The Standard Issue 2 2023

TITLE, 

THE 

STANDARD 

SUB TEXT 

1St Para [BOLD] 

2nd Para [REG] 

EDITION 2 

2023 

Celebrating 

Enrolments on the 

VIRTUAL TRAINING SUITE 

INSIDE 

THIS ISSUE... 

BCC THANKS 

CAMPAIGN 

SUPPORTERS | P7 

INTRODUCING 

BICSc ROLLED 

SKILLS | P17 

THE JOURNEY 

TO NET ZERO 

| P22-23 

BICS.ORG.UK 

NEWS EVENTS WORLDWIDE STANDARDS

03 THE CHAIRMAN’S HELLO 

BY LORRAINE DAVIS MBICSc 

04 HELLO ALL! 

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER 

EDITION OF THE STANDARD 

BY NEIL SPENCER-COOK MBICSc 

05 TIME MANAGEMENT 

BY DENISE HANSON 

FBICSc 

07 BCC THANKS CAMPAIGN 

SUPPORTERS AND ASKS 

FOR MORE BACKING 

08 INTERNATIONAL UPDATE 

09 UNSUNG HEROES 

BY KELSEY HARGREAVES 

LBICSc 

10 BICSc CO-HOSTS WITH THE 

CLEANING EXCELLENCE 

CONFERENCE AND AWARDS 

12 CELEBRATING 40,000 

ENROLMENTS ON THE 


16 YOUTH VOICE 

CENSUS 2023 

17 INTRODUCING BICSc 

ROLLED SKILLS 

18 IT’S A FAMILY 

AFFAIR 

19 WATCH 

THAT CABLE! 

20 THE JOURNEY 

TO NET ZERO 

26 PRIVATE HEALTHCARE 

IS PEACE OF MIND 

27 MAPA PROFESSIONAL 

LAUNCHES NEW 

ANTIMICROBIAL GLOVE, 

INTRODUCING THE NEW 

ALTO 405 ACTIVATED 

29 BICSc JOINS THE 

WELCOME COMMITTEE 

FOR THE CLEAN & 

TIDY HOME SHOW 

31 PRIORITISING PRODUCT 

LONGEVITY IS A 

POWERFUL FIRST STEP 

TO IMPROVING COMMERCIAL 

SUSTAINABILITY 

33 REAP THE BENEFITS 

OF BICSc MEMBERSHIP 

35 PRIORITISE UV 

PROTECTION 

37 INFECTION 360 

CONFERENCE 

39 WELCOMING 

OUR NEW MEMBERS 

TICKETS AVAILABLE 

THIS JUNE! 

THE STANDARD

THE CHAIRMAN’S HELLO 

BY LORRAINE DAVIS MBICSc 

As we head into the season where everything starts to wake up from its winter slumber, a promise of new growth 

and a change to warmer days, BICSc is also on the cusp of a time of growth and change. 

My four year tenure as chairman of 

BICSc Council (it is usually a three 

year tenure but was extended by 

a year due to the COVID hiatus) 

will come to an end in September, 

and I am delighted to be handing 

over the reins to Soo Bartholomew, 

the current deputy chairman, who, 

working with the BICSc Senior 

Management Team, will lead BICSc 

forward for the next three years. 

The chairman’s role is not the only 

Council change taking place – you 

may have seen on our website and 

social media posts that nominations 

are now open for the Individual 

council members, and voting for 

council members opens in June, 

so as well as taking on the new role 

of Chairman, Soo will also have a 

brand new council to support her 

during her three years as Chairman. 

Referring to the upcoming Council 

elections, I would personally like 

to encourage each and every one 

of you to put yourself forward for 

election. This is a real opportunity 

to influence a new and modernised 

BICSc for the next three years. 

It will be down to you to 

represent the interests of members 

at an exciting time in its history. 

Visit the BICSc website to check you 

meet the criteria and submit your 

nomination form before nominations 

close on 31st May 2023. 

Voting will be open between 

7th June - 19th July 2023. Once 

your nomination has been accepted, 

encourage friends and members 

to vote for you. 

The whole process is electronic, 

and a link will be sent to all 

eligible members to vote nearer to 

the time. Results will be announced 

at the BICSc AGM on Thursday, 

21st September 2023. 

Please don’t think you won’t have a 

chance, if I had thought that eight 

years ago, I would never have been 

part of the Council and wouldn’t 

have had the privilege of being the 

Institute’s Chairman – which has 

been one of the proudest moments 

of my life. I encourage you to just go 

for it, and the very best of luck! 

While the Council is undergoing big 

changes in 2023 with a new leader, 

the team at BICSc head office will 

also see a change in their leader. 

After just over 16 years as BICSc 

CEO, Stan Atkins, will be stepping 

down from the role in July. 

During his time at the helm of 

the Institute, and supported 

by Council and the Senior 

Management Team, Stan has 

used his industry experience 

and credentials to ensure 

that BICSc is always at the 

forefront of the cleaning 

and hygiene industry, is 

universally acknowledged 

as the go-to training 

provider in the UK, and 

increasingly internationally, 

ensured it is fit for purpose and 

is on a sound-footing to grow even 

further in the future. 

Following Stan’s departure, taking 

on the new role of Group Managing 

Director will be BICSc current 

Chief Operating Officer, Neil 

Spencer-Cook. As a member of the 

current Senior Management Team, 

I know that Neil will ensure that 

the Institute continues to go from 

strength to strength. 

I’m sure that you will join me in 

thanking Stan for his undisputed 

leadership of the Institute during 

the last 16 years and wish him well 

for the future, and wishing Soo, 

the new council and Neil, the best 

of luck in their new roles and the 

positive changes they will bring. 

Best wishes 

Lorraine 

LORRAINE DAVIS 

National Chairman 

2 | 3

THE BICSc 

BULLETIN 

HELLO ALL! 

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER 

EDITION OF THE STANDARD 

BY NEIL SPENCER-COOK 

MBICSc 

NEIL SPENCER-COOK 

Chief Operating Officer 

Well summer is about to start, and 

we are well into the current year. 

This year we are seeing several 

changes take place here at BICSc, 

as you may be aware there is 

currently an election taking place 

for the individual representatives 

on Council, don’t forget to have 

your say if you are eligible to vote. 

The current chair Lorraine Davis 

will step down at the AGM this year 

and Soo Bartholomew currently the 

deputy chair will take her place. 

In addition to this Stan Atkins 

BICSc long standing Group CEO 

steps down from his position in 

the coming months and I will take 

the helm as the new Group MD. 

However, all these changes will 

not affect the services we offer 

our members and candidates 

for training. 

The BICSc Cleaning Supervisor's 

Certificate continues to be popular 

and over 100 candidates enrolled 

on this course in its first year, 

the BICSc Virtual Training Suite 

has now had more than 40,000 

enrolments on courses in the first 

2 years, our member numbers 

continue to grow, and we have 

recently started to introduce 

rolled skills to make the 

assessment of candidates much 

more efficient for our centres. 

We continue to review our 

offerings and now have two new 

member benefits, from SC Johnson 

Professional and The Cleaning 

Matters Magazine, and please don’t 

forget to check out the Virtual 

Training Suite for our new courses 

and keep an eye out for the free 

courses we offer too. 

The awards tickets will be on sale 

shortly, don’t forget to check out 

the awards webpage (click below) 

so you can get hold of your tickets 

if you want to join us on the 21 st 

September to celebrate industry 

excellence. To quote Earth Wind 

and Fire …."Do you remember, 

the 21 st night of September…" 

We here at BICSc hope you enjoy 

this edition of The Standard and 

don’t forget if you have anything 

you want to contribute, 

please let us know. 

