day. Although with today’s centrally<br />
heated homes is this still the case?<br />
With people’s busy lifestyles I think<br />
we need to adopt a new model. After<br />
all, how many times have we started<br />
a deep clean at home and about<br />
halfway through, wished we had<br />
never started!<br />
So, my advice is to follow the following steps before you commence:<br />
1. Look carefully at the room that<br />
you are planning to deep clean<br />
and think about a logical order<br />
for the tasks. For example, if it<br />
was the living room you wouldn’t<br />
want to clean the carpets first as<br />
you are going to clean the walls<br />
and furniture as well, and these<br />
processes may deposit more dirt<br />
onto the carpet<br />
2. Divide the tasks into manageable<br />
chunks. Underestimate what<br />
is achievable so that if any<br />
unexpected issues arise, the task<br />
is still achievable<br />
3. Set a clear time limit, your time<br />
is precious<br />
4. Ensure you have all the products<br />
and equipment you need for<br />
the task. If you have to go out<br />
to purchase supplies halfway<br />
through a clean it may never<br />
be completed<br />
Remember when you’re<br />
buying new furniture, fixtures<br />
or fittings look at the ease<br />
of cleaning and maintaining<br />
them going forward. I’d love<br />
architects to have to complete<br />
six months in a cleaning team<br />
as part of their qualification,<br />
it may open their eyes to the<br />
long-term feasibility of some<br />
of their building plans!<br />
5. Team up with a friend!<br />
Deep cleaning often means<br />
moving furniture and this is<br />
much easier with two – you could<br />
complete one room at theirs and<br />
one at yours!<br />
6. If you enjoy music, set yourself<br />
a cleaning playlist, I find soft rock<br />
conducive to fettling but it’s really<br />
whatever works for you<br />
7. Follow the manufacturer’s<br />
instructions for dilution and<br />
contact time – they know their<br />
products and these simple<br />
measures mean that the product<br />
does some of the hard work<br />
making your cleaning easier<br />
DENISE HANSON<br />
Head of Technical Services<br />
4 | 5
INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND<br />
SENIOR STAKEHOLDERS<br />
COME TOGETHER TO<br />
DISCUSS TAKING APPG<br />
REPORT FORWARD<br />
Key representatives from across<br />
the cleaning and hygiene and public<br />
health sectors came together for a<br />
high-level meeting to discuss the<br />
recent report from the All-Party<br />
Parliamentary Group (APPG) for<br />
the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry.<br />
Twenty industry experts joined the<br />
roundtable meeting in London to<br />
discuss the findings of the inquiry,<br />
entitled Embedding Effective<br />
Hygiene for a Resilient UK, and how<br />
to respond to, and take forward,<br />
the recommendations.<br />
British Cleaning Council (BCC)<br />
Chairman Jim Melvin and Deputy<br />
Chair Delia Cannings were joined<br />
by BCC colleagues, Royal Society<br />
for Public Health Director for<br />
Policy and Communications Dr<br />
Jyotsna Vohra and colleagues,<br />
International Scientific Forum on<br />
Home Hygiene (IFH) Chair Professor<br />
Sally Bloomfield and a representative<br />
of the Behavioural Insights Team<br />
along with senior colleagues from<br />
the Cleaning and Support Services<br />
Association, the British Institute<br />
of Cleaning Science, the British<br />
Toilet Association, the Cleaning and<br />
Hygiene Suppliers Association, the<br />
Federation of Window Cleaners, SC<br />
Johnson Professional UK, Reckitt and<br />
Wightman & Parrish amongst others.<br />
APPG Chairman Nigel Mills MP<br />
provided a recorded introduction<br />
to the meeting in which he noted<br />
the huge role of the cleaning<br />
and hygiene industry during<br />
the pandemic, but said that the<br />
situation was drifting back to how it<br />
was before, with flu and Covid cases<br />
on the rise. We needed to build on<br />
the lessons of the pandemic, not<br />
forget them, he said.<br />
THE STANDARD<br />
Key points from the discussion<br />
were fed back at the APPG meeting,<br />
which was on the 30th January<br />
at Westminister.<br />
A full report was published in<br />
February, summarising and<br />
featuring the roundtable’s<br />
key recommendations.<br />
JIM MELVIN SAID:<br />
“This was a very important and<br />
productive meeting during which<br />
we had a wide-ranging, detailed<br />
debate on policy and strategy.<br />
“I was delighted that such a wide<br />
group of industry experts and<br />
senior stakeholders were keen to<br />
lend their support to this event.<br />
“For the voice of the industry to<br />
be heard, it is vital that we work<br />
together collectively and so seeing<br />
this high-powered group come<br />
together to discuss such an important<br />
topic was hugely encouraging.<br />
“Among the key themes which<br />
emerged were the need for a major<br />
cultural and behavioural change<br />
nationwide, so hygienic practices<br />
are widely adopted as normal and<br />
daily behaviour.<br />
“As a group, we were clear that<br />
cleaning and hygiene should be at<br />
the heart of the national agenda.<br />
“I spoke about how cleaning<br />
staff need to be held in high<br />
esteem. <strong>The</strong> need for recognition<br />
for the vital work of cleaning<br />
staff in keeping people safe,<br />
healthy and well is a point<br />
I am always determined to make.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> importance of training,<br />
education and development<br />
for staff was highlighted,<br />
on which I couldn’t agree more.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re were a number of other topics<br />
discussed as well. <strong>The</strong> upcoming<br />
report on this meeting will go into<br />
details as well as featuring concrete<br />
recommendations for taking our<br />
agenda forward.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> APPG inquiry took place in<br />
September and October last year<br />
and examined what had been both<br />
successful and unsuccessful from<br />
the national approach to cleaning<br />
and hygiene during the pandemic to<br />
ensure lessons would be learnt.<br />
It made 11 recommendations<br />
designed to increase disease<br />
resilience to current common<br />
infections and help inform the UK’s<br />
response to any similar future public<br />
health emergency.<br />
<strong>The</strong> APPG for the Cleaning and<br />
Hygiene Industry was inaugurated in<br />
February 2021, with the support of a<br />
sizeable number of MPs from all the<br />
major political parties and members<br />
of <strong>The</strong> House of Lords, and aims to<br />
promote the critical importance of<br />
the cleaning and hygiene industry.<br />
JIM MELVIN<br />
Chairman of<br />
British Cleaning Council
ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF<br />
YOUR CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP?<br />
BY KAREN ST JAMES BOYDE<br />
As this is the first edition of <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Standard</strong> for <strong>2023</strong>, I wanted to<br />
take a few minutes of your time<br />
just to say hello again and remind<br />
you of your Corporate Member<br />
benefits. I do have the pleasure<br />
of speaking to many of you on<br />
a regular basis, and I know these<br />
are busy times, but I wanted to<br />
ensure you are making the most<br />
of your membership.<br />
Firstly, you can use our BICSc<br />
Corporate Member logo on your<br />
email signatures, letterheads, in fact,<br />
whatever marketing purposes you<br />
require, as well as our ‘click to verify’<br />
version of the logo for use on<br />
your website.<br />
By using the ‘click to verify’ version<br />
on your website it not only allows<br />
potential customers to confirm you<br />
are a genuine member but also helps<br />
to ensure our logo isn’t misused by<br />
non-members of BICSc.<br />
You are a Corporate Member of<br />
BICSc, so let people know and<br />
if you need assistance adding<br />
the logo, please contact me.<br />
BICSc <strong>Standard</strong>s & Best Practice<br />
is our technical journal covering<br />
everything you need to know about<br />
cleaning standards, specifications,<br />
productivity rates, and a whole<br />
lot more. As a Corporate Member<br />
you have free access to the digital<br />
version and should have received<br />
a link to enable you to view. If you<br />
have mislaid the link, please let me<br />
know and I can resend.<br />
I did contact everyone towards<br />
the end of last year about our new<br />
Membership Directory that is now<br />
live on our website. <strong>The</strong> directory<br />
allows visitors to the BICSc<br />
website to search for members<br />
in their area either by<br />
company name, location,<br />
or by sector/industry.<br />
If you want to be included<br />
in the directory but<br />
haven’t yet provided<br />
me with the relevant<br />
information, please<br />
let me know and<br />
we can add your<br />
company details.<br />
<strong>The</strong> technical help desk is<br />
available through email at<br />
helpdesk@bics.org.uk if you have a<br />
query or question relating to cleaning<br />
that you would like advice on then<br />
please make use of this service.<br />
In addition to the above, as<br />
Corporate Members you also have<br />
access to four free courses found<br />
in our Cleanlogic certificated range<br />
of training workshops, which<br />
have been designed to assist you<br />
with new staff to your business to<br />
improve their basic knowledge and<br />
ensure their safety. Please check<br />
them out on our website under<br />
‘Training & Services’. On successful<br />
completion of each course your<br />
staff can download a certificate<br />
to reflect that.<br />
Talking about training, which is<br />
so important for moving your<br />
business forward, you do also<br />
receive member rates on our other<br />
Cleanlogic certificated courses on<br />
offer, you just need to add your<br />
member code previously supplied.<br />
Concerning accredited training<br />
through our CPSS Suite, which<br />
starts with the Licence To<br />
Practice unit, candidates can<br />
progress through the practical<br />
skills that are applicable to<br />
their role. <strong>The</strong> Licence to<br />
Practice and all of the skills<br />
within CPSS will require the<br />
candidate to undertake a<br />
practical assessment. <strong>The</strong><br />
Corporate Member rate for<br />
this online training is already<br />
displayed on the website<br />
under each course.
