The Standard Issue 2 2024

THE 

STANDARD 

Edition 2 2024 

DOWNLOAD NOW! 

What’s inside? 

WHAT HAPPENED AT 

INTERCLEAN? | P12/13 

CLEANING UP THE 

INDUSTRY | P26 

HEATH AND WILTSHIRE 

MARK 50 YEARS | P37 

BICS.ORG.UK 

BICSc TRAINING APP RELEASED! 

Learn more on page 18

03 A CHAT WITH THE CHAIR 

WITH SOO BARTHOLOMEW MBICSc 

04 BICSc SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING 

DOWN 

BY NEIL SPENCER-COOK MBICSc 

05 THE CLEANING INDUSTRY IMPACTS 

ALMOST EVERY ASPECT 

BY DENISE HANSON FBICSc 

07 FIRST COMES COMPLIANCE, THEN 

COMES THE SAVINGS 

A CHAT WITH THE CHAIR 

08 MANCHESTER CLEANING SHOW 

BOASTS BIGGEST AND BEST-EVER 

ATTENDED SHOW TO DATE 

WITH SOO BARTHOLOMEW MBICSc 

1O 

BICSc CHAIR IS PROUD TO BE 

SPONSORING DIABETES UK, FOR THE 

BICSc AWARDS 2024 

11 44 YEARS OF BEING SUPPORTED BY 

DIABETES UK: LYNETTE IS DOING 

SWIM22 TO GIVE BACK 

12 WHAT HAPPENED AT INTERCLEAN? 

WITH MATTHEW FERRIN ABICSc 

14 NEW BICSc MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE 

BY JO BEGG MBICSc 

15 AT BICSc WE JUST LOVE TO BE SEEN 

WITH MARION WOOD ABICSc 

16 THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY 

OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANERS 

WELCOMES LORRAINE LARMAN AS 

THE NEW MASTER 

17 BECOMING A CHARTERED 

PRACTITIONER 

WITH KELSEY HARGREAVES LBICSc 

18 BICSc TRAINING APP 

RELEASED 

20 DELIVERING SUCCESSFUL TRADE 

PR – SUZANNE HOWE OFFERS HER 

THOUGHTS ON THE IMPORTANCE 

OF EXCELLENT CLIENT AND MEDIA 

RELATIONSHIPS 

22 EVANS VANODINE HAS RETAINED 

PLANET MARK CERTIFICATION 

FOR ANOTHER YEAR, ACHIEVING 

YEAR 5 OF REDUCING ITS CARBON 

FOOTPRINT 

25 SAVEFAST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 

BICSc 

FEATURE! 

26 CLEANING UP THE INDUSTRY: HOW 

THE CLEANING INDUSTRY CAN REACH 

NET ZERO 

28 OUTSOURCED TELEPHONE 

ANSWERING – HOW DOES IT WORK? 

30 NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH AND 

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 

33 CLEANING, HYGIENE AND WASTE 

INDUSTRY 'IN RECOVERY' AFTER 

COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SAYS NEWLY 

PUBLISHED RESEARCH 

36 COSHH, RISK AND METHOD FOLDERS 

IN THE OFFICE 

WITH JAMES MARSTON LBICSc 

37 HEATH AND WILTSHIRE MARK 50 

YEARS WITH BRAND REFRESH AND 

NEW NAME 

38 ELEVATE YOUR HOME MANAGEMENT: 

BECOME THE CEO AT HOME 

40 MEET PUNDARIK, BICSc ASSESSOR OF 

THE YEAR 2023! 

41 THE CHARTERED PRACTITIONERS' 

REGISTER REACHING THE FIRST '50' 

MILESTONE 

45 TORK NATURAL COLOUR PRODUCTS 

COMBINE SOFTNESS WITH 

SUSTAINABILITY 

47 WELCOMING OUR NEW MEMBERS 

Get your tickets to the 

BICSc Awards 2024! 

The most prestigious cleaning and 

hygiene industry awards show of the year! 

Click here to buy now 

Hello everyone, 

I hope that you are all well 

and that the sun is now 

shining giving us happy 

thoughts and hopes that we 

have a long hot summer to 

look forward to. 

Since our last BICSc Standard 

we have had the Cleaning Show 

in Manchester, Interclean in 

Amsterdam and the launch of The 

Future of Cleaning, our study, kindly 

facilitated by the University of 

Surrey in Guildford. I will leave my 

feedback on Interclean for the next 

Standard edition as I am just about 

to jet off there! 

The industry contributors who are 

collaborating with BICSc and the 

CSSA in the Future of Cleaning 

Study have now all submitted 

their assessments of equipment, 

chemicals, and sensor technology, 

that they would like to have 

included in the evaluation, and a 

program of testing and validation 

has been agreed with them all. We 

will, of course, keep you updated 

with all the developments as we 

move through the trials over the 

next 12 months, and I am sure the 

results will be of interest to you 

all once we publish our findings 

and update the Standards & Best 

Practice in 2025. So keep checking 

our social media posts for updates 

and insights. 

What an astounding show we had 

at Manchester this year, it was 

bigger, better, and the contributors 

for the seminars were informative, 

knowledgeable, and very on point. 

It was great to see new exhibitors 

there and the return of some 

favourites that we have missed – 

thank you to those companies that 

invested your time and effort, I 

know that it is a huge investment, 

but I firmly believe that it pays off. 

The attendance on the BICSc stand 

was constant, I was so glad that 

we had enough representatives 

available to talk to you all and that 

your questions were answered 

and followed up after the show 

where they were needed. For my 

part it was lovely to see so many 

old industry colleagues and friends 

and make new acquaintances, that 

I hope will also become colleagues 

and friends in the years to come. 

Once again we saw the advance 

of the robotic cleaners and even 

more IoT, this innovation and the 

speed at which it is coming adds to 

the excitement at these shows and 

makes me even more convinced 

that we need to look at developing 

the interests and engagement of 

those several decades younger than 

myself and draw them in to this 

industry as a ‘Career of Choice’ not 

just something that they fall in to. 

BICSc has been supporting 

the Worshipful Company of 

Environmental Cleaners at the 

London Careers Festival, this 

event was held at the Guildhall and 

school children from 7 years to 16 

years were invited from across the 

London Boroughs to meet with 

different industries and employers 

so that they could evaluate the roles 

and career opportunities for their 

futures. 

Our international presence in the 

Middle East continues to grow and 

we have been assessing, training, 

and verifying more training centres 

in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and 

Dubai to ensure that the cleaning 

operatives working in these 

countries can deliver proficient, 

educated cleaning practices to 

maintain the levels of cleaning and 

hygiene that BICSc training delivers 

and supports. 

So for now, I will wish you all a 

great summer and look forward to 

seeing you at the BICSc Awards in 

September. 

Best wishes 

Soo 

SOO BARTHOLOMEW 

National Chair 

2 | 3

BICSc SHOWS NO SIGN OF 

SLOWING DOWN 

BY NEIL SPENCER-COOK MBICSc 

As we speed through 2024, the 

bustling activity at BICSc shows no 

sign of slowing down. We're fully 

immersed in awards season, having 

completed the judging phase for the 

Golden Service Awards earlier this 

year. Anticipation is building for the 

awards ceremony in London, where 

we'll join finalists and winners in 

celebration. 

Following on from judging the Golden 

Service Awards there was no rest 

period for our judges as they got deep 

in the process of judging the Northern 

Ireland awards – the winners being 

announced at the end of June in 

Belfast. And as they wrap-up one 

judging phase, another one begins – 

this time for our own awards. 

The applications deadline closed in 

May for all categories, including our 

new awards for 2024, and with a 

bumper number of entrants the judges 

have not got an easy task ahead of 

them. 

Tickets for this prestigious evening 

are due to go on sale within the next 

couple of weeks so keep an eye on our 

website and social media accounts 

where we will let you know when you 

can purchase yours. 

Beyond the excitement of awards, 

we're on the brink of launching 

the new process for Individual 

Memberships, with the chance for 

some to enjoy a complimentary year's 

membership. Stay tuned for renewal 

notifications in your inbox. 

In addition, we've recently unveiled 

two complimentary online courses— 

one delving into cutting-edge robotics 

for the cleaning industry, and the other 

focusing on environmental concerns. 

We are delighted to announce 

that we now have 2 CPD-verified 

courses available. The brand new An 

Auditor’s Guide to the NHS Efficacy 

and Technical Cleaning Audits, and 

the 2024 version of The Principles of 

Health & Safety. 

Our international presence continues 

to expand, with a dedicated training 

partner now serving Asia, Africa, and 

the Middle East. Following the success 

in Saudi Arabia, we've extended 

our partnership with SaveFast, who 

are now providing CPSS training in 

multiple regions. Progress is also 

underway with the Ministry of 

Education and Healthcare in Saudi 

Arabia, potentially mandating BICSc 

training. 

Back in the UK, activity remains high, 

particularly in private healthcare 

training. Notably, one company has 

established four regional training 

centres across the country, with a 

notable uptick in enrolments for 

the BICSc Cleaning Supervisor’s 

Certificate. 