TO BOOK TICKETS FOR 

THE AWARDS CLICK HERE 

THE STANDARD 

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS MONTH’S ISSUE!

TIME 

MANAGEMENT 

BY DENISE HANSON 

FBICSc 

As I write this piece, I am sure I 

can hear laughter from the BICSc 

office, in particular from Neil! It 

is perhaps a stretch to claim that 

my time management skills are 

what they should be, many is the 

manager from my previous roles 

that have sent me along to a course 

– I love their optimism! The truth 

I’m afraid is that hidden deep in 

my personality is the belief that 

I have the ability to impact time. 

The J.K Rowling timepiece in Harry 

Potter that allows you to be in two 

places at the same time would be 

incredibly useful to me. 

I have the very best intentions: 

I put admin time in my diary, 

I allow adequate travel time. 

Then something comes in - a query, 

a meeting request, a verification 

close to one I’m already carrying out 

- and all my good intentions seem to 

go out of the window. 

The truth, if I’m being truly honest, 

is that I prefer to be out and about, 

meeting people, solving issues, 

offering advice, auditing or 

generally doing just about anything 

that does not involve me being at 

my desk for any length of time. 

The lesson that I must learn is that 

to be truly effective at the parts 

of the job I love, I have to also 

embrace the administration and 

written follow up that is required 

to be thorough. 

Now I can honestly say that all I 

have to do is put this into practice, 

so the following is my plan to make 

my time management effective: 

1. Allocate administration time, 

that doesn’t then get moved 

from my diary, for planning, 

booking, arranging and all 

the other things I try to 

forget I need to do. 

2. Allow not only for the time 

at site to carry out the 

project but also adequate 

time to write up my findings 

– note to self, allocate 

twice the time I think 

it will take me…. 

3. Under promise and 

over deliver. 

4. Be realistic in diary planning 

as to what can be delivered 

to the expected standard 

5. Write articles in advance, 

not last minute dot com, 

could this be the reason time 

management is so much 

on my mind at the moment? 

I believe that we all 

have our strengths and 

weaknesses and that to 

be efficient we need to be 

honest with ourselves as 

to just what these are. 

So to be honest as far as 

time management goes, 

I’m dreadful! 

DENISE HANSON 

Head of Technical Services 

4 | 5

BCC THANKS 

CAMPAIGN 

SUPPORTERS 

AND ASKS 

FOR MORE 

BACKING 

The British Cleaning Council 

(BCC) has thanked more than 

230 industry members who have 

backed its lobbying campaign and 

called on more colleagues to lend 

their support. 

Early results are that three MPs 

have been engaged, along with the 

Conservative policy unit, which only 

serves to demonstrate the effect that 

you are having. 

The British Cleaning Council and 

22 associations from across the 

cleaning, hygiene and waste industry 

announced a campaign in February 

asking sector staff to help lobby MPs 

and sign a petition to make cleaning 

and hygiene a national priority. 

The aim is for the Government to 

accept in full the 11 recommendations 

in the report by the All-Party 

Parliamentary Group (APPG) for 

the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry, 

entitled Embedding Effective Hygiene 

for a Resilient UK. 

The report aims to ensure that the UK 

learns the lessons of the COVID-19 

pandemic by putting cleaning and 

hygiene at the heart of the national 

agenda in the future. 

Industry colleagues are being asked 

to download a pre-written letter from 

the BCC website and email it to their 

local MP along with the report, as well 

as sign a petition in support. 

BCC Chairman Jim Melvin urged 

delegates at the recent London 

Cleaning Show to get behind the 

campaign during his conference 

address, as did BCC Deputy Chair 

Delia Cannings on day two. 

Throughout the event, colleagues on 

the BCC stand at the Cleaning Show 

were handing out information leaflets. 

The campaign has been symbolised 

by an image of the famous World 

War 1 recruiting poster featuring 

Lord Kitchener, reworked to say 

‘The Cleaning Industry Needs You’. 

As part of the campaign, Jim Melvin 

recently met his local MP, The Rt Hon 

Grant Shapps, to brief him. 

APPG Chair Nigel Mills, Jim Melvin 

and BCC Company Secretary 

Simon Hollingbery also met with 

Ben Everitt MP, Chair of the APPG 

on Business Resilience. 

Also on the agenda is an approach to 

the Migration Advisory Committee, 

which advises on which jobs should go 

onto the Shortage Occupation List. 

BCC CHAIR JIM MELVIN SAID: 

“The campaign has got off to a 

good start. We feel with some 

justification that we are beginning to 

see some traction with the political 

establishment, but we still have much 

further to go. 

“I want to sincerely thank the over 

230 colleagues who have contacted 

their local MP in support of the 

campaign so far, it is very much 

appreciated. 

“But our industry employs 1.4 million 

people, so there are many more 

colleagues who can get behind 

the campaign. 

“If you haven’t taken part so far, I’d like 

to ask: ‘We clean, but how much do 

we care about our industry and can 

you please assist? 

“We need your help if the voice of 

our sector is to be heard by MPs and 

Government. It is easy to get involved 

and will only take a few minutes of 

your time, so please show you care 

and take part.” 

Join the letter writing campaign 

and sign petition to make cleaning 

and hygiene a national priority. 

The drive takes place under the 

umbrella of the BCC’s We Clean, 

We Care campaign, which reflects 

the pride cleaning staff have in the 

vital, frontline role they perform, 

keeping others safe, well and healthy. 

The Embedding Effective Hygiene 

for a Resilient UK report aims to 

recognise the vital frontline role of the 

cleaning and hygiene sector and staff, 

make the UK much more resilient to 

current common infections such as flu 

and also better prepared for future 

public health emergencies like the 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

6 | 7

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE 

It’s been another busy quarter for our 

international team with training and 

verification trips to KSA, Abu Dhabi, 

Dubai, Qatar, and Ireland. Our Business 

Development Manager, Samantha 

Willson, also fitted in a client liaison 

trip, meeting people in Abu Dhabi 

and Dubai to discuss face to face how 

BICSc can help them with their training 

requirements. 

We are learning, as we expand in the 

regions, the most effective way of 

meeting, or hopefully exceeding our 

customers’ requirements. Currently 

we try to have the training closely 

followed by the verification. Teresa, 

our Customer Support Coordinator, 

has become adept at juggling clients', 

trainers', and verifiers' diaries and the 

regular feedback we are receiving 

shows what a fabulous job she is doing. 

The team are thrilled that they 

can now include their laundry staff in the 

BICSc training programme with relevant skills 

that apply to their role in the company. 

FEEDBACK FROM 

AL MUKHTAR 

CLEANING 

& SERVICES 

“During our BICSc training, we had an 

incredibly positive experience. The 

training provided by BICSc was 

top-notch and exceeded our 

expectations. The instructors were 

knowledgeable, approachable, and 

always willing to answer any 

enquiries we had. 

“Since the whole journey of our 

training, we have been impressed with 

how BICSc has continued to grow and 

evolve. Their accreditation process is 

rigorous and ensures that the highest 

standards are met. Knowing that we 

are now accredited by BICSc gives us a 

great sense of pride and confidence in 

our skills and abilities. 

Overall, our BICSc experience 

has been a rewarding one. We 

have gained valuable knowledge and 

skills that have helped us in our career. 

We highly recommend BICSc to 

anyone looking to advance their skills 

and expertise in the cleaning industry.” 

This quarter has also seen the 

successful verification of the 

first international On Premises 

Laundry (OPL) with Khansaheb 

showcasing their OPL operation 

and successfully upskilling 

4 assessors to include OPL with 

their existing skills. 

The team are thrilled that they can 

now include their laundry staff in 

the BICSc training programme with 

relevant skills that apply to their 

role in the company. 