Talking to some of you I know<br />
there is often the concern that<br />
you invest time and money to<br />
train your staff and then they<br />
leave. <strong>The</strong>re is a very famous<br />
quote from Henry Ford that<br />
says: “<strong>The</strong> only thing worse<br />
than training your employees<br />
and having them leave is not<br />
training them and having them<br />
stay.” So, if you are interested<br />
in discussing training options<br />
or have any questions, then<br />
please get in contact with me.<br />
We have some great supporters<br />
of BICSc who offer our members<br />
benefits such as Citation, who<br />
can help you with HR issues,<br />
employment law and obtaining<br />
ISOs to add to your business<br />
profile.<br />
When your insurance is due, please<br />
remember Darwin Clayton who,<br />
as a leading broker in the industry,<br />
can help find the insurance<br />
product that is right for you.<br />
Rubbermaid Commercial Products,<br />
part of Newell Brands, offer<br />
Corporate Members discounts on<br />
various products.<br />
For an unexpected treat for<br />
yourself – or as a thank you to<br />
a member of staff – Great Little<br />
Breaks offer our members reduced<br />
rates on their weekend retreats.<br />
As members, you can use your<br />
code to receive reduced fees in our<br />
online shop on many products, and<br />
we are proud to provide you with<br />
many facts finding helpful pointers<br />
through our Media Hub.<br />
For a full list of your member<br />
benefits please find them under<br />
‘Membership’ on our website and<br />
if you require any of the member<br />
codes again let me know.<br />
We do our very best to keep you<br />
up to date with news by using<br />
social media, email updates, <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Standard</strong> magazine, and our new<br />
improved website, as well as a<br />
number of industry publications<br />
that are available, but it is also<br />
great to hear from you and what<br />
your business is up to. If you have<br />
any news to share, please drop us<br />
an email for our marketing team<br />
to look at with a view to adding it<br />
to the Media Hub section on our<br />
website, or in a future edition of<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Standard</strong>.<br />
I am here to help you, so<br />
please don’t hesitate to<br />
contact me. And, as the saying<br />
goes, if I can’t help you, I know<br />
somebody who can!<br />
Finally, my usual reminder<br />
please, should any details of<br />
your membership change moving<br />
forwards, corporate contact,<br />
address, etc., then please do<br />
drop me an email to advise at<br />
membership@bics.org.uk<br />
Take care and wishing<br />
you all a healthy,<br />
in body and<br />
business, <strong>2023</strong><br />
Karen<br />
KAREN ST JAMES BOYDE<br />
Membership Coordinator<br />
8 | 9
SHIFTING ATTITUDES WITHIN<br />
AN EVER-GROWING INDUSTRY<br />
<strong>The</strong> domestic cleaning industry is<br />
often referred to as the invisible<br />
industry, and for good reason.<br />
Despite being a vital service<br />
that helps to keep homes clean<br />
and well-maintained, domestic<br />
cleaners are often overlooked<br />
and undervalued.<br />
One of the biggest challenges<br />
facing the domestic cleaning<br />
industry is the fact that many<br />
cleaners are not properly<br />
employed. Instead, they may work<br />
as independent contractors or<br />
sub-contractors, which means<br />
that they are not entitled to the<br />
same benefits and protections<br />
as traditional employees. This<br />
can lead to a lack of job security,<br />
inadequate training, and a lack of<br />
access to support and resources.<br />
As a result of this precarious<br />
employment status, there can<br />
be large variations in cleaning<br />
quality standards. Some cleaners<br />
are highly skilled and take pride<br />
in their work, while others may be<br />
less experienced or motivated.<br />
This can lead to inconsistent<br />
results and can be frustrating for<br />
homeowners who are paying for<br />
a professional service.<br />
Another issue facing the domestic<br />
cleaning industry is the lack of<br />
recognition from suppliers. Many<br />
cleaning products and equipment<br />
manufacturers barely even<br />
recognise that these businesses<br />
exist, let alone specifically<br />
market to them. This can make it<br />
difficult for cleaners to access the<br />
resources they need to do their<br />
jobs effectively.<br />
<strong>The</strong> domestic cleaning industry<br />
is also something of a "grey area"<br />
in terms of classification. It is<br />
often lost somewhere between<br />
homeowner cleaning and<br />
commercial cleaning, with many<br />
homeowners opting to clean their<br />
own homes and many commercial<br />
cleaning companies focusing on<br />
larger, more high-profile clients.<br />
This can make it difficult for<br />
domestic cleaning businesses.<br />
<strong>The</strong> domestic cleaning industry<br />
has long been overlooked and<br />
undervalued, with many people<br />
viewing it as a low-skilled and<br />
low-paying job. However, attitudes<br />
towards the industry are starting<br />
to shift, and more and more people<br />
are beginning to recognise the vital<br />
role that cleaners play in<br />
our society.<br />
One of the main reasons for<br />
this change in attitude is the<br />
recognition of the massive<br />
spending size of the domestic<br />
cleaning industry. According<br />
to recent estimates, the global<br />
domestic cleaning market is<br />
worth billions of pounds,<br />
and it is expected to continue<br />
growing in the coming years.<br />
This has caught the attention<br />
of suppliers, who are starting<br />
to recognise the potential<br />
of this large and<br />
untapped market.<br />
As a result, more and more suppliers<br />
are beginning to specifically market<br />
to the domestic cleaning industry.<br />
This includes manufacturers<br />
of cleaning products and<br />
equipment, as well as<br />
companies that provide<br />
training and support to<br />
cleaners. This is a welcome<br />
change for those working<br />
in the industry, as it means<br />
that they will have access to a<br />
wider range of resources and<br />
support to help them succeed.<br />
One organisation that has been<br />
at the forefront of this shift is<br />
the Domestic Cleaning Business<br />
Network (DCBN). <strong>The</strong> DCBN<br />
is a community of professional<br />
cleaning businesses and individuals<br />
that is dedicated to promoting and<br />
supporting the domestic<br />
cleaning industry.<br />
One of the key initiatives that<br />
the DCBN has supported is the<br />
creation of a safety course for<br />
all domestic cleaning operatives.<br />
Working in partnership with<br />
the British Institute of Cleaning<br />
Science (BICSc), they have<br />
developed a comprehensive course<br />
that covers all aspects of safety in<br />
the cleaning industry.<br />
This course is designed to<br />
ensure that all domestic<br />
cleaners have the knowledge<br />
and skills they need to work<br />
safely and effectively.<br />
It covers topics such as<br />
hazard identification, risk<br />
assessment, and control<br />
measures, as well as personal<br />
protective equipment and<br />
emergency procedures.<br />
THE STANDARD
DEVELOPING YOUR STAFF?<br />
WOULD LOVE TO!<br />
BY JAMES MARSTON<br />
LBICSc<br />
Frontline training is proving ever<br />
more difficult to resource, deliver<br />
and consolidate. Pulling staff away<br />
from duties for a shift or half shift<br />
is no longer as viable for many<br />
organisations. Businesses must<br />
watch their costs, ensuring service<br />
operators can carry out their job<br />
effectively whilst safely meeting<br />
a client’s needs. A balancing act<br />
between critical training and<br />
resources for managers.<br />
Online training and its recent surge<br />
has created alternative training<br />
solutions away from face-to-face<br />
training, giving staff options in<br />
their vocational development.<br />
For organisations, both methods<br />
of teaching have their individual<br />
benefits and flaws, and neither<br />
is perfect. When it comes to<br />
learning, a combination of different<br />
approaches and methods is proven<br />
to work best, but neither of these<br />
alone can promise to provide<br />
optimal results.<br />
<strong>The</strong> benefits of face-to-face<br />
training cannot be denied. Some<br />
candidates would do much better<br />
in a collaborative environment<br />
whilst others want to learn at their<br />
own speed and have the discipline<br />
to see the course through.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Institute had no option in<br />
2019 but to develop its online<br />
offer through the creation of its<br />
VIRTUAL TRAINING SUITE (VTS).<br />
Key knowledge could be delivered<br />
this way, however the barriers to<br />
learning highlighted above, meant<br />
assurance of standards in the<br />
workplace could not be achieved.<br />
To resolve this problem, BICSc<br />
took its assessment model for<br />
the CLEANING PROFESSIONAL<br />
SKILLS SUITE (CPSS) online also.<br />
In order to pass assessment,<br />
candidates must apply the<br />
knowledge and the systematic<br />
approach to completing cleaning<br />
tasks safely with quality results.<br />
JAMES MARSTON<br />
Training and Support Specialist<br />
<strong>The</strong> results have been surprising<br />
to many in that pass rates are very<br />
high. Staff completed training in<br />
full and demonstrated they can<br />
work to a high standard. Because<br />
of the practical formal assessment,<br />
there was no escaping completion<br />
of the course.<br />
This move provided the assurance<br />
for employers that learning was<br />
understood and if candidates<br />
passed online formal assessments,<br />
the cost and time would be<br />
worthwhile. <strong>The</strong> candidate<br />
developed and adopted the right<br />
skills and behaviours which is<br />
always good for business and<br />
the individual.<br />
Does this model allow dynamic,<br />
quality and successful training<br />
outcomes in the most pressured<br />
environments? We think so.<br />
James M<br />
10 | 11
THE FUTURE OF<br />
COBOTICS IS IN DATA<br />
– NOT DEVICES<br />
Robotics, much like any major<br />
tech in the past three years, have<br />
undergone a frankly dizzying<br />
evolution - not only in their<br />
technical capacity, which has<br />
since overcome the teething<br />
problems of early devices, but in<br />
business models. This is especially<br />
true in the world of cleaning<br />
robots, far from replacing existing<br />
cleaning procedures, they have<br />
become true business enablers:<br />
much less a product, and more<br />
part of an integrated cleaning<br />
service, a partnership between<br />
human and machine - and widely<br />
known now as Cobotics. It’s an<br />
intriguing time for the technology,<br />
and the industry.<br />
It's an intrigue shared by facilities<br />
management customers too.<br />
Having emerged into a ‘new<br />
normal’ and a new technological<br />
era, business owners are<br />
reaping the operational benefits<br />
and becoming considerably<br />
more receptive to upcoming<br />
technologies. It’s this interest,<br />
arguably, that has catapulted the<br />
robotic revolution to success.<br />
THE STANDARD<br />
But that so-called ‘new normal’<br />
isn’t quite so new anymore.<br />
Cobotics customers recognise<br />
the rapid pace of technology<br />
and the demands of modern<br />
workplace standards. Having<br />
emerged from the complications<br />
of Covid, cleaning clients place a<br />
renewed and ongoing importance<br />
in safe and sanitised workplaces.<br />
Businesses may be eagerly<br />
awaiting an evolution, but cleaning<br />
technologies have evolved<br />
exponentially in a scant five<br />
years; how do we harness existing<br />
technologies to provide true<br />
longevity to cobotic solutions?<br />
In its haste, has the market<br />
overlooked the true value of<br />
cobotics: the data?<br />
Potentially, the market’s appetite<br />
for cobotics outweighs its<br />
understanding. When the team<br />
at ISS first started delivering<br />
cobotic solutions, we noticed<br />
that many early adopters had<br />
somewhat misinformed ideas of<br />
how this new technology would<br />
operate, deploying robots with a<br />
view to fulfil tasks as opposed to<br />
supplement their cleaning. Our<br />
approach has been to leverage<br />
the wealth of invaluable business<br />
data which many adopters simply<br />
weren’t exploring.<br />
This will be the next great<br />
challenge for operators. Not only<br />
will they need to capture, present<br />
and integrate this data holistically,<br />
they’ll need to enable adopters to<br />
do the same: help them read the<br />
data, help them personalise it to<br />
DOMINIC BASCOMBE<br />
– Product Performance<br />
Director, ISS<br />
their bespoke business needs,<br />
and help them interpret their<br />
cobots as a long-term investment<br />
- not an iteration.<br />
<strong>The</strong> service model pricing is<br />
testament to this, and it’s where<br />
people become integral to the<br />
equation. <strong>The</strong> ‘co’ in cobotics<br />
speaks to a collaborative<br />
foundation. That goes further than<br />
the relationship between cleaner<br />
and robot; it favours a personalised<br />
approach, where customer and<br />
supplier both understand the<br />
service requirements. To that<br />
end, suppliers must do more than<br />
present the data; they should work<br />
with their users to interpret it, to<br />
let them see the results in action<br />
and to work, collaboratively, on<br />
their future strategy.<br />
As the data improves, so too does<br />
an adopter’s understanding of their<br />
cleaning efficiency. How much<br />
floor space can the device cover in<br />
areas of differing furniture density<br />
and what are its operational<br />
shortfalls? With cobots covering<br />
more menial tasks, how much time<br />
is spared for more rewarding work<br />
– maintaining the intricate touch<br />
points that make the workplace<br />
more welcoming? We have found<br />
that smart data application gives<br />
our employees, who we call<br />
placemakers, far more flexibility<br />
over their cleaning strategy.