April marked our first 

standardisation day of 

the year, where trainers, 

assessors, and verifiers 

convened to discuss 

industry updates and 

explore new features of the 

updated CPSS app. 

Lastly, the Future of Cleaning 

Initiative, in collaboration with CSSA, 

has kicked off. Initial readings have 

been completed and recorded, with 

the first supplier installing their 

equipment and conducting training 

at Surrey University. We extend our 

NEIL SPENCER-COOK 

Group Managing Director 

gratitude to Numatic for bravely 

leading the way in this initiative. 

Thank you for your continued support, 

and here's to an exciting few months 

ahead! 

THE CLEANING INDUSTRY IMPACTS 

ALMOST EVERY ASPECT 

BY DENISE HANSON FBICSc 

This last quarter seems to have flown 

by with trips to Qatar, Dubai, Abu 

Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, as well as 

the launch of the Cleaning Trials in 

conjunction with the University of 

Surrey and the CSSA. You will hear 

more about this as the trials progress, 

the final report on the findings won’t 

be available until next year when all 

the trials have completed to allow 

equal opportunities to all of those 

taking part. My thanks to Numatic 

who have started the trials with a 

range of their battery equipment. 

I’ve also enjoyed meeting with some 

of the companies who provide job 

opportunities for ex-offenders, 

working with them for a better future. 

You have may seen our emails asking 

for any companies who are able 

and willing to give these candidates 

another chance to contact us with 

the areas where employment may 

be possible and their contact details. 

My thanks to those of you who 

have responded we will share this 

information with the establishments 

and companies working within this 

area. 

This quarter has also seen me asked to 

take part in the webinar by the RSPH 

on the Wider Public Health workforce. 

The Royal Society for Public Health 

(RSPH) want to raise recognition for 

the professionals who contribute 

to the public’s health outside of a 

healthcare setting. I would state that 

this label 

is more fitting to our industry than to 

any other. 

The call of RSPH to recognise all the 

contributors working to keeping the 

public healthy shines a spotlight on 

industries not often recognised in this 

manner. 

But if you think about your daily lives 

the cleaning industry impacts almost 

every aspect of this – 

If you catch a bus or a train to work 

– someone cleans it 

Take your children to school – 

someone cleans the premises 

Go shopping – cleaning operatives 

play a key role 

The workplace- again you’ll find a 

cleaning operative plays a role 

The role our industry plays is key to 

keeping facilities clean and hygienic 

thereby supporting the user’s health 

and wellbeing. After all a premises that 

is effectively and efficiently cleaned is 

far less likely to pass on infections to 

other staff working there. 

It is also key to recognise that to 

operate safely and effectively for both 

the operative and the users of the 

building that comprehensive training 

is required – cleaning operatives do 

not spring fully formed into being and 

attracting candidates for these roles is 

ever challenging due to the perception 

that this is an unskilled role. 

The call for recognition for the wider 

public health workforce is one BICSc 

will happily champion, and I’d ask you 

all to check out the RSPH website, 

you may be surprised at the range 

of subjects and industries that they 

cover. The following link takes you to 

their blog “The wider public health 

workforce: who, what and how 

many…” It makes for interesting 

reading. 

https://www.rsph.org.uk/about-us/ 

news/wider-public-health-workforcewho-what-how-many.html 

I’m looking forward to the next few 

months with a full diary and lots of 

opportunities, I hope to catch up with 

some of you soon. 

DENISE HANSON 

Commercial Director 

4 | 5

Tomorrow’s 

www.tomorrowscleaning.com 

FIRST COMES COMPLIANCE, 

THEN COME THE SAVINGS 

www.tomorrowscleaning.com 

BEN CLIBBERY 

RCP’s Sales Manager 

UK & Ireland – Rubbermaid 

Business Development 

With new recycling rules set to 

come into effect in England next 

year, how can compliance lead to 

cost and sustainability rewards for 

businesses? 

Workplace recycling legislation 

has recently changed in Wales 

and with new rules set to follow in 

England next year, it’s essential that 

businesses understand their legal 

requirements. 

For 60% of businesses, the perceived 

cost of implementing sustainability 

practices such as recycling can 

be off-putting, but it’s worth 

remembering that ensuring that 

your waste management system is 

compliant with new legislation is also 

an opportunity for better recycling, 

reduced waste and even reduced 

costs. 

WHAT IS THE NEW WASTE 

LEGISLATION IN ENGLAND? 

From March 2025, new commercial 

recycling legislation will require 

businesses in England with more than 

10 full-time employees – including 

healthcare establishments and 

academic institutions – to separate 

recyclable materials from general 

waste, under Section 57 of the 

Environment Act 2021. The rules 

demand the separation of these three 

main waste streams: dry recyclable 

materials (glass, metal, plastic, paper 

and cardboard), food waste (such as 

leftovers or waste generated from 

food preparation) and from 2027, 

plastic film. 

The new regulations will mean 

that “recycling relevant waste” 

from businesses cannot be sent 

for disposal unless it can be shown 

to have gone through a treatment 

process. Businesses will be 

responsible for the waste collected on 

and transported from their premises, 

meaning dry recyclables (which can 

be grouped together), food waste, 

and general waste must be separated 

on site, prior to collection. What’s 

more, businesses will not be able to 

use food waste disposal equipment 

(for example macerators) or other 

forms of food waste treatment 

equipment (for example dewatering 

or enzyme digesters) to discharge 

food waste or liquid derived from 

food waste to a drain or sewer. 

REAP REWARDS FROM 

COMPLIANT RECYCLING 

Aside from being a legal requirement, 

greener operations are in fact 

better for business and budgets. 

Implementing a visible and 

consistent, multi-stream, recycling 

system will not only make compliance 

simpler, but will also likely see your 

recycling rates increase significantly, 

improving the sustainability of your 

operations. As well as avoiding fines 

for non-compliance, the inevitable 

reduction in the volume of waste sent 

to landfill will also mean a reduction 

in costs when considering associated 

taxes. 

Take leading European parcel group 

DPD. With the aim of becoming the 

“greenest delivery service on the 

planet” they implemented a series 

of multi-stream recycling stations 

across various depot locations. The 

results? A staggering total of 6,500 

tonnes diverted away from general 

waste disposal, 27% cost savings, 

recycling rates of 90% achieved and 

ROI in under a year. 

WHAT DOES COMPLIANT 

RECYCLING LOOK LIKE? 

As commercial facilities in England 

will now be required to split waste 

before collection for processing, 

there are various aspects to consider 

when getting your facility ready for 

compliance. 

VISIBILITY ADDS VALUE 

When implementing a new waste 

management system, you must 

consider that different areas of 

your business may need different 

containers. Ensure a clear and 

efficient system with consistent 

colour coding across all waste 

containers. This will minimise crosscontamination 

of recyclable and 

non-recyclable materials and drive 

optimal waste separation, as well as 

ensure a clear message to both staff 

and users. 

MAKE IT MODULAR 

By opting for a system with modular 

capability, such as the Slim Jim® 

Recycling Stations, you allow for a 

tailored yet consistent approach and 

can implement the streams needed, 

where they’re needed. The ability to 

easily add or remove waste streams 

to these recycling stations mean that 

if your facility’s needs change over 

time, it’s easy to add to your existing 

systems rather than having to start 

again, saving you money and hassle. 

DURABILITY DRIVES SUCCESS 

Investing in products that are built to 

last is essential for businesses who 

want to support sustainability and cut 

costs. Purchasing durable products 

allows businesses to buy better and 

waste less, reducing the unnecessary 

waste and expense created by 

cheaper and less durable alternatives. 

For added peace of mind, look for bins 

that come with long warranties. 

Sources 

1. RCP Report 2023: Why Product Longevity is a Powerful First 

Step to Improving Commercial Sustainability 

6 | 7

MANCHESTER CLEANING SHOW BOASTS 

BIGGEST AND BEST-EVER ATTENDED 

SHOW TO DATE 

The Manchester Cleaning Show 

celebrated its biggest and bestattended 

event in March, with a 

record-breaking 85 exhibitors and 

2,558 attendees participating over 

the two days. 

The UK's premier cleaning and 

hygiene event for the North of 

England and Scotland returned to 

Manchester on 13 th – 14 th March. 

Attendees descended upon 

Manchester Central from all over 

the world, including North America, 

South Africa, China, UAE, and 

Australia, for two days of product 

sourcing, demonstrations, education 

and networking. 

Over 40 expert speakers from 

organisations such as the British 

Cleaning Council, Birkin, Reckitt and 

Killis, shared their insights in a range 

of talks across the two days, with 

ESG, sustainability, and technology 

being the hot-button topics of the 

event. 

A wide range of new product 

innovations were on display as well, 

from cobots to cleaning at height 

demonstrations. 

The window cleaning competition 

was also a key highlight of the show, 

with Aliscia Burrows posting a time of 

16.13 seconds, beating the previous 

record by just 0.15 seconds, to be 

crowned as the new women’s window 

cleaning world record holder. 