NCC Holding on the successful verification 

and addition of 2 new assessors. 

The team with their certificates following successful 

verification of the centre and 3 BICSc Licensed Assessors. 

Al Mukhtar: (left to right) Abdulrahman Zoba, 

Hatem AlMatarky, Kelsey Hargreaves, 

Mathanarajan Arulanantham. 

Etisalat Facility Management 

on completion of their training. 

THE STANDARD 

The BICSc International Team would like to thank all customers we visited for the warm 

welcomes that we received, and we are all looking forward to our next scheduled trips in 

September. We hope that having regular dates in the diaries will help everyone. It certainly 

helps us to organise ourselves, or perhaps more accurately Teresa to organise the rest of us!

KELSEY HARGREAVES 

LBICSc 

Assistant Technical Specialist 

UNSUNG HEROES 

and knowledge centered around the 

needs of their environment’s service 

level requirements (safeguarding, 

floor care, precision cleaning, 

restoration, decay control). 

The 23 rd March this year saw the 

third anniversary of the start 

of the first national Lockdown 

in response to the COVID-19 

pandemic, I don’t know where 

that time has gone! 

Although we move on in the post 

pandemic world, our industry still 

works every day to ensure that 

all the public environments and 

spaces are being kept safe for life 

to continue. 

I’m sure that there are many 

lessons that we all took away from 

the pandemic; washing our hands 

more frequently, distancing when 

our physical health isn’t at peak 

levels, but for many in and outside 

of the industry we learned to say 

thank you to our unsung heroes! 

As we move on three years later, 

in some way hoping to forget 

the hardships we all faced, it is 

important that we do not forget 

to thank the amazing action that 

people did. We fight as an industry 

with the BCC shouting loud for 

recognition of our vibrant skilled 

professional industry and the 

amazing colleagues we have in it. 

Coming from a healthcare 

background, I saw day in day out 

the incredible work that cleaning 

teams did in support of the fight 

against the pandemic. People using 

the knowledge and skills they had 

built over the years to try and 

ensure that patients, frontline 

workers, family and friends 

were kept safe. Every clap on a 

Thursday night was not only for 

the incredible healthcare workers 

that conducted patient treatment 

and care, but for all those that kept 

environments safe and hygienic 

for treatment to be administered, 

something that I think many forgot. 

The unsung heroes. 

As I joined the BICSc team and was 

able to experience other parts of 

the cleaning industry, I was again 

reminded and had the honour of 

working alongside incredible 

cleaning teams as they fought their 

own battles of COVID-19 in their 

areas of work. 

In addition to the knowledge and 

skills they had built up in working 

in different environments to that 

of healthcare, such as in shops, 

schools, transport stations, hotels, 

office buildings, etc., their held skills 

Overnight cleaning teams in these 

environments, were expected 

to relearn their roles with an 

understanding placed on now 

cleaning in infectious hazardous 

situations. In a time where there 

was no time to learn, teams 

across the industry worked extra 

hours to complete training for 

terminal cleans, biohazard, PPE 

requirements, disinfection and 

sanitisation processes, as well as 

adding extra cleans to their already 

limited time, all to help ensure that 

they were keeping the public safe. 

INCREDIBLE, RIGHT? 

All of this while not being 

recognised as key working 

professionals that they truly were, 

trying to protect themselves and 

their loved ones, keeping the 

country running and all while 

working in environments that 

none of us wanted to be in. Our 

cleaning teams became pioneers of 

IPC, leaders in strength and, well, 

heroes. 

Your work in the industry, both 

before, in and after the pandemic 

has been impeccable. From all 

at BICSc and in the industry, we 

applaud you. 

8 | 9

BICSc 

CO-HOSTS 

WITH THE 

CLEANING 

EXCELLENCE 

CONFERENCE 

AND AWARDS 

The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) has announced that it will be co-hosting a conference with 

The Cleaning Excellence Conference and Awards on 6 December 2023. The event, which will take place at the 

Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry, is free for attendees to participate in. 

The BICSc Conference promises 

to offer a full day of Continuing 

Professional Development (CPD) 

seminars, as well as insight into 

the latest training services for the 

cleaning industry. Attendees will have 

plenty of opportunities to network 

with fellow professionals, and the 

conference will conclude with a 

Networking Party in collaboration 

with The Hill Club. Guests can enjoy 

free drinks and entertainment, 

making it a great opportunity to 

socialise and unwind after a day of 

learning and networking. 

BICSc Chief Operating Officer, 

Neil Spencer-Cook, said: 

“We are currently preparing a 

schedule of seminars that will 

ensure we cover all of the key 

topics that are pertinent to our 

members and the industry as 

a whole, and we are delighted 

to have the opportunity to 

co-host the conference with 

Cleaning Matters.” 

BICSc is a renowned 

organisation dedicated to 

raising the standards of the 

cleaning industry through 

education and training. It has 

been providing opportunities 

for learning and development 

since 1961, and this 

conference is an excellent 

opportunity to showcase its 

commitment to excellence. 

The Cleaning Excellence 

Conference and Awards is 

organised by Cleaning Matters 

magazine and provides a day 

of top-level seminars from 

key industry associations. The 

Awards recognise and celebrate 

the achievements of individuals 

and organisations in the cleaning 

industry. The collaboration 

between BICSc and The Cleaning 

Excellence Conference and Awards 

promises to be a unique event that 

will bring together the best of the 

cleaning industry. 

Cleaning Matters editor, 

Chris Shaw, added: 

“We are delighted to be further 

strengthening our partnership 

with BICSc, who are a key 

partner for Cleaning Matters. 

Last year’s Cleaning Excellence 

Conference and Awards were 

a huge hit with both delegates 

and exhibitors. The addition 

of a BICSc Conference to be 

co-located at this year’s event 

means we will have even more 

high-level delegates and it also 

means that BICSc will be able 

to offer this conference as a 

free benefit to all its members.” 

If you're interested in attending 

this exciting event, we will be 

opening registrations in Summer 

2023. With free admission and 

a jam-packed itinerary, this 

conference is an opportunity 

not to be missed. 

THE STANDARD

10 | 11

Celebrating 

THE ESSENTIALS 

Enrolments on the 


For those new to the industry or thinking 

of joining the industry, these courses 

provide some fundamental background 

information and an example of what to 

expect from the way our courses are 

structured and are free to anybody. 

WHAT CAN WE 

DO FOR YOU? 

When we launched the BICSc Virtual Training 

Suite in March 2021, we thought there might be an 

appetite for distance learning but never imagined 

that 2 years on, just over 15,000 people would 

have taken over 40,000 courses between them! 

If you have never looked at the Virtual Training 

Suite website, here is just a taster of what is on 

offer regardless of where you are in your career in 

the cleaning industry. We have courses for those 

just starting out through to those looking to start 

their own contract cleaning business. 

THE STANDARD

THE NEXT STEPS 

THE INSIDE STORY 

As you start to progress through your career as 

a cleaning operative, there are a range of skills 

available from the Cleaning Professional’s Skills 

Suite that ensure you are working as safely, 

effectively and efficiently as possible – starting 

with the all-important Licence To Practice and 

taking in the most frequently requested skills 

from the suite such as: 

Have you ever wondered how you control 

an infection outbreak? What you need to 

include to write an effective risk assessment? 

What the best type of chemical product is 

to remove a specific type of soil? We have 

a range of Cleanlogic courses available that 

delves deeper into the information you need, 

for example: 

12 | 13

ADVANCED 

TRAINING 

INSTRUCTIONAL 

COURSES 

As you progress in your career you will no 

doubt increase your responsibilities within 

the workplace – from undertaking a cleaning 

inspection (including within a NHS facility) 

to calculating the cost of a contract – 

we can help with your progression! 