Yet presenting data is only one<br />
half of the solution. Data is<br />
remarkably versatile, and if we’re<br />
not reading it, we’re putting it<br />
to work. <strong>The</strong> standardisation of<br />
the Internet of Things has made<br />
data, across multiple touchpoints,<br />
widely compatible. When our<br />
business technologies ‘converse’,<br />
the operational efficiencies<br />
aren’t only felt by the cleaning<br />
teams. Sensors, for example, are<br />
increasingly affordable and allow<br />
real-time calculations of staff<br />
presence. Systems that adapt to<br />
the volume, placement and flow<br />
of people can help cut operating<br />
costs and allow our placemakers to<br />
react appropriately to the cleaning<br />
demands of businesses.<br />
It's an isolated example, but<br />
it’s by no means one with a<br />
singular outcome. Consider the<br />
ongoing demands of businesses:<br />
the need for lowered costs;<br />
the desire for reduced carbon<br />
emissions and wastage; the<br />
aspirations of the modern<br />
workforce, who want more<br />
demanding and rewarding work.<br />
When data works in tandem,<br />
it automates these processes.<br />
For cobot users, that means<br />
empowering placemakers with<br />
smarter decisions and insights,<br />
cutting down on manual cleaning<br />
effort and ultimately making the<br />
returning workforce feel more<br />
welcome in a cleaner,<br />
safer workplace.<br />
Data is a two-way street,<br />
though, and as users<br />
produce and utilise this data,<br />
suppliers gain invaluable<br />
insights into the working<br />
trends of their adopters<br />
and industries.<br />
It is their input which<br />
ultimately shapes our future<br />
technologies. If we’re to keep<br />
the ‘co’ in ‘cobot’, then that<br />
sentiment – like our data –<br />
is ultimately something<br />
worth sharing.<br />
12 | 13
ASK THE ASSESSOR: PRACTICAL ADVICE<br />
FROM SOME OF OUR AMAZING ASSESSORS<br />
BY KELSEY HARGREAVES LBICSc<br />
When I completed my BICSc<br />
training and finally became<br />
accredited as an Assessor,<br />
I felt so much pride and joy<br />
to be part of an institute that<br />
sought to protect cleaning<br />
operatives while at the same<br />
time giving everyone a fair<br />
opportunity to achieve.<br />
BICSc training was always<br />
well received by any<br />
candidates and often I was<br />
inundated with requests<br />
for more and more<br />
training! Myself, other<br />
assessors, trainers and<br />
candidates loved being a<br />
part of an institute that<br />
spanned the world, and<br />
made us feel like a part of<br />
something bigger!<br />
Now, many of you out there assessing<br />
may not have realised this! You may<br />
be a lone assessor on a site, and<br />
want to network with all of the other<br />
amazing assessors that are BICSc<br />
accredited. Sharing your experiences,<br />
tips and tricks and asking questions<br />
are all part of development and at<br />
BICSc we love that!<br />
So if you’re currently an assessor,<br />
perhaps thinking of becoming an<br />
assessor or currently training to<br />
be an assessor, it may be helpful<br />
to get some tips and tricks from<br />
those assessors who are currently<br />
accredited! I asked some of our<br />
amazing assessors from all different<br />
parts of the industry to share their<br />
top tips and tricks around training<br />
and assessing! I hope you find it as<br />
useful as I did!<br />
<strong>The</strong> amazing assessors that<br />
shared their tips and tricks were:<br />
TINA MEMORY<br />
(BICSc Assessor of the year 2022!)<br />
London Borough of Hounslow<br />
-----------<br />
OLIVER EMPSON<br />
(Finalist for BICSc Assessor of the year 2022!)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Queen Elizabeth Hospital<br />
-----------<br />
GARY BRADFORD-MATTHEWS<br />
2gether Support Solutions<br />
-----------<br />
JUTIRESA CABASAL<br />
Khansaheb Facility Management UAE<br />
-----------<br />
PUNDARIK GHIMIRE<br />
Infracare<br />
Q Have you got any advice on how to deal<br />
with different learning styles?<br />
Q Advice on where to train and how to<br />
deal with lack of training space at site:<br />
Oliver Empson<br />
linked back to the<br />
BICSc Accredited<br />
Trainer course,<br />
where he noted:<br />
“Tell me and I forget,<br />
teach me and I may<br />
remember, involve<br />
me and I learn”.<br />
Gary<br />
Bradford-<br />
Mathews<br />
said that:<br />
“People often worry about<br />
making a mistake during their<br />
training and having a controlled<br />
environment helps to reduce the<br />
anxiety that some may feel”.<br />
Pundarik Ghimire<br />
commented on<br />
training people<br />
from different<br />
backgrounds,<br />
different countries<br />
and wanted to share<br />
how important it is to<br />
respect every person,<br />
“Adopt their basic<br />
dialects, at least<br />
greeting, hello, etc.,<br />
which motivates them<br />
and makes them feel<br />
comfortable in learning”.<br />
Jutiresa commented:<br />
“When there is a lack of space for training.<br />
Online BICSc training videos are essential<br />
for the candidate’s learning, seeing an<br />
actual demonstration will mark on their<br />
mind on how to properly do the skills”.<br />
THE STANDARD
Q Have you utilised your free access to the BICSc online training videos?<br />
Many of the Assessors commented on the usefulness of the videos, in relation to different learning styles:<br />
Tina commented<br />
that the videos are an<br />
“Excellent tool” as<br />
“A lot of people will take<br />
in more by watching video,<br />
as opposed to watching<br />
an assessor demonstrate.”<br />
Gary explained how<br />
“<strong>The</strong> BICSc online<br />
training videos have been invaluable”.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> videos support the ‘Demonstration<br />
and Repetition’ training we [2gether<br />
support solutions] provide. <strong>The</strong> narration<br />
is delivered at a steady pace and the<br />
feedback we have received is that<br />
they are easily digestible in our<br />
training groups”.<br />
However Oliver commented<br />
on the usefulness of the<br />
videos for other reasons:<br />
“I use them<br />
personally to<br />
refresh my memory<br />
from time to time”.<br />
Q Top tips on how to calm the candidate’s nerves around the assessments<br />
Tina explained that<br />
her approach is to:<br />
Pundarik noted on the<br />
power of feedback,<br />
Jutiresa said that:<br />
“Always try and make it fun<br />
as they are most likely to<br />
enjoy it at the same time,<br />
taking in what’s being<br />
demonstrated”.<br />
“Always give<br />
constructive feedback.<br />
Focus on his/her<br />
strength rather than<br />
weakness”.<br />
“Sharing her personal<br />
experiences, starting from being<br />
a housemaid, a cleaner, housemaid<br />
trainer to a BICSc Accredited Trainer<br />
and Assessor, hard work and dedication<br />
pays a lot. BIG dreams start from<br />
learning the right way”.<br />
Q Do you have any top tips on how to help a candidate understand their BICSc training?<br />
Pundarik Ghimire noted that:<br />
Gary explained that he would<br />
“Proper storage set up<br />
to demonstrate and make<br />
the cleaning cupboard and<br />
equipment easily accessible<br />
to the candidates”<br />
“Highly recommend a soft toy ‘Pest’.<br />
Not only does it give our training candidates a physical item<br />
to be aware of as part of their training but having one has<br />
delivered a few laughs along the way. This in turn has<br />
created a more relaxed atmosphere too!”<br />
...is central in helping the candidate<br />
understand their BICSc training.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> free online courses<br />
can be especially useful if<br />
the candidate wants extra<br />
information on the key<br />
tenets of BICSc! I especially<br />
love that even I was able to<br />
get a few extra certificates<br />
and knowledge about<br />
COSHH and PPE!”<br />
KELSEY HARGREAVES<br />
Assistant Technical Specialist<br />
It was great to hear and read<br />
these top tips from some of<br />
our amazing assessors out<br />
there! Thank you all for your<br />
contributions and remember if<br />
you ever have any questions,<br />
watch out for our Assessor<br />
updates and our Virtual<br />
Training Suite, and please do<br />
not hesitate to get in touch<br />
with our customer service<br />
team at BICSc.<br />
14 | 15
ENTER <strong>2023</strong><br />
WITH OPTIMISM!<br />