Aliscia and her father Terry are now 

the first father-daughter record 

holders for men’s and women’s 

window cleaning, with Terry looking 

ahead to beat his time at the Cleaning 

Show in London in 2025. 

Delia Cannings, Chair of the British 

Cleaning Council (BCC), which 

co-produces the show, welcomed 

attendees with the opening keynote 

and presented a critical industry 

update on the eagerly anticipated 

2024 BCC research report, as well as 

a talk on the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene 

Operative Apprenticeship. 

She said: “This year’s Manchester 

Cleaning Show was a huge success and 

a fantastic experience. In my experience, 

the best to date. 

"It was noticeable just how busy the 

show was. The buzz was electric, the 

vibe was so positive. It is wonderful 

to see the show return to full strength 

following the impact of the Covid-19 

pandemic and I want to thank everyone 

involved.” 

Networking and sourcing new 

suppliers were also key components 

of the show, with visitors at the show 

revealing that they spend on average 

£406,000 per year on cleaning 

equipment, services and solutions. 

Holly Greenhalgh from Killis 

commented: “The highlights of the 

show have definitely been getting new 

leads, meeting lots of new customers - 

especially across different sectors – and 

we’ve also really enjoyed all the talks.” 

While Simon Smith who was 

visiting the show from Amey, a 

leading infrastructure services and 

engineering company, said: “It opens 

your eyes to new innovations. I came 

with a specific list I was looking for and 

am now leaving with a brand-new list.” 

Registrations will be open later this 

year for the next Cleaning Show at 

ExCel in London, 18 th – 20 th March 

2025. 

Event director for the show, Paul 

Sweeney, hopes the next event 

will be as successful as this year’s 

Manchester show: “We are thrilled 

with the attendance at this year’s 

Manchester Cleaning Show and the 

positive feedback we have received from 

exhibitors and attendees alike. 

“We are now looking forward to the next 

Cleaning Show in London and hope to 

welcome both new and familiar faces 

to learn about the industry innovations 

and insights for 2025.” 

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

BICSc CHAIR IS PROUD TO BE 

SPONSORING DIABETES UK, 

FOR THE BICSc AWARDS 2024 

44 YEARS OF BEING SUPPORTED BY 

DIABETES UK: LYNETTE IS DOING SWIM22 

TO GIVE BACK 

Diabetes UK is the largest diabetes 

charity in the UK. 

It is leading the fight against the UK's 

biggest and growing health crisis and 

its vision is a world where diabetes 

can do no harm. There are now more 

than 4.3 million people in the UK living 

with diabetes. Additionally, 850,000 

people could be living with diabetes 

who are yet to be diagnosed. Around 

90% have type 2 diabetes, 8% have 

type 1 diabetes and the rest have 

other rare types of the conditions. 

Diabetes UK works with people with 

diabetes, their families and friends, 

and healthcare professionals to 

support them and improve diabetes 

care through changing policies and 

attitudes. It funds life-changing 

research that is behind the biggest 

leaps forward in diabetes care since 

the discovery of insulin. Currently, 

Diabetes UK is funding or part-funding 

over 100 research projects working 

with top scientists across the most 

prestigious British universities and 

institutions. These cover an array of 

topics from the root causes of diabetes 

to ways of putting type 2 diabetes 

into remission, to new treatments 

and medications and technological 

advances in the management of the 

condition (checking blood sugar levels, 

delivering insulin, reducing risks of 

complications). 

Our donors, fundraisers and 

supporters are tireless in raising funds 

and awareness of diabetes through 

legacies, donations, activities, and 

functions of all kinds. 

Diabetes UK supports people 

living with all types of diabetes, by 

providing trustworthy information 

on its site https://www.diabetes.org. 

uk/ as well as its confidential helpline 

(0345 123 2399) and online support 

forum (https://www.diabetes.org.uk/ 

how_we_help/community/diabetessupport-forum). 

The charity runs 

events, conferences, and training 

for healthcare professionals, as well 

as people living with diabetes, who 

can also benefit from peer-to-peer 

groups, activities, and the Learning 

Zone (https://learningzone.diabetes. 

org.uk/), an award-winning, interactive 

tool to help educate and support 

people with diabetes, that is clinically 

approved and endorsed by experts. 

LYNETTE COCKBURN 

Lynette Cockburn, from Birmingham, 

is doing Swim22 (11 miles option) 

to raise money and awareness of 

diabetes. Swim22 is one of Diabetes 

UK’s annual flagship fundraising 

challenges, where participants swim 

the length of the British Channel 

(22 miles, half or double) over 

three months at their own pace in 

swimming pools or open water. 

Lynette was diagnosed with type 1 

diabetes, aged 11, in 1979. She said: 

“The swim has got me out of the rut 

and back into society so all good so 

far. I train at my local leisure centre 

and the other day I was nodding and 

smiling to my fellow swimmers when 

a woman stopped me and asked how 

many lengths I had done. I had increased 

to 12 and was grinning with pride. She 

pointed to my Dexcom (Continuous 

Glucose Monitoring) on my arm and 

asked if I had diabetes. She told me her 

granddaughter had been diagnosed with 

type 1 last year when she was ten. We 

shared our stories about what it was like 

to be diagnosed in 1979 and 2023 and 

how things have continually improved 

for people with diabetes.” 

About her diagnosis, Lynette said: 

“It was the usual story, I was incredibly 

thirsty, and couldn't stop peeing. I used to 

sit on the loo trying to drink out of the tap 

at the same time. We waited six weeks for 

a referral, and I went from being scrawny 

to being skeletal during the wait. 

I remember feeling relieved that I wasn't 

actually going to die! I had my first insulin 

injection. It didn't bother me too much. 

What I can remember is feeling a little 

better within hours. For the next week my 

parents and I learned how I should eat, 

inject, exercise, deal with hypos which 

were called reactions back then. Loads 

of the information came from Diabetes 

UK. Through them I learned that I 

wasn't alone and that there was support 

available. I still love all the info 44 years 

later and I'm excited for the future for 

people with diabetes especially type 1. 

I am doing the swim as a way of giving 

back and helping with research. It might 

be only the 11 miles this year but could 

be 22 next year!” 

In her Swim22 page she states: “I've 

been supported by Diabetes UK in my 

type 1 diabetes journey for 44 years and 

want to give back to continue the work. I 

know we're all skint but every little helps.” 

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes 

are the 4 Ts: Thirsty, Toilet, Tired 

and Thinner and they can develop at 

any age. https://www.diabetes.org. 

uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-ofdiabetes/type-1/symptoms 

10 | 11

WHAT HAPPENED AT INTERCLEAN? 

BY MATTHEW FERRIN ABICSc 

Interclean has once again come and 

gone. The Dutch mega trade show for 

the cleaning industry ran from 14 th – 

17 th May. Companies from around the 

world were in attendance to present 

the latest innovations, technology 

and products to the industry. With 

30,000 visitors coming through the 

gates this year, it was sure to be a great 

show and an even better atmosphere. 

With Interclean being set at the RAI 

in Amsterdam, it boasts the ability 

to draw attraction from companies 

globally, many of which had stellar 

displays to pull in new customers. This 

year 120+ countries were represented 

at the show and it was fantastic to see 

the cleaning sector come together to 

showcase the industry in such a great 

way. 

BICSc was one of 900 exhibitors at 

this year’s exhibition and it was our 

biggest, boldest presence yet. With a 

larger stand than previously we had a 

bigger presence and in addition to this 

we were asked to run the Healthcare 

Demos in the Healthcare Hall, so with 

a demo every hour on the half hour 

and a larger stand we really made the 

most of our time at Interclean and we 

hope that anyone who popped over to 

chat with us found it useful as well. 

Recently you may have seen the 

release of our brand new BICSc 

Training app. This was on full display 

at the show and we ran previews of 

what the app can do for you and your 

business, making it even easier to train 

online, anywhere in the world. We 

were pleased to see lots of you come 

over to speak with us about the app to 

see how you can best use it. 

A few questions were asked about 

the price of the app and how it works 

with the Virtual Training Suite on the 

web. Firstly, the app is completely free 

to download, you can install it via the 

Apple App Store or the Google Play 

Store. The BICSc Training app also 

syncs across the web and app now. 

So, whether you begin a course on the 

website or app, it will show the same 

progress. The app does not replace the 

website, it’s merely an extension of it. 

For more details on the app, check out 

the BICSc Training app article within 

this edition on page 18. 

Over in the Healthcare Hall, 

healthcare demos performed by 

Denise Hanson (Commercial Director), 

Kelsey Hargreaves (Technical 

Specialist), and Amelia Amesbury 

(Assistant Technical Specialist). These 

demonstrations ran every hour and 

focused on different cleaning tasks 

an operative may face during a typical 

shift. Visitors gathered around the 

stand to watch these demos and they 

proved popular, drawing attention 

throughout the day. 