If you are already in a role where you have 

progressed to assessor or undertake cleaning 

and hygiene audits, the bespoke BICSc apps 

are here to make your life easier. These courses 

take you through everything you need to know 

to get the most out of them. 

THE STANDARD

REACH FOR 

THE TOP 

For those that have their 

sights set on a leadership 

role, we have the fully 

rounded BICSc Cleaning 

Supervisor’s Certificate 

course to help you achieve 

your aspirations. 

And 

much 

more... 

Bundles and rolled skills offer a cost-effective 

way for you to progress your career. 

You don’t need to be employed by one of the big 

players to enhance your knowledge with our 

domestic operative safety course. 

This is only a small selection of the courses 

and workshops we have on offer so why not 

visit us today to see how we can help you 

progress your career! 

TO FIND OUT MORE CLICK HERE 

14 | 15

YOUTH VOICE 

CENSUS 2023 

Aged 11-30? 

Live in the UK? 

Join thousands of other young 

people and have your say in the 

UK’s biggest youth survey! The 

results will be shared with the 

nation to help create change. 

The Youth Voice Census is 

an online survey from Youth 

Employment UK, a not for profit 

social enterprise tackling youth 

unemployment. It’s your chance 

to share your experience of life, 

study and work as a young person, 

and say what support you want 

to see more of. It’s online, easy 

to do at your own pace, and 

completely anonymous. 

CLICK HERE FOR VOICE CENSUS 

Last year alone, over 60,000 people 

downloaded the Census report to 

understand the barriers faced by 

young people in the UK, so your 

opinions really do count! People 

are listening and want to better 

understand the challenges you may 

be facing as a young person today 

to create change! Get your voice 

heard, help shape government policy, 

improve opportunities, and show 

what young people have to offer by 

completing the Youth Voice Census 

2023 today! 

#AddYourVoice 

#YouthVoiceCensus 

THE STANDARD 

TAKE PART 

THE YOUTH VOICE CENSUS 

HERE

INTRODUCING BICSc 

ROLLED SKILLS 

Cast your mind back to when you were in your last year of school, 

and it was exam season… Not meaning to give you nightmares but 

in my day, it was O-levels (that shows my age!) and you would have, 

for argument’s sake, maths on Monday morning, English language on 

Tuesday afternoon, English literature on Wednesday afternoon, and so 

on, which could potentially block out the whole day just for a 2-hour 

exam each time. 

Well, if your cleaning operatives 

are training on a number of skills 

from BICSc CPSS, the time needed 

for the assessments could well feel 

like this – they may need to be out 

of the workplace for a morning 

or an afternoon for a potential 

45-minute assessment. Especially 

if they have to travel to the 

location of the assessment. 

Despite what the nay-sayers 

think about online training and 

assessment (training somebody to 

damp mop online is no different 

than the likes of Jamie Oliver 

‘training’ us how to cook the 

Christmas turkey every year via the 

TV – explain, demonstrate, practice 

– but I digress), it has gone some 

way to remove the necessity of a full 

or half day off. Candidates can be 

trained at a time that suits them and 

the assessment can be undertaken 

remotely, very often within their 

own workplace, removing the travel 

time requirement and, very often, 

meaning they are only out 

of the workplace for a little over 

the assessment time. 

But what if you could go one 

better and assess the candidates 

during their standard working 

day without them having to 

take time out specifically for 

the assessment? 

This is where BICSc rolled skills 

come into play! 

The training encompasses all the 

elements as if the skills were being 

trained individually, but the big 

difference is when it comes to 

the assessment. Rather than the 

start-up, method, close down for 

each skill, there is one start-up, 

one method rolls directly into 

the next, and then one close down 

at the end, with the rolled skills 

grouped together so that they 

follow a logical sequence that you 

could expect a cleaning operative 

to follow during a standard 

working day. 

NIGEL HOWE 

LBICSc 

Course Developer 

/Technical Writer 

Let’s look at an example: 

The first one we have released 

is Rolled Skill 3 which is based 

around cleaning a cellular office. 

The skills the operative will be 

accredited with assuming they 

pass the assessment are: 

BU3 – Vacuum cleaning 

BU5 – Emptying and cleaning 

of general waste bins 

BU6 – Damp wiping of surfaces 

But the assessment when the 

skills are rolled together follows 

the expected sequence of damp 

wiping the desk (any loose 

debris can be placed in the bin), 

emptying and cleaning the waste 

bin, and finally vacuum cleaning 

the floor area, thus saving the 

time required to start and close 2 

of the 3 skills. Plus, the assessor 

could follow the operative during 

their standard working day to 

undertake the assessment rather 

than the operative having to set 

aside a specific time. 

With the increased pressure 

on everybody’s time nowadays, 

it can only be beneficial to all 

concerned! 

We have more rolled skills in the 

pipeline so keep checking back on 

the BICSc Virtual Training Suite 

to see when they are released. 

VIEW ONLINE COURSES 

16 | 17

IT’S A 

FAMILY 

AFFAIR 

Part of my role as BICSc 

Business Development Manager 

is attending numerous industry 

events such as the recent 

London Cleaning Show at ExCel. 

While there, I had the pleasure 

of meeting Sally Halmshaw, from 

Bridges Group Services. 

Sally told me that her mother 

had previously undertaken BICSc 

training when she began the Bridges 

Group, and that she would now like 

to undertake BICSc training along 

with her son, Danny, who also works 

for the company. 

I was intrigued to find out more about 

this ‘family affair’, and Sally was kind 

enough to spare me the time to talk 

about the family business and how 

the industry has changed since her 

mother started Bridges. 

Can you tell me more about Bridges 

Group Services and how it began? 

My paternal grandfather started 

Reliance Window Cleaning around 

1940 and merged with Beacon 

Cleaning Company in 1989. In 

2009 the company was renamed 

Bridges Group Services Ltd. with my 

grandfather, Tom Coulton, and mother, 

Denise Coulton, running the company. 

When did you begin working 

at Bridges Group Services 

and what role did you hold? 

I began in 1989 at 14 years 

old. I started daily cleaning 

with my mum at her first few 

contracts which she started 

off by cleaning herself. Within 

a short time, I was typing out 

the monthly invoices from my 

bedroom on my traditional style 

typewriter. I became more involved 

in 1998 after my first son (who now 

works for the business) was born, 

taking over the payroll and office 

management. 

How has the cleaning industry 

changed since you started? 

Massively. New modern technology 

and health and safety requirements 

especially are now at the forefront. 

Why do you feel 

training is important? 

Everything is evolving so training 

is important to keep up to date 

with the changes. There are a lot 

of sustainable products available, 

the use of modern equipment, and 

health and safety to name just a 

few. Fully trained staff leads to the 

success of our company. 

Where do you see the future 

of the cleaning industry? 

Going from strength to strength, one 

thing people will always require is a 

clean environment to work from. 

What is the best part of your job? 

The feeling of job satisfaction when 

making a difference to clients and 

being able to create jobs for other 

people as the business grows. 

SAMANTHA WILLSON 

MBICSc 

BICSc Business 

Development Manager 

How do you think the Licence to 

Practice training will help you? 

This will help us to provide even 

better and invaluable training to our 

staff and in turn will provide a safer 

working environment for our staff 

and our clients alike. 

What’s it like working with family? 

Well, this can be interesting at 

times! Christmas dinner talk often 

becomes work talk! 

Finally, tell me what you want for the 

future of Bridges Group Services? 

We want Bridges Group Services 

Ltd. to continue to grow whilst 

retaining the personal touch we 

offer to our clients. We want to 

evolve with the times but continue 

to offer a good value, high quality, 

and varied range of services. 