<strong>The</strong> beginning of a new year brings<br />
with it a sense of opportunity<br />
and as <strong>2023</strong> unfolds, cleaning<br />
professionals could be forgiven<br />
for taking a sigh of relief.<br />
2022 was turbulent – the pound<br />
crashed to its lowest level ever,<br />
we saw four chancellors and three<br />
prime ministers, taxes hit a 70-year<br />
high as wages fell at the fastest rate<br />
in decades and inflation sparked a<br />
cost-of-living crisis.<br />
This year, the prospect of a blank page<br />
and fresh start is more welcome than<br />
ever and promisingly, confidence in<br />
the UK’s economic prospects look<br />
set to improve in <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
According to the IoD’s Economic<br />
Confidence Index, 55% of business<br />
leaders expect increased revenue<br />
in the next 12 months while around<br />
30% expect higher business<br />
investment and employment rates.<br />
This confidence signals a busy year<br />
ahead and all businesses must be<br />
ready to meet this demand head on.<br />
Here, Jess Pritchard, Head of the<br />
Corporate Sector at Moneypenny<br />
shares her tips to help BICSc members<br />
‘clean up’ in <strong>2023</strong> and deliver brilliant<br />
client care all-year-round.<br />
1. Make a plan – Start the year by<br />
regrouping with your wider team.<br />
Explore how the enquiry pipeline is<br />
looking, identify your challenges and<br />
opportunities and establish where<br />
extra support, be that in-house or<br />
outsourced, might be required to put<br />
you on the front foot.<br />
2. Extend availability – Consider<br />
that consumer communication<br />
habits have changed, and<br />
businesses need to be available<br />
outside the traditional 9-5.<br />
Outsourced telephone answering<br />
and live chat solutions ensure that<br />
enquiries can be answered around<br />
the clock, without putting extra<br />
pressure on staff.<br />
THE STANDARD<br />
<strong>The</strong> team at DOC Cleaning came<br />
to us as their admin team didn’t<br />
have the resource to handle calls<br />
24/7. An outsourced solution<br />
is now providing professional<br />
support and allowing DOC’s<br />
cleaning team to concentrate on<br />
their core tasks without worrying<br />
about calls being missed or routed<br />
to the wrong people. <strong>The</strong> fact<br />
they can now maintain great<br />
communication with their clients<br />
and stakeholders will help to set<br />
them up for a positive year ahead.<br />
3. Be proactive – As well as putting<br />
measures in place to handle<br />
inbound communications,<br />
consider investing in outbound<br />
support to follow-up with<br />
enquiries and qualify leads<br />
before they’re passed on to<br />
team members – another way of<br />
boosting productivity by allowing<br />
experienced team members to<br />
focus on more profitable tasks.<br />
4. Supercharge your web presence –<br />
Live chat technology generates six<br />
times more website engagement<br />
and encourages visitors who<br />
wouldn’t otherwise take the time<br />
to email or call, to engage with<br />
you. It also reduces the risk of<br />
them taking valuable potential<br />
business elsewhere, putting you<br />
ahead of your competitors from<br />
the very offset of <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
5. Think recruitment –<br />
<strong>The</strong> cleaning sector is in demand,<br />
but there are recruitment<br />
challenges to tackle. Consider<br />
how you are handling enquiries<br />
from new recruits (both<br />
online and over the phone)<br />
and whether there is room<br />
for improvement. Ask yourself<br />
if utilising outbound support<br />
could help to position you as an<br />
employer of choice. <strong>The</strong> best<br />
talent expects the best<br />
recruitment experience –<br />
starting with the very first<br />
contact, be that a call, email,<br />
live chat or online form.<br />
6. Protect your brand – Committing<br />
to consistent client care protects<br />
the brand that you’ve worked so<br />
hard to develop. Empower in-house<br />
staff to continue giving warm<br />
welcomes while simultaneously<br />
avoiding calls ringing out or<br />
reaching voicemail. This ensures<br />
enquirers are left feeling confident<br />
that their business is valued and<br />
positions your business as one<br />
who cares.<br />
Jess concluded: “Of course, every<br />
cleaning business experiences peaks<br />
and troughs but if your bottom line<br />
is dipping as a result of being unable<br />
to handle incoming enquiries,<br />
there’s a problem. If a prospect can’t<br />
speak to someone online or via the<br />
phone on demand, you will miss out<br />
on valuable enquiries. That business<br />
will fall straight into the hands of<br />
a competitor.<br />
“2022 taught us that no one knows<br />
what’s around the corner, so don’t<br />
fall victim to changes in demand<br />
and make sure you have the right<br />
business support systems in place.<br />
Your cleaning services are needed<br />
all year round, so make sure your<br />
client communications solution can<br />
help you grab <strong>2023</strong> opportunities<br />
with both hands.”<br />
JESS.PRITCHARD<br />
Head of Corporate Sector.<br />
Jess.Pritchard@moneypenny.co.uk<br />
0345 123 3700
IS BLEACH<br />
THE ANSWER<br />
?<br />
A Q&A WITH<br />
ANDREW KEMP PhD<br />
April 20th 10.30am GMT<br />
BICSc would love you to join us for an<br />
open and honest discussion around the<br />
best methods for cleaning and disinfection.<br />
Head of the Scientific Advisory Board for BICSc,<br />
Dr Andrew Kemp PhD will be available to answer<br />
questions regarding these sometimes-thorny areas<br />
of the most effective disinfection practices.<br />
DR ANDREW KEMP PhD<br />
Q A<br />
BICSc Head of Technical, Denise Hanson will<br />
also be available to answer questions on cleaning<br />
practice and technique. Please submit any<br />
questions that you may have so we can ensure<br />
the best use of time for this exciting session.<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
Q A<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
DENISE HANSON<br />
Head of Technical Services<br />
To reserve your spot<br />
for this webinar and<br />
submit your question,<br />
scan the QR code:<br />
Q A<br />
SUBMIT<br />
YOUR<br />
QUESTIONS<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?
HOW APPROPRIATE<br />
ARE APPRENTICESHIPS?<br />
In the last few issues of <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Standard</strong>, I have written about<br />
youth employment, namely, how<br />
we, the cleaning industry, can<br />
make ourselves more attractive to<br />
the younger generations of society<br />
and create our next generation<br />
of cleaning and hygiene<br />
professionals. A lot<br />
of what I have written about<br />
is about making ourselves,<br />
what we are offering and<br />
what we are doing accessible<br />
to the society that doesn’t yet<br />
understand our industry fully.<br />
As we begin to question the ways<br />
in which we sell ourselves as the<br />
professional, diverse, vibrant<br />
industry that we are, we also<br />
need to look at the things we<br />
are offering and making sure we<br />
show them in the best light. As<br />
we all know, we can learn a lot<br />
from other perspectives, from the<br />
outsider view and we can develop<br />
even further through feedback.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a lot of talk in the<br />
industry at the moment about<br />
apprenticeships and rightly so.<br />
<strong>The</strong> British Cleaning Council<br />
(BCC) has done incredible work on<br />
offering yet another pathway into<br />
the cleaning industry for the next<br />
generation of cleaning and hygiene<br />
professionals, and I, as a younger<br />
cleaning professional could<br />
not be more thrilled to see the<br />
industry being seen by education<br />
authorities as a professional sector<br />
which offers professional careers.<br />
As we move forward with these<br />
amazing tools we must question<br />
who these tools are appropriate<br />
for and the ways in which we can<br />
utilise each pathway to ensure we<br />
generate the best results.<br />
I do not profess to hold all the<br />
views of the younger generation,<br />
but I am lucky enough to be a youth<br />
ambassador for Youth Employment<br />
UK, where I was able to ask fellow<br />
youth ambassadors their opinions<br />
on apprenticeships. Ben Coutlas,<br />
Youth Ambassador and Level 3<br />