Kelsey remarked "It was incredible to 

be part of Interclean, not only sharing 

best practice for the safety of others 

while cleaning, but also to share the 

BICSc mission with so many cleaning 

and hygiene colleagues around the 

world! During the sessions, I cleaned 

lots of different elements, even taking 

requests from delegates, it was brilliant 

to take part in discussions and to both 

share and learn tips and tricks from 

healthcare institutions all over the 

world". 

Other areas of interest at the BICSc 

stand were around becoming 

an Accredited Training Member, 

becoming an assessor and asking 

for details of how our audit app 

functioned. 

Our Interclean trip was a great 

chance to connect and network with 

individuals and companies, whilst 

also visiting those we have a current 

connection with. Among these 

companies were a few of our BICSc 

awards sponsors such as i-team, SC 

Johnson Professional, Tomorrow’s 

Cleaning, Tork and Numatic. Other 

companies who have donated us 

some fantastic kit for use in our 

training centre, or worked with us on 

training courses over the years were 

in attendance too. Vermop, Vileda and 

Makita to name a few. 

BICSc was also given the brilliant 

opportunity to attend the Numatic 

Boat Party. The team joined many 

companies and individuals upon the 

Ocean Diva for an evening of food, 

drink and entertainment. This was 

a fantastic evening with a live band 

providing a fun, electric atmosphere. 

There was even the chance to meet 

the Henry and Hetty Vacuum Cleaner 

mascots! 

To wrap up, this was an exceptional 

week full of great conversations with 

you, our members. We loved seeing 

you at the show and enjoyed you all 

coming over to chat. 

For those wondering what events 

BICSc will be at in the near future, our 

Communication & Events Manager, 

Marion Wood, has detailed key dates 

on where we will be popping up. So be 

sure to check that on page 15. 

We look forward to seeing you all 

again soon! 

12 | 13

NEW BICSc MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE 

BY JO BEGG MBICSc 

AT BICSc WE JUST LOVE TO BE SEEN! 

BY MARION WOOD ABICSc 

Calling all BICSc Individual 

Members… We have exciting changes 

coming to our BICSc Individual 

Membership options. Want to be able 

to renew your membership free of 

charge? Then keep reading! 

To align with our 

message of raising 

the standard of 

education in the 

cleaning industry, 

BICSc are pleased 

to announce 

that we will 

now offer free 

routes to BICSc 

Membership 

with a revised 

set of member 

levels, based 

upon BICSc 

accreditations 

and certifications. 

For some time, 

we have offered a 

PBICSc membership 

when completing 

your Licence to 

Practice, but with our 

revised membership options we can 

now offer you the chance to upgrade 

from PBICSc to MBICSc at no extra 

cost. 

After the free year of PBICSc, you can 

either continue your membership at 

the same level for £12, or upgrade 

for free to MBICSc by having a valid 

Licence to Practice and completing 

four free Cleanlogic courses via the 

Virtual Training Suite. 

Many of you will be aware of our 

Virtual Training Suite, but for those 

who are not, our Virtual Training Suite 

is an online collection of BICSc skills 

and Cleanlogic courses, 

enabling you to access training 

wherever in the world you may be. 

We have a growing selection of free 

courses available; these cover a range 

of subjects such as environmental 

awareness, cleaning robotics, colourcoding, 

hand hygiene, PPE, and 

chemical pictograms. 

Complete four of these free courses in 

one year and you will be eligible for a 

free year of MBICSc. 

But the membership changes don’t 

stop there. Our educational route 

continues when your free year of 

MBICSc reaches renewal. If you have 

continued to progress with our Virtual 

Training Suite and can show that you 

have completed two paid Cleanlogic 

courses, you can renew again for free 

for another year. Alternatively, you 

can renew your MBICSc for 

£52. 

We wanted our 

Individual 

Membership to 

be centred on 

the educational 

route through 

BICSc 

accredited 

training and 

current active 

support and 

involvement in 

the industry. 

These two 

Individual 

Membership grades 

reflect a professional 

status in the cleaning industry, and you 

can display this status through the use 

of the post nominal letters after your 

name e.g. John Smith MBICSc. 

All members receive a card and 

lanyard on joining, as well as access 

to a whole host of benefits. For those 

reading who wish to find out about our 

membership benefits, you can do so 

by visiting: https://www.bics.org.uk/ 

membership/ 

Learn more about BICSc membership 

options. We offer Individual, Corporate and 

Accredited Training Memberships. 

So whether it’s technical support, must 

have benefits or industry recognition you’re 

looking for, BICSc Membership offers 

a range of benefits which will enhance 

your career and help to improve your 

organisation. 

Hi everyone, 

When I joined BICSc just over five 

years ago I was new to the cleaning 

industry and I was surprised to see 

how many exhibitions, trade shows 

and conferences that were organised 

which related to the cleaning 

industry. Since the pandemic, we 

have seen a greater demand for 

specialised cleaning services as 

well as the growth in cutting edge 

technology and innovation, so 

it is really no surprise that these 

events are still growing in number 

and attract such a wide range of 

exhibitors and visitors from all parts 

of the industry. 

At BICSc, we are excited to be involved 

in as many of these events as we 

can and in 2024, we have another 

full calendar of events which we 

are attending. These range from 

conferences, such as the BACHE 

conference in July, to study days and 

forums. BICSc are also well known for 

members of our team giving talks on 

youth employment, healthcare and 

auditing. 

As part of my role in Communications 

& Event Management, I am 

responsible for co-ordinating and 

organising BICSc attendance at the 

larger events, from the initial planning 

stages through to the design and setup 

of the stands, to the co-ordination 

and logistics. So far this year, we have 

exhibited at The Manchester Cleaning 

Show in March and Interclean at 

the RAI, Amsterdam, in May. BICSc 

will also be exhibiting at Clean & 

Tidy Home Show at London ExCel 

in October, as well as the Cleaning 

Matters Conference at the Coventry 

Arena in December. 

And of course, we must not forget 

the Award ceremonies which are an 

integral part of the industry’s calendar 

which provide the opportunity to 

celebrate the excellence of both 

individuals and companies. 

BICSc attended the My National 

Cleaning Awards on the 20 th 

February in London and the Golden 

Service Awards on the 23 rd May at 

the London Hilton Park Lane. Both 

events celebrated some amazing 

individuals. We are really looking 

forward to attending the Northern 

Ireland Cleaning Awards on the 27 th 

June in Belfast as well as the European 

Cleaning & Hygiene Awards being 

held at Sud Lisboa, in Lisbon, on the 3 rd 

October. 

At this point I am sure you would 

expect me to be a little bias in taking 

this opportunity to remind you 

that the prestigious BICSc Awards 

Ceremony is taking place on Thursday 

26 th September at The Belfry Hotel 

& Resort, Sutton Coldfield. This is the 

event which all the BICSc staff are 

passionate about. 

This year’s event will see a daytime 

and evening event. The daytime event, 

which is free to all, will consist of 

an exhibition with industry-leading 

sponsors showcasing their latest 

innovations, and a conference that will 

include presentations from leading 

experts. 

Our evening awards will recognise 

and celebrate the success and 

achievements of the industry’s 

outstanding individuals and 

companies, and this really is the event 

not to be missed. 

Tickets are now on sale and if you 

would like any further information, 

please visit the BICSc Awards page on 

the website for more information. 

https://www.bics.org.uk/awards/ 

I hope to attend a few of the events 

mentioned above, and it would be 

great to meet you, so if you see me, 

please come and say hi. 

Northern Ireland Cleaning Awards 

26 th June 

The BACHE Conference 

1 st - 3 rd July 

The BICSc Awards 2024 

26 th September 

The European Cleaning & 

Hygiene Awads 

3 rd October 

The Clean & Tidy Home Show 

19 th - 20 th October 

The Cleaning Excellence Awards 

4 th December 

Read our membership brochure 

14 | 15

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY 

OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANERS 

(WCEC) WELCOMES LORRAINE 

LARMAN AS THE NEW MASTER 

BECOMING A CHARTERED 

PRACTITIONER 

BY KELSEY HARGREAVES LBICSc 

Respected business leader and 

compliance expert, Lorraine 

Larman intends transparency and 

transformation as she takes on the 

mantle of WCEC Master. 

The Worshipful Company of 

Environmental Cleaners (WCEC) is 

delighted to announce the installation 

of Lorraine Larman as its new Master. 

She succeeds the former Master, Jim 

Melvin. 

The Ceremony of Installation and a 

Service of Re-dedication took place on 

Friday, 19 th April 2024, at St Olave’s 

Church in the City; this was followed 

by the Installation Banquet at Mansion 

House, attended by the Lord Mayor. 

Lorraine has worked in the service 

industry for 35 years and has been 

a dedicated member of the WCEC 

for the past 12 years, specialising in 

compliance and health and safety in 

environmental cleaning. Among her 

varied representations in the cleaning 

industry, Lorraine was a Council 

member of the British Institute of 

Cleaning Science; she has also been 

instrumental in helping to draft the 

infrastructure of and implement the 

Chartered Practitioners’ Register, 

which is facilitated by the WCEC. 

The latter affords chartership to 

environmental cleaners all over the 

world. 