Sally and her son Danny are 

currently completing their Licence 

to Practice via the BICSc Virtual 

Training Suite. 

Good luck to Sally, Danny, and the 

team at Bridges Groups Services 

for the future!

WATCH 

THAT CABLE! 

Whether it's four metres or twenty 

metres, cables and extension cables 

used to power machines must 

be used and managed safely or 

a serious accident could occur 

should electricity escape. 

Assessing BICSc standards with 

machinery involved requires 

judgements on how safe candidates 

act and manage their machines. 

Visual checks are required to ensure 

the machine’s safe operation. The 

cable is always the challenge as 

it is the most likely reason the 

assessment is unsuccessful. This 

is because the cable has become 

a significant trip hazard during 

operations. 

Vacuum cleaners, rotary floor 

machines, scrubber dryers, 

steamers and jet washers to name 

a few machines we operate today 

are often connected to sockets 

because the power requirements 

are significant and large batteries 

are not the best option. 

Risk assessments should always 

describe electricity as a very high 

risk in initial findings. Few however 

have cable management in the 

control measures section to ensure 

safety. BICSc has very clear guidance 

on how this is carried out safely. 

What could the control 

measures be? 

Firstly, we should stow cables 

correctly following manufacturer’s 

instructions. We tend to stow our 

cables using the lasso method and 

wedge it in the handle or hook it 

some way. This happens especially 

when the machine does not 

accommodate the cable. This storage 

method promotes twisting over time 

which results in cables snaking on 

the floor during use. 

*https://www.hse.gov.uk/ 

statistics/overall/hssh2122.pdf 

Trip risk is increased as the cable 

often loops potentially snagging 

passers-by feet. When checking 

the cable before operation, using a 

cloth to protect hands, the operator 

checks from the machine to the plug 

reversing the effect of twisting. When 

visiting sites, well managed cables are 

clearly evident preserving the life of 

the cable and greater safety. 

Secondly, when connecting to power 

sockets we should check the socket is 

in good order with no cracks or burn 

marks in the facia. The socket should 

be switched off and the machine 

should also be off. Plug in the machine, 

switch on the socket and then turn on 

the machine. The opposite should 

happen when disconnecting from 

the power. Ensuring the socket is 

switched off saves many injuries 

and near misses. 

Thirdly, cables are often behind 

the operator plugged into the 

most convenient socket. Having 

cables in front of the machine 

is not an option. Operators may 

find the cable behind them and out 

of sight which is extremely risky. 

To avoid this happening, work 90 

degrees away from the cable with 

the socket behind the line of work. 

Essentially, have the cable on your 

left or right and move in the opposite 

direction. This stops operators 

stepping back on cables 

and less swishing to 

move away from 

your feet. The cable 

remains in sight and 

the operator can 

get on with the job. 

Adding these 

operational 

techniques to risk 

assessments and 

method statements 

will reduce the 

risk of trips with 

machines using 

power cables. 

Slips and trips remains 

the top reason for 

falls at work in the 

HSE Summary 

Statistics in 2021/22 

representing 30% of 

the total injuries in the 

workplace.* Any guidance 

and action to reduce the 

hazard is a positive step. 

James M 

JAMES MARSTON 

LBICSc 

Training and Support 

Specialist 

18 | 19

20 | 21

THE JOURNEY 

TO NET ZERO 

As the world continues to grapple 

with the impact of climate change, 

the concept of achieving net 

zero emissions has emerged as 

a critical target for individuals, 

governments, and companies alike. 

The latest IPCC report says that it's 

urgent and necessary to reach net 

zero emissions by 2050 to prevent 

the worst impacts of climate 

change. So, before companies 

start working towards net zero, 

they need to understand what it 

means and what's involved. This 

understanding is crucial to ensure 

that their net zero commitments 

are effective, ambitious, and 

aligned with global goals. 

Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions 

To understand net zero, you must 

begin by understanding how 

the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, 

the international greenhouse gas 

(GHG) accounting standard, divides 

emissions into three categories. 

These categories are referred 

to as Scope 1, 2 and 3, and they 

categorise the different kinds 

of carbon emissions a company 

creates in its own operations and in 

its value chain. 

Scope 1: 

The emissions a company makes 

directly, for example, company 

facilities and company vehicles. 

Scope 2: 

The emissions a company makes 

indirectly, for example, electricity, 

steam, and heating and cooling. 

Scope 3: 

These are all the emissions that 

a company is associated with by 

its upstream and downstream 

activities. For example, purchased 

goods and services, leased assets, 

or investments. 

THE STANDARD 

Scope 1 and 2 emissions are mostly 

within a company’s control and 

there are many solutions that exist 

to help companies reduce these 

emissions to zero, for example 

switching to renewable energy or 

transitioning to electric vehicles. 

Scope 3, however, is where the 

most impact is made, as typically 

these emissions account for 

around 70% of a business’s 

carbon footprint. Therefore, any 

commitment to net zero involves a 

business tackling all three scopes 

of emissions. 

What is net zero? 

Net zero carbon emissions is 

the balance between the total 

greenhouse gas emissions released 

into the atmosphere and the total 

amount of greenhouse gas emissions 

removed from the atmosphere. 

In accordance with the Science 

Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) 

Corporate Net Zero Standard, an 

organisation may be considered 

net zero when it has reduced 

emissions across all three scopes 

by at least 90% of the baseline. The 

standard outlines that corporate 

targets should be in line with the 

ambition to limit global warming to 

1.5°C, that organisations should set 

near-term targets to deliver deep 

emissions cuts in the next 5-10 

years, and that only unavoidable 

residual emissions (totalling 

no more than 10%), may be 

neutralised at the net zero target 

year using accredited Carbon 

Removal offsets. 

These schemes work to remove 

carbon from the atmosphere 

such as afforestation, seagrass 

restoration, reforestation and 

soil carbon sequestration. These 

differ from carbon avoidance 

schemes which reduce emissions 

by preventing them from being 

released into the atmosphere, 

for example, wind farms. 

Why net zero carbon? 

Alongside the environmental 

and social benefits of achieving 

net zero there are also significant 

business benefits for taking 

meaningful action. 

The increasing amount of 

scientific evidence surrounding 

the importance of net zero goals, 

alongside escalating public concern 

around community health and 

wellbeing, are significant drivers 

of net zero targets for not only 

governments but businesses globally. 

Small and medium-sized 

enterprises (SMEs) represent 

99% all UK limited companies and 

contribute more than 50% of the 

revenue in our economy. Therefore, 

the impact that SMEs have can be 

huge through both their own direct 

impact but also the way that they 

can inspire other organisations of 

a similar size and industry to get 

started on their own net zero goals. 

And there are clear business 

benefits in doing so. Demonstrating 

the efforts of your business in 

achieving net zero provides a 

competitive advantage as well 

as low carbon incentives such 

as operating cost savings. It also 

future proofs your business, 

ensuring climate change resilience. 

It can also help businesses to 

attract and retain the best talent. 

As councils, cities and governments 

set out ambitious climate targets, 

for instance the UK’s emissions 

targeting to achieve net zero 

by 2050, businesses who do 

not take meaningful action will 

face increasingly rapid changes 

in public opinion, pressure 

from stakeholders, legislative 

requirements, environmental shifts, 

technological innovation and other 

pressures which will transform the 

‘business as usual’ approach.

While more than 

80% of FTSE 100 

firms have made 

public commitments 

to reach net zero 

carbon emissions by 

2050, only 5 per cent 

have a plan on how they 

will achieve it. Other FTSE 

companies require support 

to address the knowledge 

gap, helping to ensure that 

widespread net zero carbon 

commitments are rolled out 

alongside robust and credible 

plans for organisations of all sizes. 