Business Administration apprentice<br />
sat down with me and talked me<br />
through his experiences on the<br />
apprenticeships he has completed.<br />
THE STANDARD<br />
KELSEY HARGREAVES<br />
Assistant Technical Specialist
THINGS ENJOYED ON<br />
APPRENTICESHIPS:<br />
• Apprenticeships are offered to<br />
all age groups, you can cultivate<br />
a really diverse group of people<br />
which helps you feel part of<br />
something bigger<br />
• Like with accredited training,<br />
you get practical application<br />
of theoretical training and then<br />
a qualification<br />
• You can use your apprenticeship<br />
to develop into different roles.<br />
You may train to do one thing,<br />
but utilise the skills and<br />
knowledge you have of this<br />
new industry into a different<br />
role within that industry<br />
THINGS THAT<br />
COULD HAVE BEEN<br />
IMPROVED ON:<br />
• 20% of the time on an<br />
apprenticeship should<br />
normally be spent studying.<br />
In practice this does not always<br />
work. If anything, this can create<br />
unnecessary stress. If you are<br />
going to offer apprenticeships,<br />
you need to ensure your<br />
candidates actually have this time<br />
• You are supposed to be offered<br />
support after, especially in terms<br />
of job applications and<br />
progression. Too many times<br />
apprentices are left to figure<br />
it out on their own<br />
• Apprenticeships do not work<br />
for everyone, or are offered<br />
in a way that is not accessible<br />
to a lot of people<br />
WHAT DO YOU THINK<br />
PUTS YOUNG PEOPLE OFF<br />
APPRENTICESHIPS?<br />
• WAGE – <strong>The</strong> stigma of<br />
apprenticeships is that the pay<br />
is lower. Although there are<br />
apprenticeships that offer the<br />
same rate of pay as those who<br />
are qualified, this is not always<br />
the case. People may choose<br />
to go for a job that pays more<br />
money, because their need for<br />
money in the now is greater than<br />
the chance of earning more in<br />
the future. If you are offering<br />
an apprenticeship, be very clear<br />
what pay you are offering<br />
• TITLE – Sometimes the titles<br />
of the apprenticeships are too<br />
overcomplicated. Even if the title<br />
isn’t over-complicated, the title<br />
of being an ‘apprentice’ can be<br />
off-putting to people<br />
• TIME – It is a big commitment<br />
for many people. Some people<br />
want to complete training<br />
where they can do it in their<br />
own time or fit it in around<br />
the life they have outside of<br />
work. Apprenticeships are big<br />
commitments; we can’t say it<br />
works for everyone<br />
Ben Coutlas<br />
Ben is currently finishing his<br />
second apprenticeship and<br />
will then move on to his third<br />
apprenticeship. Ben is a big<br />
advocate of the apprenticeship<br />
programme for younger people,<br />
and has thoroughly enjoyed his<br />
time on the different schemes<br />
he has been a part of. Ben<br />
was very clear that although<br />
apprenticeships can be offered<br />
to all and may work for a lot of<br />
people, we shouldn’t dismiss<br />
other options out there for<br />
young people.<br />
We as an industry do not just<br />
want to be an option. We want<br />
to be a known option. <strong>The</strong> way we<br />
do that is by listening to the youth<br />
and being reactive. We need to<br />
make ourselves accessible.<br />
By this I mean: promote ourselves<br />
in an accessible inclusive manner,<br />
understand the problems the<br />
youth of today face, the hurdles<br />
and barriers they have and ensure<br />
that we can offer solutions.<br />
People and their lives, young<br />
or old (or in the middle!) are not<br />
the same, so neither should the<br />
options they have be!<br />
If we pushed for funding to<br />
train younger people in the same<br />
way we push for apprenticeship<br />
schemes for our industry, then<br />
we can truly be an industry that<br />
offers appropriate opportunities<br />
to the next generation of<br />
cleaning professionals.<br />
18 | 19
PRIVATE HEALTHCARE<br />
IS PEACE OF MIND<br />
No matter how fit and healthy we<br />
are, it is inevitable that at some<br />
point in our lives we will fall ill and<br />
need medical care. And when illness<br />
does strike it is to the NHS that<br />
most people will turn in seeking a<br />
diagnosis, treatment and recovery.<br />
<strong>The</strong> NHS has for some years been<br />
showing signs that it, too, is not in<br />
the best of health. A growing and<br />
ageing population is putting an<br />
ever-increasing strain on staff and<br />
services. A problem exacerbated by<br />
the coronavirus pandemic.<br />
Reports of underfunding, a<br />
shortage of medical staff, noisy<br />
and overcrowded wards, cancelled<br />
operations and long waiting times<br />
will be familiar to everyone.<br />
In England, hospital waiting lists are<br />
longer than ever before, with a total<br />
waiting list of 6.84 million people<br />
with nearly one in eight of<br />
the population waiting for<br />
treatment.* This is the highest<br />
number since records began and<br />
illustrates the devastating impact<br />
that COVID-19 has caused the NHS.<br />
QUICK, PRIVATE<br />
AND CONVENIENT<br />
Understandably, these lengthy<br />
delays are causing additional stress<br />
for patients, undermining their<br />
health and quality of life even<br />
further. How many people do you<br />
know whose physical health and<br />
mental well-being has deteriorated<br />
from the anxiety of having to wait<br />
months for a hospital appointment?<br />
All this can be avoided by taking<br />
out private health insurance.<br />
Seeing a doctor in private<br />
practice used to be only<br />
for the wealthy, but not<br />
anymore as the cost of<br />
private medical cover<br />
is becoming more<br />
affordable.<br />
A private medical plan delivers<br />
prompt access to hospital<br />
consultants, thus avoiding lengthy<br />
waiting lists. Patients can choose<br />
from an extensive list of hospitals<br />
throughout the UK; if they need to<br />
be admitted, they will have their<br />
own private room equipped with<br />
TV and telephone, and visiting is<br />
arranged to suit patient and family.<br />
A quick, private and convenient<br />
service that removes many of the<br />
anxieties associated with NHS<br />
hospital stays. Furthermore, some<br />
providers have no upper age limit<br />
attached to their policies and cover<br />
can even be extended to include<br />
family members.<br />
TAKING CONTROL<br />
OF YOUR HEALTHCARE<br />
However, those interested in taking<br />
out health insurance should not<br />
leave it too late. As we get older<br />
our healthcare needs increase.<br />
<strong>The</strong>refore, as only some of the best<br />
health insurance companies provide<br />
cover for pre-existing conditions,<br />
the best time to invest in getting<br />
private treatment for illnesses you<br />
may suffer tomorrow – is today.<br />
By acting now you can ensure your<br />
future healthcare will not be dictated<br />
by NHS bureaucracy and, just as<br />
importantly, you will be able to benefit<br />
from the widest possible cover.<br />
Private health insurance cannot<br />
guarantee good health, but it can<br />
ensure that when you are feeling<br />
unwell you will quickly receive the<br />
best possible care, when and where<br />
you want it. <strong>The</strong> peace of mind that<br />
comes with that knowledge cannot<br />
be underestimated and is often the<br />
most important factor for people<br />
deciding to take control of their<br />
healthcare provision and "go private".<br />
<strong>The</strong> British Institute of Cleaning<br />
Science has agreed with HMCA to<br />
offer discounted rates for medical<br />
plans. HMCA only arrange medical<br />
plans for membership groups and<br />
can offer up to a 40% discount off<br />
the underwriter’s standard rates.<br />
For further information and<br />
quotations contact HMCA by<br />
telephone on 01423 799949 or visit<br />
the exclusive HMCA British Institute<br />
of Cleaning Science website here:<br />
WWW.HMCA.CO.UK/BICS<br />
THE STANDARD<br />
© HMCA/S PLC (trading as Hospital and Medical Care Association, HMCA and HMCA Members) is authorised and regulated<br />
by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:307587). HMCA/s PLC is a company registered in England, company number:<br />
01362094, registered office: Beech Hall, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 0EA.