TOGETHER IS STRONGER 

Lorraine looks forward to a year 

of collaboration with the WCEC 

Court and members, with a focus 

on openness. She also intends to 

encourage a more corporate approach, 

with an emphasis on organising 

procedures and streamlining 

processes for the benefit of WCEC 

members. 

CHAMPIONING SECOND 

CHANCES 

Lorraine has been working closely 

with No Going Back, a charity 

supporting people from prison to 

employment, with which the WCEC 

has strong links. Bringing people 

back to the community through 

rehabilitation, training, opportunity 

and social support, are efforts that 

she truly believes in; she plans to 

continue building on the livery’s 

initiatives in this regard. 

She also advocates for the 

development of existing cleaning 

and hygiene professionals. By 

encouraging a 'back to basics' 

approach, empowering through 

training and compliance, it makes 

strong foundations for businesses 

to thrive. This process only 

succeeds through people and 

this is where the WCEC can play 

a positive role in supporting the 

talent of the cleaning industry. 

Looking ahead to her tenure at 

the helm of the WCEC, Lorraine 

Larman remarked: “I am honoured 

to be appointed Master and represent 

the WCEC as such. I am an example of 

how with the right training and support, 

one can start at the very bottom, with 

a dream and hard work, and attain 

credibility as the founder of a successful 

business and enjoy senior membership 

of esteemed institutions. Through the 

WCEC’s resource, guidance and support 

for Chartership, we can encourage and 

facilitate similar paths for others.” 

This is especially relevant, as Lorraine 

is keen to encourage new and 

younger membership, confirming that 

the WCEC is for everyone, not just 

the older generation. 

If you would like to find out more 

about the Environmental Cleaners, or 

any of its initiatives or events, please 

email clerk@wc-ec.com, or visit 

www.wc-ec.com 

For specific enquiries about attaining 

chartership through the Chartered 

Practitioner’s Register, please see: 

https://wc-ec.com/charteredpractitioners 

In December, I attended a talk 

given by Mike Jenkins, Clerk 

to The Worshipful Company 

of Environmental Cleaners, in 

Coventry at the Cleaning Matters 

Conference. Mike spoke on the 

Chartered Practitioner register 

for Environmental Cleaning 

Professionals. 

This register is to be used as a means 

of recognising and maintaining high 

standards and ongoing proficiency for 

individuals. 

I had heard of the register before, after 

seeing some of the incredible leaders 

of our industry undergoing their 

assessments and seeing incredible 

photographs from their award 

ceremony. In fact the first time I had 

heard about it, was at a CSSA event 

held in Tennant, when I was 2 months 

into my time at BICSc. I remember 

thinking at the time “WOW! How do I 

get that?!” 

The way that Mike had explained, and 

as described on the website… 

“Those applying must be of integrity and 

have a good level of general expertise, 

operating at a strategic or senior level, 

as defined in the application document. 

Admittance to the Register demonstrates 

to clients, employers, peers and the public 

an ability to perform at a high standard, 

and a commitment to continuing 

professional development”. 

Although I am still on my journey 

through my career in the cleaning 

industry, I felt that I was ready to 

show the knowledge I had gained 

throughout my time. As the famous 

saying goes: nothing ventured, nothing 

gained! 

Registrants are required to 

demonstrate good inclusive 

knowledge and understanding, also 

proving they have reached a minimum 

competence level in six defined areas 

of expertise, which when collated 

will also prove they have achieved 

at least 80% of the required overall 

competency levels. 

I went through the “Standard Route” 

for my Chartered Practitioner 

status, where if the individual 

already holds Chartered status in 

another profession or has a degree 

(in any subject) then they can take 

the Standard route followed by an 

interview whereby they 

present and answer 

questions around 

their career in 

cleaning. For 

others, there is 

the Individual 

pathway 

where they 

produce a 

submission 

of up to 

10,000 words 

providing 

evidence of 

how they 

comply with 

the various 

statements 

across five 

crucial elements. 

This is a story of 

personal achievements 

throughout their personal 

and professional life. 

I am pleased to say that in March 

2024, I was awarded with my 

chartered practitioner status, and 

became the youngest- ever Chartered 

Practitioner to date. To say “I’m proud” 

is one of the biggest under statements 

I have ever uttered. 

KELSEY HARGREAVES 

Technical Specialist 

I was and am absolutely thrilled to 

be considered among the industry 

leaders as a person holding a level of 

knowledge to become an ambassador 

for the industry through my chartered 

status. 

Now, I’m not going to say I wasn’t 

nervous, of course I was. I’m not going 

to say I didn’t question a million times 

whether it was worth me applying, 

because as my friends and family 

would be happy to confirm, I was 

being reassured more than I was 4 

years ago when I was completing my 

masters degree. But I’m 

also not going to say 

that it wasn’t one of 

the most harrowing, 

self- reflective and 

empowering 

experiences 

I’ve ever had, 

because it 

100% was. It 

felt strange 

talking of 

“my career in 

the cleaning 

industry” when 

I hope I’ve got 

decades upon 

decades to go; 

but the process 

has not only helped 

me celebrate my 

achievements so far, but 

look at just where I want 

to be in the future. For anyone 

thinking of applying, looking into 

or in the process, DO IT! What an 

incredible initiative to showcase and 

applaud our industry and the people 

we have in it. 

16 | 17

DOWNLOAD NOW! 

Our training, your way 

BICSc TRAINING 

APP RELEASED 

With 2 bespoke apps already 

available, you’ll know that BICSc is 

no stranger to technology, and has 

evolved with it to ensure we are 

always able to provide our members 

with the highest level of service we 

can. We are excited to announce 

that we have once again pushed the 

boundaries and are able to bring the 

BICSc online courses to you in an 

even more accessible format. 

Our Virtual Training Suite, which 

was launched in 2021 as a direct 

response to the pandemic, enables 

members around the world to access 

BICSc training online and has seen 

over 68,000 enrolments to date. The 

platform has continually improved 

since its release, and we have made 

efforts to advance the content and 

system usability. 

This is why we are pleased to share 

that the Virtual Training Suite is 

now available via a smartphone app, 

allowing members an even higher level 

of convenience than before. Gone 

are the days of needing a desktop 

or laptop to take our courses, BICSc 

Training app is now available on the 

Apple App Store and Google Play 

store. 

You asked, and we listened. We 

understand that having the ability to 

train wherever you are in the world, 

at any time, and on any device is 

important. So, whether you want to 

squeeze that last 10-minute lesson 

in whilst you are travelling to work or 

want to start that next chapter whilst 

lounging at home, you can do so with 

our easy-to-set-up app. 

The BICSc Training app uses the same 

login details as you would sign in 

online, and your account now syncs 

across all devices. This means you can 

start a course on your phone and then 

continue on your laptop without any 

issues. 

Our BICSc Training app is the 

ideal place to get started with our 

Accredited and Certificated training. 

With a large selection of our Cleaning 

Professional’s Skills Suite (CPSS) and 

the full Cleanlogic catalogue available 

online, our training offerings are evergrowing 

and ever improving. 

Start with our most popular course, 

Licence to Practice, this introductory 

course covers the essential skills 

required to complete cleaning tasks. 

This course enforces the idea of safe 

working and is the first building block 

you need to continue your training 

progression. 

Our virtual training provides free 

courses to allow you to improve 

your knowledge of significant areas 

across the industry. These range from 

understanding PPE and chemical 

pictograms to the latest cleaning 

robotics. 

And if you looking to dive in deep with 

BICSc training, we offer our BICSc 

Cleaning Supervisor’s Certificate 

course. A 12-month course, combining 

a multitude of courses, accredited and 

certificated, spanning 10 modules with 

251 individual lessons. This course is 

intended to be the ‘go to’ qualification 

for the industry. 

But don’t take our word for it! Check 

out what a few of our loyal Virtual 

Training Suite users have to say about 

our training offerings. 

Download the BICSc Training app 

today to take your career to the next 

level! 

18 | 19

DELIVERING SUCCESSFUL TRADE PR – 

SUZANNE HOWE OFFERS HER THOUGHTS 

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EXCELLENT 

CLIENT AND MEDIA RELATIONSHIPS 

Specialist business-to-business 

PR consultancy Suzanne Howe 

Communications was established in 

1996 and is renowned as one of the 

UK’s leading businesses supporting 

the cleaning and FM sectors. 

To learn more about the business 

and the sector, we asked founder 

Suzanne Howe five questions, and 

discovered more about the person 

behind SHC, as well as the future 

of business-to-business public 

relations. 

HOW HAS B2B PR CHANGED 

SINCE 1996? 

The basics of running an effective 

B2B PR business haven’t really 

changed, as they still rely on close 

communication with both our clients 

and the media. However, one of the 

biggest changes has been in the 

media, which at one time was mainly 

print-based but has evolved and now 

delivers a large amount of content 

digitally. 

I remember the days of sending 

faxes and putting press releases and 

photographic prints into envelopes 

to mail to the media, and now almost 

everything is email-based. 

Moving to the online delivery of 

news and opinion has accelerated 

the pace of B2B communications 

and changed the way decision 

makers consume news and essential 

information. 