At Planet Mark, we aim to catalyse 

transformational climate action that 

targets achieving net zero carbon 

in the Decade of Action to 2030. Our 

Net Zero Programme incorporates our 

core principles of comprehensive carbon 

footprinting, annual certification, effective 

strategy setting and employee engagement, 

paired with annual governance to ensure 

your path to net zero is clear, actionable, 

and achievable. Start your journey today. 

22 | 23

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE 

IS PEACE OF MIND 

No matter how fit and healthy we 

are, it is inevitable that at some 

point in our lives we will fall ill and 

need medical care. And when illness 

does strike it is to the NHS that 

most people will turn in seeking a 

diagnosis, treatment and recovery. 

The NHS has for some years been 

showing signs that it, too, is not in 

the best of health. A growing and 

ageing population is putting an 

ever-increasing strain on staff and 

services. A problem exacerbated by 

the coronavirus pandemic. 

Reports of underfunding, a 

shortage of medical staff, noisy 

and overcrowded wards, cancelled 

operations and long waiting times 

will be familiar to everyone. 

In England, hospital waiting lists are 

longer than ever before, with a total 

waiting list of 7.21 million people.* 

This is the highest number since 

records began and illustrates the 

severe pressure that the NHS is under. 

QUICK, PRIVATE 

AND CONVENIENT 

Understandably, these lengthy 

delays are causing additional 

stress for patients, undermining 

their health and quality of life even 

further. How many people do you 

know whose physical health and 

mental well-being has deteriorated 

from the anxiety of having to wait 

months for a hospital appointment? 

All this can be avoided by taking 

out private health insurance. 

Seeing a doctor in private practice 

used to be only for the wealthy, 

but not anymore as the cost of 

private medical cover is becoming 

more affordable. 

A private medical plan delivers 

prompt access to hospital 

consultants, thus avoiding lengthy 

waiting lists. Patients can choose 

from an extensive list of hospitals 

throughout the UK; if they need to 

be admitted, they will have their own 

private room equipped with TV and 

telephone, and visiting is arranged 

to suit patient and family. A quick, 

private and convenient service 

that removes many of the anxieties 

associated with NHS hospital stays. 

TAKING CONTROL 

OF YOUR HEALTHCARE 

However, those interested in 

taking out health insurance 

should not leave it too late. As 

we get older our healthcare needs 

increase. Therefore, as only some of 

the best health insurance companies 

provide cover for pre-existing 

conditions, the best time to invest 

in getting private treatment for 

illnesses you may suffer 

tomorrow – is today. 

By acting now you can ensure 

your future healthcare will not 

be dictated by NHS bureaucracy 

and, just as importantly, you will be 

able to benefit from the widest 

possible cover. 

Private health insurance cannot 

guarantee good health, but it can 

ensure that when you are feeling 

unwell you will quickly receive the 

best possible care, when and where 

you want it. The peace of mind that 

comes with that knowledge cannot 

be underestimated and is often the 

most important factor for people 

deciding to take control of their 

healthcare provision and 

"go private". 

A special offer to provide private 

medical plans for members of The 

British Institute of Cleaning Science 

has been arranged with HMCA, 

including a £50 gift card or £100 off 

your first-year subscription upon 

joining a private medical plan. 

For further information and 

a no obligation quotation 

contact HMCA by telephone on 

01423 799949 or visit the exclusive 

HMCA The British Institute of 

Cleaning Science website here: 

WWW.HMCA.CO.UK/BICS 

*The Times 9 March 2023 

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ 

nhs-waiting-list-hits-record- 

7-21-million-ktjgr5r9r 

THE STANDARD 

© HMCA/S PLC (trading as Hospital and Medical Care Association, HMCA and HMCA Members) is authorised and 

regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:307587). HMCA/s PLC is a company registered in England, 

company number: 01362094, registered office: Beech Hall, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 0EA.

MAPA PROFESSIONAL LAUNCHES 

NEW ANTIMICROBIAL GLOVE, 

INTRODUCING THE NEW ALTO 

405 ACTIVATED 

Mapa Spontex Professional, part of the Newell Brands 

global portfolio of brands, is launching a unique antimicrobial 

waterproof glove that limits the cross contamination of viruses & bacteria. 

The recent pandemic and the growth 

in virus numbers have thrust the 

issue of hygiene into prominence like 

never before. This has led to new 

cleaning behaviours within common 

public areas. Disinfectants are still 

widely used in cleaning protocols 

to reduce the spread of viruses and 

although they demonstrate the rapid 

killing of targeted micro-organisms, 

their effectiveness is limited in time. 

Aiming to ensure wider microorganism 

killing action, MAPA 

PROFESSIONAL has partnered 

with PYLOTE to embed their 

patented antimicrobial mineral 

technology into a waterproof 

glove that limits the transmission 

of viruses and bacteria. 

WHAT IS PYLOTE 

TECHNOLOGY? 

It is composed of mineral oxide 

microspheres which are added to the 

glove material during manufacturing. 

The technology is produced using a 

green-tech production process, in 

one manufacturing step, using only 

air, water and thermal heat, without 

any organic solvents and generating 

no waste, the unique antimicrobial 

glove is created. Delivering 

broad-spectrum efficacy with the 

highest antimicrobial standards, 

antimicrobial activity remains active 

for up to 4 years. 

BENEFITS OF THE 

ALTO 405 ACTIVATED: 

A PROTECTIVE SHIELD 

Wearing the Alto 405 activated 

when cleaning ensures that both 

surfaces & workers are protected. 

When cleaning surfaces, the glove 

reduces the risk of harmful viruses 

and bacteria being spread from 

surface to surface as it kills 99%* 

VIRUSES & 99.99%** BACTERIA and 

limits cross microbial contamination. 

Whilst not a substitute for 

regular cleaning practices, the 

glove compliments the action of 

disinfectants in reducing the risk of 

cross contamination. (*Results based 

on ISO 21702:2019 - **Results 

based on JIS Z 2801 standard) 

In addition to the new antimicrobial 

technology, the glove surface is 

designed to protect against viruses 

penetrating through the glove 

surface, protecting the users’ hands 

against viruses (to level EN 374-5) 

and delivering protection against 

common aggressive chemicals (level 

EN 374-1). Both actions conform to 

the relevant PPE standards. 

As a leader in hand protection and 

hygiene tools, we firmly believe 

that every product we develop 

must deliver unique protection and 

hygiene properties. Mapa Spontex 

Professional products are highly 

effective and make our customers’ 

work safer, deliver higher standards 

and more efficient ways of working. 

Read further information about 

MAPA PROFESSIONAL, visit 

WWW.MAPA-PRO.CO.UK 

26 | 27

BICSc JOINS THE 

WELCOME COMMITTEE 

FOR THE CLEAN & 

TIDY HOME SHOW 

Advocating for cleaning 

professionals to drive inclusion 

for all at the event and beyond. 

Following the success of its debut 

event last year, the Clean & Tidy 

Home Show is gearing up for its 

second edition 14-15th October 

– and this year, it hopes to further 

welcome cleaning professionals 

across the nation by both alleviating 

any barriers to attend and providing 

useful opportunities for learning 

and relationship-building. 

The newly-formed Welcome 

Committee brings together experts 

to lead the development of the show’s 

inclusivity strategy: and who better 

to represent the body of cleaning 

professionals than the COO of The 

British Institute of Cleaning Science 

(BICSc), Neil Spencer-Cook. BICSc 

has long been a leading voice for 

cleaning professionals in the UK, and 

as the industry continues to grow and 

evolve, Neil is uniquely positioned to 

champion the rights and interests of 

cleaning professionals. 