BRINGING<br />
THE SCIENCE OF CLEANING<br />
TO THE HOMEMAKER<br />
We are delighted to be working with the Clean & Tidy Home Show for the<br />
second year, returning to ExCeL London on 14th and 15th October <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Clean & Tidy Home Show features celebrities, influencers and experts<br />
(including BICSc!), whilst showcasing the latest cleaning, organising, home and<br />
self-care products and bringing together a growing community of homemaking<br />
enthusiasts. We heard from the Founder of the show, Penny Moyses, on how<br />
important it is what we educate and inform our growing community of homemakers.<br />
PENNY MOYSES<br />
Founder of the Clean<br />
& Tidy Home Show<br />
This year, BICSc will sponsor our<br />
Ask An Expert feature, in which<br />
representatives will deliver<br />
educational sessions and host Q&As<br />
for our community of homemakers,<br />
cleaning professionals, influencers,<br />
brands and professional organisers.<br />
Knowing and understanding the<br />
science behind cleaning is crucial<br />
when it comes to effectively looking<br />
after our homes and those who live<br />
in them. BICSc can provide insight on<br />
how we can make better decisions<br />
about products, how to use them,<br />
how to protect ourselves and others,<br />
as well as how frequently we should<br />
clean. <strong>The</strong>re are always new things<br />
to learn – new discoveries, products,<br />
ideas, technology – not to mention<br />
how our lives have changed and will<br />
continue to do so.<br />
When the BICSc team were at the<br />
show in 2022, they asked some of<br />
the brands if they knew the contact<br />
time and shelf life of their products.<br />
Not many could say with confidence<br />
what they are, indicating a gap in<br />
education that has existed for some<br />
time across the industry.<br />
I find it fascinating that many of us<br />
wouldn’t tackle plumbing our own<br />
toilet, fixing something on our car or<br />
diagnosing ourselves for an illness<br />
– yet so many of us clean our own<br />
homes. Now, of course, information<br />
is accessible online but how do we<br />
know what can be trusted and what<br />
can be backed up?<br />
I am delighted that cleaning our<br />
homes has become more fun, shared<br />
socially and something to be proud<br />
of, with scents galore. That said, a lack<br />
of education can cause the wrong<br />
information to circulate, for example,<br />
TikTok trends that take off, causing<br />
considerable risks – such as mixing<br />
products. We are not always aware<br />
of the dangerous and damaging impact<br />
products can have on our health as<br />
well as our children, pets, guests as well<br />
as furniture and loved possessions.<br />
We need an impartial authority<br />
to help us navigate conundrums<br />
like “Should I use bleach?”, “Do eco<br />
products work as well as others?”<br />
and “How should I wash my cleaning<br />
equipment?”. <strong>The</strong>se are just a few<br />
of the questions that will be on the<br />
Ask An Expert agenda at the show.<br />
I have a problem with the term<br />
‘common sense’. We throw the<br />
phrase around too much. Common<br />
sense is derived from intelligence<br />
and experience; it will come more<br />
naturally to some, but ultimately,<br />
we can only have more of it by<br />
expanding our skills and knowledge.<br />
What will be common sense to one<br />
person might not be to another. It<br />
is important that there is no stigma<br />
or shame in our community, only<br />
kindness, collaboration and support,<br />
that we help share what we know<br />
and advise without judgement.<br />
We all have much to learn as the<br />
world around us is changing. Just like<br />
you may carry out some refresher<br />
training or learn about a new product,<br />
process or development, we should<br />
be open to doing this in our homes<br />
whilst striving to be more ethical in<br />
our decision making. I am excited to<br />
develop incredibly useful content with<br />
BICSc and sincerely hope that this is a<br />
partnership for years to come.<br />
To find out more, please visit WWW.CLEANANDTIDYHOMESHOW.COM<br />
or get in touch with me at PENNY@CLEANANDTIDYHOMESHOW.COM!<br />
@cleanandtidyhomeshow @cleanandtidyhomeshow @cleanandtidyhomeshow clean-tidy-home-show cleantidyshow
DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION:<br />
A Q&A WITH JESSICA DRENINOVA<br />
BY KELSEY HARGREAVES LBICSc<br />
In December 2022, I had the<br />
pleasure of training Mount Charles<br />
in Northern Ireland, among the<br />
fantastic candidates there, I met<br />
Jessica Dreninova. On a very cold<br />
winter’s evening after a successful<br />
day of training, myself and Jessica<br />
were discussing our paths into the<br />
cleaning industry, how our careers<br />
had developed and why we knew<br />
the cleaning industry was where<br />
we were supposed to be.<br />
Every career progression story that<br />
I have the pleasure of being told<br />
always leaves me with lessons that<br />
I try to take with me on my own<br />
journey, but Jessica’s story has<br />
been on my mind every day since I<br />
was first told it.<br />
In the past few years, our industry<br />
as well as the people inside and<br />
outside of it have been left feeling<br />
lost with the world around us awry.<br />
Jessica’s story showed how with<br />
perseverance, dedication and belief<br />
that, as Jessica put it, “there will<br />
always be light at the end of the<br />
tunnel”, amazing things can happen.<br />
I asked Jessica a few questions and<br />
here is what she shared.<br />
How hard did you first find<br />
joining the cleaning industry?<br />
What were the struggles<br />
that you faced?<br />
I found it very hard at the start. In<br />
2010 I arrived into Northern Ireland.<br />
I had 100 Euros in my pocket, with<br />
very little English and no job lined up.<br />
After a few days here I managed to<br />
get a job cleaning cottages<br />
as a housekeeper.<br />
I used to travel 30 minutes there<br />
and 30 minutes back by bus. It<br />
was a very busy environment<br />
and I worked alone. When I did<br />
see people, I found the language<br />
barrier very difficult, and because<br />
the cottages were in the middle<br />
of nowhere I had no way of<br />
THE STANDARD<br />
communicating with the outside<br />
world. As the weeks passed, the<br />
time I spent in my own job in this<br />
new country made me feel more at<br />
home, I had a routine to follow,<br />
I had a job to take pride in.<br />
Is there anything your managers,<br />
colleagues, family or friends did<br />
to help you understand and enjoy<br />
your job role more?<br />
<strong>The</strong> lady that ran the cottages gave<br />
me a week-long induction. She<br />
showed me where things were,<br />
what I was expected to do and the<br />
standard I was expected to achieve.<br />
She tried to make it as clear to me<br />
as I could. I remember talking to my<br />
husband about the language barrier<br />
and how it became difficult at work<br />
sometimes. My husband already had<br />
a good understanding of the English<br />
language so he helped me. He took<br />
a piece of paper and wrote a list. <strong>The</strong><br />
list had words in Slovak and words in<br />
English; words like ‘vacuum’, ‘carpet’<br />
and different cleaning products<br />
that I would be using. I remember<br />
holding onto the list tightly until<br />
finally I didn’t need it anymore. This<br />
list helped me understand what<br />
customers needed and helped me<br />
feel more comfortable.<br />
What made you stay<br />
in the cleaning industry?<br />
Originally I wanted to stay in the<br />
cleaning industry because it helped<br />
me pay my bills. It was also one<br />
of the only industries that I could<br />
understand and thrive in with my<br />
language barriers.<br />
On top of that I found cleaning<br />
so relaxing and I saw personal<br />
development in my job. In 2012 I<br />
worked as a Cleaning Operative in<br />
a factory and after four years, the<br />
client asked my manager if there was<br />
a way I could be promoted. I was so<br />
happy. I was working in an industry<br />
that recognised my hard work. I felt<br />
like I had found my place.<br />
JESSICA<br />
DRENINOVA<br />
In all your amazing<br />
achievements of your career<br />
in the cleaning industry,<br />
what are you most proud of?<br />
In 10 years, I have gone from 100<br />
euros in my pocket, with no job<br />
lined up and very little English to<br />
proudly being an Area Manager.<br />
I have achieved a distinction in<br />
Business Administration Level 2<br />
Qualification, which I completed<br />
in English and I have created a life<br />
in Northern Ireland. I can’t believe<br />
where I am!<br />
What advice would you give to<br />
someone at the start of their<br />
career in the industry?<br />
My advice? Never give up and<br />
don’t be scared. Even if times get<br />
hard there will always be light at<br />
the end of the tunnel. If you are<br />
offered new experiences or the<br />
chance to develop in some way,<br />
take it! You have nothing to lose,<br />
but everything to gain.<br />
Thank you so much for sharing<br />
your story Jessica. It was a<br />
pleasure to train alongside you<br />
and we are very proud to have<br />
you as a colleague and BICSc<br />
Accredited Trainer.<br />
HERE’S TO YOUR NEXT<br />
10 YEARS JESSICA!
COULD YOU BECOME<br />
A COUNCIL MEMBER?<br />
BY STAN ATKINS<br />
FBICSc<br />
IN <strong>2023</strong>, THERE WILL BE<br />
A COUNCIL ELECTION FOR<br />
INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIVES.<br />
THE MAIN PURPOSES OF COUNCIL ARE:<br />
TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF MEMBERS<br />
TO MONITOR DELIVERY OF THE AGREED STRATEGIC PLAN<br />
TO REPRESENT AND SHARE THE ETHOS OF THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF CLEANING SCIENCE<br />
To be eligible to join Council as an<br />
Individual representative, you must<br />
have had three years continuous<br />
membership and be a fully paid-up<br />
member of the Institute. Individual<br />
Members are elected to Council by<br />
the Individual Members that have<br />
voting rights. This is done by means<br />
of an independently managed ballot<br />
carried out by UK Engage. Individual<br />
Council members are elected for a<br />
period of three years at which point<br />
they may stand for a further term.<br />
<strong>The</strong> maximum number of years an<br />
individual member can serve is nine<br />
years, i.e. three terms.<br />
Next year there will be four potential<br />
vacancies for individual members.<br />
If you wish to stand for Council,<br />
provided you have met the criteria,<br />
you will need to provide a passport<br />
size photograph and a 200-word<br />
submission including what you<br />
believe are the attributes you can<br />
bring to this important role, you will<br />
also need to confirm that you are<br />
eligible to stand as a director.<br />
As far as Corporate Member<br />
representatives are concerned,<br />
they represent the interests of the<br />
Corporate membership. Corporate<br />