We have always had a saying here at 

SHC: ‘we treat clients and the media 

in the same way’. Neither one is more 

important than the other, and they 

are equally as important to us. 

While I said that everything is now 

email-based, the telephone remains 

important, and we talk to the 

media regularly. While content is 

transmitted via email, we personalise 

the relationship, often pre-advising 

that a story is imminent and always 

following up with a call to see if there 

are any questions. 

I’m proud of SHC’s agility, as we 

have steadily and successfully 

adapted to this shift from print to 

online, and our clients now benefit 

from increased reach and improved 

measurement. 

The pandemic had one particularly 

positive impact on how we operate, 

as we began to ‘meet’ our clients 

more often via Teams, which led to 

improved communication alongside 

improved time management and 

reduced carbon footprint. We 

have continued with regular client 

meetings, which now frequently 

unlock new PR opportunities, as we 

become more involved in the natural 

flow of the businesses we support. 

Of course, face to face networking 

remains important and alongside the 

important trade shows and events 

we always visit, I am just back from 

a ‘Northern tour’, which involved 

a series of meetings with clients, 

potential clients, industry friends 

and the media across the week. It 

was a great success and something 

we will do again. 

Measurement and reporting has 

changed hugely, and all to the 

benefit of our clients and their 

understanding of their return on 

investment. We used to measure the 

physical size of each printed article 

and multiply the proportion of the 

advertising page rate three times 

to calculate the ROI. I recall when 

coverage reporting involved literally 

cutting clients’ news stories out of 

the pages of magazines, preparing a 

‘scrap book’ of cuttings, and posting 

them. Now we use software to 

track and measure both quality and 

quantity of our reach. We currently 

use a company called ACE Media, 

who in turn rely on MOZ and 

Semrush, who accurately measure 

the media’s domain authority, social 

media engagement, circulation, 

visitor numbers and links. 

DO ANY PARTICULAR CLIENTS, 

PROJECTS OR ACHIEVEMENTS 

STAND OUT? 

My proudest achievement is running 

the business for 28 years, alongside 

my pride in the team, many of whom 

have been with me for a long time. 

This has delivered stability as well 

as steadily improved our expertise 

and deep industry knowledge. SHC 

has a consistently high level of client 

retention, as we clearly have a good 

reputation in our chosen sectors, so 

I am proud of that, and of the fact that 

clients want to build on a long-term 

relationship. 

We recently conducted a customer 

survey, and the response has 

been extremely encouraging, with 

comments such as: 

• It is great to have you onboard 

and we have been thoroughly 

impressed with the service and 

output so far. 

• You get us into the right places 

and sometimes when we are not 

expecting it. 

• You are our ‘go to’ PR company. 

• The added value that SHC brings 

in terms of contacts/ideas is much 

welcomed. 

• We need to have a voice in the 

industry and our relationship with 

you does that over and over. 

• The review meetings are very 

detailed, so we know where we are 

and where we are going. 

• Informative, engaging, helpful, 

supportive and you know your stuff. 

• SHC has been instrumental in 

putting together a comprehensive 

launch for our latest product range, 

working expertly to get it off to the 

best start. 

One major achievement which 

really stands out is the Kimberly- 

Clark Professional Golden Service 

Awards (GSA) which has gone from 

strength to strength since we began 

our partnership in 2009. While many 

dozens of businesses have directly 

benefitted from winning awards, the 

GSA has also helped to dramatically 

increase both KCP and SHC’s visibility 

in the cleaning and FM sectors. 

I’m also proud of our ongoing 

partnership with Cleanology, which 

has consistently set an example for 

operating fairly and sustainably in the 

professional cleaning sector and has 

grown exponentially over the past 

8 years. Since 2016, we have helped 

share its good news from championing 

fair pay through the Real Living Wage, 

to raising money for the charity The 

Hygiene Bank for the past three years. 

One of the things I believe I’ve been 

really good at is finding the right 

people to work in this business 

and finding experts in their field, 

so we never go down the road of 

generalisation. It would be easy for a 

PR company to take on board clients 

across all sectors and just work as 

a generalist. But I have always felt 

that I personally need to have some 

knowledge of each sector, supported 

by our expert team – and that has 

really worked in our favour. So, when 

we are talking to new businesses, or 

potential clients, we can absolutely 

talk with authority. 

WHAT MAKES SHC SPECIAL? 

SHC features a team of highly-skilled 

and experienced PR specialists and 

copywriters, who create content 

which brings companies, brands and 

products to life. We ensure that our 

clients messages are delivered to the 

right audience, at the right time, and 

always in the most impactful way. 

As PR professionals, we are in an interdependent 

and circular relationship 

with the media and the companies 

we represent. Our clients need to 

share their news to raise their profile, 

reinforce their reputation, or increase 

sales, while the media needs stories, 

opinion, and information to feed its 

focused readers. 

I’ve always run SHC in a particular way, 

and the business model has always 

ensured we only use experienced 

self-employed consultants who are 

experts, with deep sector knowledge. 

This creates flexibility and means 

that clients can benefit from dealing 

directly with experienced people. 

There are no inexperienced people at 

SHC! 

SHC differentiates itself by offering 

both PR and marketing consultancy 

services with a focus on delivering 

excellent content and advice for 

clients, and our business model 

enables SHC to be agile and adaptable. 

AS YOU HEAD TOWARDS SHC’S 

30TH ANNIVERSARY IN JUST TWO 

YEARS, WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES 

FOR THE FUTURE? 

You’re talking to me on a day when 

we have six potential new clients to 

consider, while obviously continuing 

to deliver great, measurable results 

for our established customers, so I 

see a bright and exciting future, filled 

with unexpected change and tons of 

opportunity. 

We will continue to add to our client 

list while steadily improving our 

already excellent sector knowledge, 

so my enthusiasm for the business 

and the sectors we service remains 

undiminished. 

While targeted B2B PR and creating 

excellent content that people want 

to read remains at the heart of the 

business, our experience has moved us 

more towards the consultancy space 

where we can offer strategic advice, 

and this is a trend which will develop. 

SHC has recently become a Limited 

Company, and this has given us 

the chance to step back a little and 

consider who we are and what we 

stand for. This simple change has 

created an opportunity to review 

many aspects of the business and we 

are actively in the process of looking 

at B-Corp accreditation, which we 

believe matches the ethos of the 

business and many of our clients. 

THAT’S ENOUGH ABOUT SHC… 

WHAT ABOUT YOU? 

When I’m not wearing my SHC hat, 

I’m a proud mother of three amazing 

young adults. I like to cook, socialise, 

go camping and travelling. In fact, 

I’ve just returned from Japan, as my 

youngest daughter lives and works 

there! 

But that also takes me to thinking 

about what else SHC stands for 

and continues to achieve. One good 

example is our ongoing support for 

the charity Mid Kent Mind, where 

each year we walk to raise funds. Just 

as our clients are spread across the 

country, so is the SHC team, so instead 

of meeting to walk and unnecessarily 

raising our carbon footprint, we now 

each walk locally. Mind is grateful for 

the money we have raised, and the 

coverage we have created, so we will 

continue to support this worthy cause. 

If you would like to talk to Suzanne, 

call 0203 468 0923 or email 

suzanne@suzannehowe.com 

20 | 21

EVANS VANODINE HAS RETAINED PLANET 

MARK CERTIFICATION FOR ANOTHER 

YEAR, ACHIEVING YEAR 5 OF REDUCING ITS 

CARBON FOOTPRINT 

Evans Vanodine is 

Planet Mark Certified 

In the past year, Evans has 

accomplished an amazing reduction 

of 11.7% in its carbon footprint. This 

fantastic achievement by the whole 

team at Evans, means the company 

has reached a 35% carbon reduction 

overall in the last 5 years. 

fantastic work in reducing its carbon 

footprint, and I hope this continues in 

the future.” 

Vikki Morris, Evans Vanodine’s 

Environment and Sustainability 

Manager, said about its most recent 

certification: “At Evans Vanodine, 

environment and sustainability is 

a priority in our decision-making 

processes. We are proud to have 

recently achieved our year 5 

certification with Planet Mark, through 

our dedication to decreasing our 

carbon footprint whilst continuing to 

produce optimum products. With the 

assistance of Planet Mark and the 

accessibility to their tools, this has 

been possible.” 

Evans targeted areas of 

improvements for the coming year 

are to reduce the amounts of paper 

used and waste produced, as well as 

increasing its recycling levels. 

You can see a breakdown of Evans 

Vanodine’s data and targets via the 

Planet Mark member page on their 

website https://www.planetmark. 

com/member/evans-vanodine/ 

Year 5 

Some highlights in improvements 

made this year include swapping 

out the lighting in its premises for 

energy efficient LED lights, better 

controls in heating systems, and the 

temperatures they are set at, and 

utilising less water. Evans has also 

had a reduction in its fleet emissions, 

by switching all our company cars to 

either plug in hybrid or full electric. 