Advocating for cleaning professionals 

in a domestic environment can be 

challenging, especially in the face 

of rising living costs. However, the 

Clean & Tidy Home Show is a great 

opportunity for cleaning operatives 

and professional organisers, 

homeowners and tenants to 

come together and recognise 

the fundamental necessity of 

having a home that is functional 

and organised, and how cleaning 

operatives are imperative within 

this conversation. 

Cleaning professionals play a vital 

role in keeping homes and other 

spaces clean and healthy, even though 

their work is often undervalued. 

By using this show as a platform 

to educate the public about the 

value of cleaning as a profession, 

BICSc can help to shift perceptions 

and validate the professionalism 

and skills possessed by all cleaning 

operatives, simultaneously increasing 

demand for cleaning services across 

the UK. As well as experiencing the 

excitement and enjoyment of being 

at the show itself, BICSc members 

who choose to attend can participate 

in discussions related to the cleaning 

industry and give a further presence 

to ensure that the voices of cleaning 

professionals are heard. 

BICSc is also dedicated to promoting 

best practices in the cleaning 

industry, which is why they will be 

heading up the Ask an Expert area on 

the show floor. Adopting TikTok tips 

is one thing, but approaching cleaning 

from an educational, scientific point 

of view is an integral mechanism 

behind the show’s learning 

opportunities. By attending the 

Clean & Tidy Home Show, cleaning 

operatives and BICSc members can 

refresh and share their knowledge 

whilst helping promote the highest 

standards of professionalism 

and quality. 

The Clean & Tidy Home Show is an 

event that BICSc members should 

attend. By participating in the 

exhibition, they can network with 

potential customers and partners, 

learn about the latest trends and 

products, promote best practices, 

and advocate for the rights and 

interests of cleaning professionals. 

As the industry continues to evolve, 

BICSc will remain a vital resource for 

cleaning professionals, and events 

like the Clean & Tidy Home Show are 

an important part of that mission. 

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.CLEANANDTIDYHOMESHOW.COM

PRIORITISING PRODUCT 

LONGEVITY IS A 

POWERFUL FIRST STEP 

TO IMPROVING 

COMMERCIAL 

SUSTAINABILITY 

Despite businesses identifying 

the number one barrier1 to the 

implementation of sustainable 

practices as a lack of sustainable 

products, the idea that recycled 

materials are the only route to 

‘greener practices’ is nothing 

more than a myth. 

The latest Love Sustainability insights 

report from Rubbermaid Commercial 

Products (RCP), Why Product Longevity 

is a Powerful First Step to Improving 

Commercial Sustainability, argues that 

low frequency sustainability, durability 

and reducing consumption are far more 

effective than an increase in so-called 

‘green purchasing’ for both the planet 

and business’ budgets. Emilio Capelli, 

VP Sales & Marketing International 

for Commercial at Newell Brands, 

discusses how prioritising product 

longevity is a powerful first step to 

improving commercial sustainability. 

LOW FREQUENCY SUSTAINABILITY 

For a vast majority of businesses, 

when considering what makes a 

product sustainable, those made from 

recycled materials are often the first 

port of call. However, it is not actually 

always recycled products that are 

the most sustainable choice. When it 

comes to ‘sustainable products’, other 

considerations should come into play, 

including: durability, buying better 

and wasting less. After all, 96% of the 

global warming potential of a recycling 

container, for example, is during 

production2. 

DURABILITY IS BETTER 

FOR THE BOTTOM LINE 

Another challenge for many comes 

when factoring in the needs and aims 

of the business, its shareholders 

and its customers – ensuring both 

sustainability and commerciality 

are prioritised. This focus on 

commerciality has only increased 

in recent times due to the current 

economic situation. 

80% of businesses agree that rising 

costs and inflation3 are the most 

significant challenges they face in the 

coming years. For 60% of businesses 

the perceived investment and increase 

in ongoing costs for more sustainable 

practices is cited as a barrier to 

implementation. However, in a 

positive shift in perception, 74% 

disagreed that more sustainable 

products cost more4. 

REDUCING CONSUMPTION 

BEATS ‘GREEN’ BUYING 

Further, businesses need to 

understand that reducing consumption 

over ‘green’ purchasing will result not 

only in significant sustainability gains 

but financial ones too. Extending the 

lifecycle of passive products (products 

that do not require energy usage, or 

supplementary materials during their 

life cycle, for example the bins in your 

facility) reduces environmental impact 

by up to 72% and reduces commercial 

cost by up to a third5. 

EMILIO 

CAPELLI 

Let’s take an example. You’re going 

to replace the waste containers in 

your facility. Your choice is to opt for 

a brand new, freshly manufactured 

container or go for one made from 

recycled material. You might assume 

that a container made from recycled 

material is the more sustainable 

option. However, when we make our 

purchasing decisions we need to take 

into consideration where that recycled 

material has come from, the ecological 

cost of its remanufacturing and its 

durability. Often, recycled materials 

suffer degradation over time6 and 

need remanufacturing sooner. Once 

you recycle plastic, it has to be 

recycled more often as the resulting 

products often don’t last as long. This 

starts an endless cycle of increasing 

resource use. So, considering the 

product longevity and material origins 

of each container, opting for a brandnew 

waste container that is built to 

last is actually the more sustainable 

choice here. 

We know that a staggering 95% of 

decision makers7 want to do more 

on sustainability but face various 

challenges to implementation. 

Supporting businesses in turning 

sustainability ideas into action, 

the new report helps to identify 

and overcome future challenges to 

implementation and provides datadriven 

recommendations to combat 

‘green confusion’, reassess purchasing 

decisions and ultimately improve 

operational and systemic sustainability. 

SOURCES: 

1. RCP Research – Question 15 

2. Global Warming Potential from 

Production (section 4.2.2) 



5. The Benefits of Extending 

Passive Products Lifespans 

6. Material Degradation in Recycling 

Processes (section 3.1) 


The Why Product Longevity is a 

Powerful First Step to Improving 

Commercial Sustainability report 

is available for download at 

www.lovesustainability.com 

30 | 31

REAP THE 

BENEFITS OF BICSc 

MEMBERSHIP 

BICSc members can enjoy two new 

excellent benefits, helping to keep 

your organisation at the forefront 

of the cleaning industry. 

CLEANING MATTERS 

MAGAZINE 

SC JOHNSON 

PROFESSIONAL 

The essential tool for the professional 

cleaning industry. 

Cleaning Matters is offering a print or digital 

option to all BICSc UK members and a digital 

option to all BICSc international members, if you 

would like to receive a copy of the magazine, 

please click below and complete your details: 

CLICK HERE 

TO REGISTER YOUR DETAILS 

SC Johnson Professional - An expanded organisation 

for professional users, incorporates the Deb range 

of specialist occupational skin care products along 

with the well-known SC Johnson consumer brands 

and innovative specialist professional cleaning & 

hygiene products. 

A family company at work for a better world - 

dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, 

excellence in the workplace and a long-term 

commitment to the environment and the 

communities in which it operates. 

BICSc members can enjoy discounts on various 

products including a selection of free dispensers. 

We can conduct dispenser fittings free of charge 

depending on dispenser quantities, audits, as 

well as product training and skincare advice. Please 

contact us on talktous@scj.com for more information 

To view all of the BICSc membership 

benefits please CLICK BELOW: 

CLICK HERE 

TO VIEW MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS 

32 | 33

PRIORITISE UV 

PROTECTION 

Skin cancer is one of the 

occupational diseases with the 

highest number of suspected 

cases. Those most affected are 

employees who work partly or 

completely outdoors. About 90% 

of all skin cancers are caused by 

excessive UV exposure. These 

diseases could be avoided through 

effective UV protection. That is 

why the specialist in occupational 

skin protection, SC Johnson 

Professional ® , continues to 

educate people about the risks of 

UV radiation and how to protect 

themselves effectively. 