Members are appointed by Council,<br />
the company concerned must<br />
have been a Corporate Member<br />
for three years and the individual<br />
representative must be a member in<br />
their own right with valid voting rights.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Institute encourages applications<br />
from all sectors of the industry, from<br />
operative to manager, the wider<br />
the range of representation of the<br />
industry the better.<br />
WHAT WOULD BE THE EXPECTED<br />
COMMITMENTS TO COUNCIL?<br />
1. To be engaged with the Institute<br />
via all channels of communication<br />
so that you are aware of current<br />
events, developments, and<br />
changes to the Institute.<br />
2. You will be required to attend<br />
five meetings a year (two of<br />
which will be held via Teams and<br />
three which will be held faceto-face),<br />
currently the face-toface<br />
meetings are held close to<br />
Birmingham Airport.<br />
3. All elected members will be made<br />
Directors of the Institute during<br />
the time they serve on Council;<br />
therefore, they will be subject to<br />
the Companies Act 2006.<br />
If your organisation uses the logo supplied when you join or renew on your company’s website, any visitor<br />
who clicks on this will be taken to the YOSHKI verification page, which validates that you are a paid-up<br />
member of the Institute. Although this is vitally important, only a small percentage of members use this<br />
facility. <strong>The</strong> number of spurious logos and people who claim to be corporate members are increasing<br />
yearly, so by using our correct logo/branding, you are protecting your investment.<br />
22 | 23
SC JOHNSON<br />
PROFESSIONAL<br />
LAUNCHES NEW<br />
WASHROOM SOAP<br />
DISPENSER MADE<br />
FROM 70% RECOVERED<br />
COASTAL PLASTIC<br />
SC Johnson Professional is<br />
launching a new washroom<br />
soap dispenser made from<br />
recovered coastal plastic. <strong>The</strong> SCJ<br />
Professional® Proline WAVE<br />
1 litre washroom soap dispenser is<br />
made from 70% recovered coastal<br />
plastic, which is post-consumer<br />
recycled waste plastic collected on<br />
land within 31 miles of an ocean<br />
so that it does not reach oceans or<br />
landfills. Each SCJ Professional ®<br />
Proline WAVE dispenser is the<br />
equivalent of 16 x 500ml waste<br />
plastic bottles that have been<br />
prevented from reaching the oceans<br />
or landfills in vulnerable coastal<br />
areas where there is little formal<br />
waste collection infrastructure.<br />
Eight million metric tonnes of plastic<br />
reach the world’s oceans every<br />
year, equating to a rubbish truck<br />
full of plastic being dumped into the<br />
ocean every minute. This is an issue<br />
around the world and SC Johnson<br />
Professional’s new soap dispenser<br />
is a further opportunity to reuse<br />
plastic waste that otherwise was<br />
bound for the ocean or landfills.<br />
SC Johnson Professional CEO<br />
Katja von Raven said:<br />
“In the US<br />
and Europe, SC Johnson has<br />
already seen successful launches of<br />
bottles made from 100% recovered<br />
coastal plastic in Mr Muscle ® and<br />
Windex ® product ranges, thanks to<br />
the company’s global partnership<br />
with Plastic Bank. At SC Johnson<br />
Professional we are now excited to<br />
be bringing this truly innovative<br />
approach to professional markets<br />
as well, with our SCJ Professional ®<br />
Proline WAVE soap dispenser.<br />
“In our extensive market research with<br />
facility management professionals,<br />
we found that 91% of respondents<br />
believed that their choice of a skin<br />
care dispenser can contribute to<br />
meeting their business’s sustainability<br />
targets. So, by leading the way<br />
with our new dispenser made from<br />
70% recovered coastal plastic,<br />
we are allowing our customers to act<br />
immediately on a topic they and their<br />
people care about.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> SC Johnson partnership with<br />
Plastic Bank empowers collection<br />
communities in vulnerable coastal<br />
areas in Indonesia, Philippines and<br />
Brazil to stop plastic waste before it<br />
enters the oceans or landfills, whilst<br />
improving the lives of those who<br />
collect it by providing them with a<br />
new source of income.<br />
SC Johnson Professional believes<br />
the new SCJ Professional® Proline<br />
WAVE soap dispenser will help<br />
organisations who choose it to<br />
achieve their own sustainability<br />
goals by demonstrating they are<br />
making a sustainable choice that<br />
helps stop plastic waste from<br />
reaching the oceans or landfills and<br />
supports the important work of<br />
Plastic Bank.<br />
1. https://www.scjohnson.com/en/stories/sustainableworld/plastic-reuse-and-recycling/2021/how-scjohnsons-recycled-bottles-help-lift-up-familiesand-fight-ocean-plastic<br />
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SCJ PROFESSIONAL ®<br />
PROLINE WAVE SOAP DISPENSER<br />
CLICK HERE
WELCOMING OUR NEW MEMBERS<br />
CORPORATE MEMBERS<br />
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2022<br />
& JANUARY <strong>2023</strong>:<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
MEMBERS<br />
UK MEMBERS<br />
INTER EMIRATES BUILDING<br />
CLEANING SERVICES LLC<br />
SEYAB ASSET MANAGEMENT<br />
ROYAL CATERING SERVICES<br />
KHADAMAT CO.L.L.C<br />
EMCO QATAR<br />
DCBN - DOMESTIC CLEANING<br />
BUSINESS NETWORK<br />
PRACTICE CONTRACTS LTD<br />
DUSTFREE SUPPORT<br />
SERVICES LTD<br />
LITTLE COTTAGE<br />
INDUSTRIES LTD<br />
SN CLEAN LTD<br />
ADN CLEANING<br />
SERVICES LIMITED<br />
UNIVERSITY OF HULL<br />
KANDI KLEANERS LTD<br />
SOLUTIONS 4 CLEANING LTD<br />
SBFM GROUP LTD<br />
YOUR OPTION SERVICES LTD<br />
TGC FACILITY SERVICES LTD<br />
VERSAILLES CLEANING LTD<br />
THELO SERVICES LTD<br />
TOP CLEAN MCR LTD<br />
CALABASH GROUP SERVICES LTD<br />
ELIOR UK PLC<br />
ACCREDITED<br />
TRAINING<br />
MEMBERS<br />
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2022<br />
& JANUARY <strong>2023</strong>:<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
MEMBERS<br />
MUSANADAH<br />
UK MEMBERS<br />
HEATH & WILTSHIRE LTD<br />
24 26 | 27
THE<br />
STANDARD<br />
NEED TO REACH US?<br />
MEMBERSHIP<br />
MEMBERSHIP@BICS.ORG.UK<br />
TEL: +44 (0) 1604 678 711<br />
UK TRAINING<br />
TRAININGANDSERVICES@BICS.ORG.UK<br />
OR<br />
VIRTUAL TRAINING SUITE<br />
TO BOOK CLICK HERE<br />
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING<br />
INTERNATIONAL@BICS.ORG.UK<br />
TEL: +44 (0) 1604 678 711<br />
MARKETING, EVENTS<br />
& ANNUAL AWARDS<br />
MARKETING@BICS.ORG.UK<br />
TEL: +44 (0) 1604 678 713<br />
ENQUIRIES<br />
INFO@BICS.ORG.UK<br />
TEL: +44 (0) 1604 678 710<br />
BICS.ORG.UK<br />
NEWS EVENTS WORLDWIDE STANDARDS