Planet Mark is a voluntary 

sustainability certification for 

all types of organisations. The 

certification is based on continuous 

improvement and encourages action 

to make a difference. It helps to 

strengthen Environmental, Social 

and Governance (ESG) strategy, and 

contributes to the UN Sustainable 

Development Goals (SDGs) and sets 

credible targets aligned with Science 

Based Target initiatives (SBTi) global 

Net-Zero Standard. 

Over the past 5 years, with the 

support of Planet Mark, we have 

made improvements throughout 

our business to achieve a 

35% reduction in our measured 

carbon emissions. 

Steve Malkin, Founder and CEO of 

Planet Mark, said: “Congratulations 

to Evans Vanodine on a great set of 

carbon reduction results this year. 

The team takes a holistic view of its 

carbon footprint and aims to reduce 

its footprint across all its operations. 

This is the kind of approach we need 

to sustainability, one that takes 

responsibility throughout the value 

chain. Evans Vanodine is doing 

Planet Mark is a sustainability certification that verifies and measures 

carbon and social data to reduce emissions and achieve the UN SDGs. 

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

SAVEFAST IN PARTNERSHIP 

WITH BICSc 

Take complaints 

off your to-do list 

The Tork Office Hygiene Package 

67% of employees say that they are more likely to complain about a 

washroom than any other aspect of their office.* Cut complaints by ensuring 

that cleaning and washroom maintenance are run well and efficiently with 

the Tork Office Hygiene Package. 

tork.co.uk/officehygiene 

*June 2022 Behaviourally – Qualitative and quantitative office segment research with 600+ respondents in North America and Europe. 

Tork, an Essity brand. 

SaveFast aims to work with its 

government level partners to 

enhance their customer experience 

and elevate cleaning standards, 

with a focus on efficiency, 

cost and waste reduction, and 

continual improvement through 

the consistent implementation of 

British Institute of Cleaning Science 

(BICSc) standards. SaveFast in 

partnership with BICSc recently 

undertook one such project with 

the Saudi Ministry of Health 

(MoH) presented by the General 

Directorate of Health Facilities 

Environment, at King Saud Medical 

Center (KSMC) with the objective 

of ensuring that hospital cleaning 

supervisors and operatives in 

the Renal Unit, met a minimum, 

internationally acceptable standard 

achieved through undertaking 

a comprehensive BICSc training 

program. 

To kickstart this initiative, SaveFast, 

supported by a senior team from 

BICSc, conducted a Pilot Program 

at KSMC. This program leveraged 

BICSc expertise to maximise the 

impact for the hospital and ensure 

clearly demonstrable ROI. The 

program began with an initial site 

audit that used the BICSc Standard. 

By conducting this audit, we could 

identify areas with possible room 

for improvement and decide on an 

action plan. 

To implement the action plan, 

the joint team delivered a 

comprehensive training program 

at the SaveFast Academy and then 

on-site at the hospital Renal Unit. 

This included essential cleaning 

skills training, proper use of cleaning 

chemicals, tools and machinery, 

and the importance of adherence 

to standardised cleaning processes. 

The KSMC team at all levels, were 

committed participants in the 

training, giving up their free time and 

breaks to practice skills and master 

techniques and applying the lessons 

learned with real enthusiasm. This 

was reflected in the results they 

were able to achieve 

Following the training program, 

the unit underwent reassessment 

and demonstrated significant 

improvement, with the final score 

increasing by over 200%. Key results 

achieved included: 

• Visual improvement in cleaning 

standards and presentation of the 

building 

• Implementation of a structured 

and internationally compliant 

model based on UK NHS 

standards, for control of key 

Functional Risks in a healthcare 

setting 

• Training supervisors and 

cleaning operatives allowed for 

larger areas to be cleaned with 

fewer staff. Excess staff will be 

repurposed to improve standards 

throughout the KSMC site 

• Better staff understanding of the 

correct use of cleaning chemicals, 

tools and machinery delivered 

improved hygiene standards and 

reductions in use of consumables 

and maintenance requirements 

with associated cost savings 

• Implementation of standardised 

cleaning processes led to a more 

structured and efficient approach 

• Supporting the policy of infection 

control in healthcare facilities 

Overall, SaveFast and BICSc 

delivered a highly successful 

pilot program for the Renal Unit, 

implementing BICSc standards and 

demonstrating the potential for 

similar achievements across the 

entire KSMC site. 

With the support of MoH it is 

hoped that case studies such 

as KSMC Renal Unit will be the 

drivers for continuous and tangible 

improvement in all public hospitals 

across the Kingdom. This will not 

only ensure a cleaner and safer 

environment for patients, staff and 

the general public, but will also 

contribute to efficiency gains, cost 

reductions and improvements in 

public perception that align with 

the MoH commitment to excellence 

in healthcare facilities and with 

Vision 2030 goals for sustainable 

workplaces. This commitment to 

ongoing training and adherence to 

standardised cleaning processes will 

be pivotal in first sustaining and then 

elevating cleaning standards across 

the entire healthcare sector. 

SaveFast is very proud to be BICSc 

exclusive partner in the region 

for face-to-face training and our 

collaboration continues to go from 

strength to strength, with our new 

BICSc training centres in the UAE 

and India now open and serving our 

customers and plans in the advanced 

stage to open in Bangladesh. 

Through these exciting ventures, 

we believe that BICSc and SaveFast 

will be able to make a significant 

difference to cleaning standards 

in the region and we firmly believe 

that these new centres will help us 

work towards our joint ambition of 

mandating the BICSc standard at 

both local and national levels. 

24 | 25

CLEANING UP THE INDUSTRY: HOW THE 

CLEANING INDUSTRY CAN REACH NET 

ZERO 

Unlock true business 

transformation with 

a Planet Mark certification 

and be officially recognised 

for your efforts. 

Similar to several sectors, the 

cleaning industry has seen 

sustainability transition from a 'nice 

to have' to a core imperative to retain 

growth and customer engagement. 

Companies now seek higher service 

standards, genuinely environmentally 

sustainable products, and quality 

environmental data; all while 

maintaining competitive prices. 

While these challenges may appear 

formidable, addressing them unveils 

genuine opportunities for business 

growth and transformation within 

the industry. And in doing so, we 

contribute to a greener, fairer, and 

more sustainable planet. 

Our partners at Planet Mark 

organised a roundtable featuring 

seven cleaning industry leaders 

and suppliers: Regular Cleaning, 

City West Support Services, DOC 

Cleaning, NuServe, Property Support 

Services UK, City & Essex, and Wessex 

Cleaning. Together, they delved into 

this emerging trend, exploring how 

companies in the sector are meeting 

the demand for sustainability and 

sharing valuable insights for others 

embarking on their sustainability 

journeys. Here's what they uncovered. 

COSTS 

Given the ongoing cost of living 

challenges in the UK, it's no surprise 

that, like consumers, businesses 

are searching for ways to minimise 

costs. Striking the right balance 

between providing quality, safety, 

and sustainability while reducing 

costs and minimising the use of 

harmful chemicals is undoubtedly 

a challenge. However, it remains a 

crucial focus for any brand aiming to 

transition towards more sustainable 

practices and meet consumer demand. 

Although innovation may initially 

come with additional expenses, finding 

greater efficiencies can be truly 

transformative. 

PURCHASING THE RIGHT 

PRODUCTS 

Plastic gloves, seemingly small, cast 

a large shadow on cleaning expenses 

and environmental concerns. The 

Plastic Waste Makers Index reveals 

alarming figures, with 139 million 

metric tons of single-use plastic 

waste generated in 2021, setting a 

historic record. Naturally, balancing 

effectiveness and sustainability is 

crucial here. 

While potato starch gloves have 

been explored, they lack commercial 

suitability. Carbon-neutral, 

biodegradable gloves like Back to 

Market's exist but often at double 

the price. Addressing this issue 

could require cross-corporation 

collaboration, increased distribution, 

composting investments, and the 

promotion of reusable options and 

PSA certification to drive cleaning 

brands closer to a net-zero future. 

WATER USAGE 

Along with gloves, water usage will 

become a bigger sustainability issue 

for cleaning brands in the future. Here 

are some key solutions that could 

transform how cleaning companies 

use water more sustainably: 

• Communicating advice to cleaners, 

such as flushing at the end of the 

shift and not with every bucket, is a 

great way to make positive changes 

immediately. 

• Renovating and retrofitting 

buildings with new technologies 

will help to measure the carbon 

emissions from water usage, as 

well as compare consumption and 

treatment. 

• Charitable water donations could 

be made, with the amount of water 

used in a given year matched 

and donated back to third-world 

countries. In turn, this enhances 

social value. 

• Gathering figures from 

manufacturers and the rest of the 

production chain on the water 

used to assemble products will 

create a clearer picture of a brand's 

environmental impact. 

• Incorporating progressive, waterconscious 

products into a brand's 

cleaning lineup, such as Solupak, 

can be invaluable. This soluble 

sachet stops tonnes of water from 

being shipped around the country. 