Skin cancer is one of the most 

common occupational diseases 

today. Spending too much time 

outdoors can be the cause of skin 

cancer, because the sun's ultraviolet 

rays penetrate deep into the skin 

unnoticed and can damage the 

cells in the short and long term. 

Those who are exposed to intensive 

sunlight due to their occupation 

are considered to be particularly at 

risk. Occupational groups affected 

include workers in the construction 

industry, but also in agriculture, 

hospitality logistics, sport 

and education. 

FIVE MEASURES THAT 

EFFECTIVELY PROTECT 

Companies can effectively protect 

their employees from UV radiation 

with five effective measures: 

1. Slip On Sun Protective Clothing 

2. Slop On Sunscreen 

3. Slap On Hat 

4. Slide On Sunglasses 

5. Seek Shade 

These measures effectively 

minimise the risks of UV radiation. 

CLOUDS DO NOT PROTECT 

AGAINST UV RADIATION 

In practice, it often turns out that 

the measures are only consistently 

implemented when the sun is 

shining brightly. An overcast 

sky and shady places reduce 

the intensity of the sun, but UV 

radiation is still active and can 

damage the skin. 

The UV index, which tells you on 

a daily basis what the UV levels 

are, is helpful for deciding which 

protective measures should be 

implemented. UV protection is 

already necessary from a UV 

index of 3 even when it I cloudy. 

Additionally, when the levels are 

above 3 it is important to avoid 

the midday sun, spend breaks in 

the shade and wear long-sleeved 

clothing, headgear and sunglasses. 

TIME TO PROTECT 

- TIME TO CARE 

When choosing a suitable 

sunscreen, the choice should go to a 

product formulated for professional 

use with a high SPF protection and 

that protects against UVA, UVB, 

and UVC rays. 

Stokoderm® SUN PROTECT 50 

PURE by SC Johnson Professional 

is a professional UV skin protection 

lotion with sun protection factor 

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34 | 35

Attend Infection 360 Conference from 

8-9 November 2023 at The Pendulum Hotel and 

Manchester Conference Centre as it returns for 

a second year, where renowned speakers within 

infection prevention discuss technology and its 

part in combatting new and existing pathogens. 

Registration, Programme and abstract submission at: 

WWW.INFECTION360.CO.UK 

AN OVERVIEW: 

DAY 1: Surgical Site Infection (SSI), 

Sustainability in IPC, CPE, MRSA 

and other challenging pathogens. 

DAY 2: Healthcare buildings as a 

source of infection 

The conference will feature a 

large exhibition where companies 

will be showcasing new products 

and technologies within infection 

prevention. 

The Infection 360 programme 

will cover a range of topics within 

infection prevention & control. 

Day one will cover Surgical Site 

Infection (SSI), Sustainability in IPC, 

CPE, MRSA and other challenging 

pathogens. Healthcare buildings 

as a source of infection will be the 

focus of Day two. 

The Infection 360 Scientific 

Programme Chair. 

Tracey Cooper, Bangor University, 

Lecturer in Health Sciences - 

Infection Prevention & Control 

THE STANDARD 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 1: 

SURGICAL SITE INFECTION (SSI), 

SUSTAINABILITY IN IPC, CPE, 

MRSA & OTHER CHALLENGING 

PATHOGENS. 

Sustainability challenges in 

Infection Prevention Control: 

Tracey Gauci, Consultant 

Practitioner, Hywel Dda 

University Health Board 

An intriguing outbreak of CPE: 

Dr Emma Yates, Dr Efthia 

Yiannakis, Co Infection Control 

Doctors, Worcestershire Acute 

Hospitals NHS Trust 

BSAC global antimicrobial 

stewardship accreditation 

scheme: Dr David R Jenkins, 

President of BSAC, Consultant 

in Medical Microbiology and 

Virology Lead Infection Control 

Doctor, University Hospitals of 

Leicester NHS Trust 

NHSE IP education and 

workforce work programme: 

NHS England Speaker to be 

confirmed 

Staphylococcus aureus and 

MRSA; old problems but still 

a challenge: Speaker to be 

confirmed 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 2: 

HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS 

AS A SOURCE OF INFECTION 

Environmental standards for safe 

decontamination: John Prendergast, 

Senior Decontamination Engineer, 

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership 

- Specialist Estates Services 

IPC: Providing assurance in new builds: 

Paul Weaving, Nurse Consultant / 

Hayley Cane, Nurse Consultant, NHS 

Scotland Assure / ARHAI Scotland 

MDRO in drains and links to HCAI: 

Dr Michael Weinbren, 

Consultant Medical Microbiologist, 

Specialist Advisor Microbiology, 

New Hospitals Programme 

Ventilation challenges in IPC: 

Dr Allan Bennett, UK Ventilation 

and Aerobiology Expert UKHSA 

To TMV, or not to TMV, that is the 

question: scald versus infection risk: 

Paul McDermott, PJM-HS Consulting Ltd 

An update on water safety: 

Steve Vaughan, Technical Director, 

Public Health Engineering 

Health & Safety and Infection 

Prevention Control: Speaker TBC 

FIND THE FULL PROGRAMME 

CLICK HERE

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: 

Do you have a project or piece 

of work that you would like to 

share with your peers? Submitting 

an abstract at conference is an 

excellent way to communicate the 

outcomes of your research project. 

Presenting will also support your 

personal development, showcase 

your skills and help grow your CV. 

Abstract submissions are invited for 

oral and poster presentations for 

the following topics: 

MDROs including CPE 

and MRSA, AMS, 

sustainability and IPC, SSI 

Any aspect of IPC relating 

to the built environment 

The closing date for abstracts 

is Tuesday 25 August 2023 

(23:59 BST). 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: 

The programme is designed to appeal 

to all those working within infection 

prevention and control and public 

health across clinical and non-clinical 

areas, including: 

DIRECTORS 

MANGERS 

CONSULTANTS 

MICROBIOLOGISTS 

NURSES 

LEADS 

DOCTORS 

SURGEONS 

REGISTRATION AND FEES 

PHARMACISTS 

ESTATES 

DIRECTORS/ 

MANAGERS 

FACILITIES 

DIRECTORS/ 

MANAGERS 

RISK/ 

GOVERNANCE 

MANAGERS 

DELEGATE - 

FULL CONFERENCE £95.00 

DELEGATE - 

TUESDAY £60.00 

DELEGATE - 

WEDNESDAY £60.00 

THE EXHIBITION: 

The Infection 360 conference 

will be one of the largest 

infection prevention and control 

exhibitions in the UK in 2022 

and it is expected to attract 

upwards of 250 professionals 

over the course of two days. 

With its high-profile speakers 

and cutting-edge programme 

Infection 360 will attract a wide 

audience across various clinical 

and non-clinical areas. 

As a result, the Infection 360 

conference is not only a fantastic 

opportunity to raise awareness 

for your products within the 

NHS. These elements come 

together to provide delegates 

and our industry partners with 

an excellent environment in 

which to further build relations 

at Infection 360, exchange 

ideas concerning products 

and technologies. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

& TO SUBMIT CLICK HERE 

TO REGISTER 

CLICK HERE 

TO FIND OUT MORE 

CLICK HERE

WELCOMING OUR NEW MEMBERS 

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38 | 39

THE 

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NEED TO REACH US? 

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MEMBERSHIP@BICS.ORG.UK 

TEL: +44 (0) 1604 678 711 

UK TRAINING 

TRAININGANDSERVICES@BICS.ORG.UK 

TEL: +44 (0) 1604 678 712 

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MARKETING, EVENTS 

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TEL: +44 (0) 1604 678 713 

ENQUIRIES 

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