AI AND ROBOTICS REPLACING 

PEOPLE 

Every forward-looking cleaning 

brand must remain ahead of industry 

advancements. While technological 

progress is undeniable, automation 

doesn't provide a solution for all 

challenges. Future clients will seek 

harmony between technology and 

human expertise while considering the 

consequences of carbon, energy, and 

water usage . Additionally, numerous 

cleaning brands aspire to attain B Corp 

certification, and innovation plays a 

pivotal role in this process. 

Join 800+ organisations embracing 

sustainability to cut carbon and costs. 

Email us using code BICS24 for a 

free carbon clinic with our experts. 

info@planetmark.com 

The latest automated innovations in 

the cleaning sector aren't designed 

to replace workers, who are still 

very much needed. However, the 

benefits of automation from a social 

and environmental standpoint are 

undeniable, including lower water 

usage (4l for 650sqm of the floor is one 

brand's goal) and further efficiencies in 

time and cost. 

Here are some further examples of the 

radical innovations that are developing 

within the cleaning industry: 

• Stabilised Aqueous Ozone and 

probiotic cleaning products 

• Biodegradable, pre-dosed soluble 

cleaning solution sachets 

• Automated robots or 'cobots' 

(collaborative robotic cleaning) 

DATA 

Without data, enacting meaningful 

change in the right places is almost 

impossible. Cleaning brands should 

be gathering data and understanding 

supply chain emissions as much as 

possible, with lifecycle assessments 

and dream scenarios for the future. 

Many cleaning manufacturers do not 

track data on CO2, which can make 

gathering information on emissions 

and backing up green claims even 

tougher. Challenging manufacturers 

with detailed surveys is the best way 

to hold them accountable and collect 

those vital statistics. 

COMMUNICATING POSITIVE 

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE 

Raising awareness serves as the 

cornerstone of progress. Integrating 

the communication of environmental 

action changes into your sustainability 

strategy is essential but often 

complicated by the complexity of a 

product's environmental claims. 

Clients may struggle to grasp the 

environmental impact of certain 

products, especially when cost 

considerations dominate their choices. 

Educating them on the long-term value 

of environmentally friendly options 

is challenging but increasingly vital 

as environmental awareness grows. 

#BusinessAsAForceForGood planetmark.com @theplanetmark 

Effectively conveying sustainable 

practices to employees, from optimal 

product usage to scheduling, remains a 

further challenge. 

Addressing these challenges, Planet 

Mark specialises in supporting 

its members and partners to 

communicate sustainability to 

its stakeholders, aiding them in 

comprehending the financial and 

societal consequences of their choices. 

For the full report, visit the Planet 

Mark website. 

26 | 27

OUTSOURCED 

TELEPHONE ANSWERING 

– HOW DOES IT WORK? 

We know that missed calls lead 

to lost business. Still, as cleaning 

companies grapple with low 

resources and tight budgets, they 

risk stretching themselves too 

thinly and neglecting inbound 

communications. 

Standing out from competitors has 

never been more critical, and one 

way to create a positive, lasting 

first impression is with impressive 

telephone customer service. By 

outsourcing inbound calls, you can 

ensure your business never misses 

a call again while focusing on more 

productive, profitable tasks. 

But how does outsourced telephone 

answering work, and could it be 

suitable for your organisation? 

Jess Pritchard, head of the corporate 

sector from Moneypenny, explains. 

WHAT IS AN OUTSOURCED 

TELEPHONE ANSWERING 

SERVICE? 

A telephone answering service 

is a popular alternative to hiring 

a full-time in-house receptionist. 

An outsourced provider, like 

Moneypenny, gives you a PA or team 

of PAs to answer calls exactly as if 

based in your office. 

Your receptionist screens calls, 

transfers callers to yourself or 

a colleague, or takes a detailed 

message and immediately sends it 

via text or email. 

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE CALL IS 

FOR ME? 

You are given a divert number 

that is unique to your business. 

Any calls received on that line will 

automatically present your business 

information, and the call will be 

answered in your company name. 

When a call comes through, 

your PA has everything at their 

fingertips. They are ready to take 

THE STANDARD 

a call precisely as if they were 

based in your business and just as 

knowledgeable as any in-house team 

member. 

We even know if the person 

ringing has called before, and our 

technology tells your PA their name 

(so there’s no need to ask again), who 

they asked for, and why. Similarly, 

if you have VIPs who you want to 

be treated differently or for less 

valuable calls to ring out, we can 

arrange this. 

DO ALL MY CALLS NEED TO BE 

ANSWERED BY MONEYPENNY? 

This is entirely up to you. You can 

opt for an all-calls answered service, 

which diverts all calls to your 

answering service provider. A vital 

benefit of this service is that it gives 

a seamless customer experience and 

helps your business appear bigger 

and more professional. 

Alternatively, you can select 

an overflow service which only 

activates the divert when your 

lines are busy internally. This is an 

excellent option if you have in-house 

resources to answer calls but want 

to ensure your customers are not 

left on hold or, worse, put through to 

voicemail. 

WILL THE CALLER KNOW THEY’RE 

SPEAKING TO AN OUTSOURCED 

TEAM? 

No – as part of your introduction to 

Moneypenny, we get to know you 

and your business and how you want 

us to answer your calls. We’ll discuss 

how you’d like us to greet your 

customers, what questions you’d like 

us to ask them, and whether you’d 

prefer that we try to transfer the 

call to you or write up a message and 

send it via text or email. 

Moneypenny PAs are professional, 

experienced and knowledgeable 

and will obtain all the appropriate 

information from the caller while 

maintaining a relaxed and friendly 

conversation. We work with 

businesses from all sectors and 

sizes, have years of expertise in call 

handling, and will select PAs who 

understand your sector. 

WHAT HAPPENS OUT OF HOURS? 

Not all cleaning businesses operate 

24/7, but customers still call in the 

evenings and on the weekends. An 

outsourced telephone answering 

service is an affordable solution for 

providing customers with a 24-hour 

service that meets all their needs. 

As standard, your calls will typically 

be diverted to a professionally 

recorded voicemail system outside 

of your usual business hours. 

Moneypenny, however, can answer 

your calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a 

year, with our dedicated 24/7 team – 

even during holidays like Christmas. 

Our customers tell us that this 

revolutionises their working week, 

allowing them to switch off during 

the evenings and weekends without 

worrying about missing any calls. 

CAN MONEYPENNY INTEGRATE 

WITH OTHER SYSTEMS MY 

BUSINESS USES? 

Absolutely. We offer a suite of 

integrations, including Microsoft 

Teams, Salesforce, Clio and many 

more. 

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH 

UNSOLICITED SALES CALLS? 

Politely but fairly – our usual 

approach is to advise that your 

business doesn’t take introductions 

over the phone and offer an 

alternative email address. With so 

many years of experience under our 

belts, we’re experts at sussing out 

even the most savvy salesperson! 

Plus, your call bundle includes an 

allowance for sales calls, so you 

won’t be charged for our answering 

them. 

For more information on how we can 

support your cleaning organisation, 

visit www.moneypenny.com/uk 

darwin clayton 

evolutionary insurance 

Cleaning & FM 

Contractors Insurance 

Specialist insurance solutions & 

advice for contract cleaning and FM 

service providers 

WHY DARWIN CLAYTON? 

Darwin Clayton are a multi-award winning 

insurance broker with over 100 years’ 

experience. We have worked closely with BICSc 

since its formation. As a member of BICSc, you 

will be offered discounted premiums for your 

commercial insurance solution. 

Standard Cover & Limits 

• Employers Liability - £10,000,000* 

• Public & Products Liability - £5,000,000* 

(including Damage to property being cleaned & 

Treatment Risks) 

• Employee Dishonesty - £250,000 

• Loss of Keys - £100,000 

• Financial Loss - £250,000 

• Professional Indemnity - £100,000* (increased to 

£250,000 for members of the BICSc) 

*Higher limits available on request 

South: 01892 511 144 

North & Midlands: 0115 951 7030 

Tailored Protection 

COVER SUMMARY 

Every Cleaning & FM business is unique. Our 

dedicated insurance professional will work with 

you to design an insurance solution to suit your 

business specific needs. 

Optional Covers 

• Property 

• Business Interruption 

• Terrorism 

• Specified All Risks 

• Environmental Clean Up Costs 

Additional Covers Available 

We can arrange a wide range of additional covers, 

such as Cyber & Data Risks, Directors & Officers 

Liability and Motor Fleet. 

Get in touch with your Darwin Clayton representative for a quote: 

cleaning@dcuk.co.uk 

darwinclayton.co.uk 

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

NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH AND 

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 

Years ago, I worked with an 

Operations Director who was aware 

of my mental health conditions and 

had asked me to share some of my 

story as part of a Health & Safety 

moment in one of our monthly 

meetings. 

Following my story, which was 

received very well by all the various 

departments, my Ops Director posed 

a topic that she was interested in 

exploring. “Does working in Facilities 

Management (FM) directly link to 

increased mental health conditions 

amongst those who work in the 

industry?” 

Almost without thinking about it, I 

posed a different perspective, that 

she admitted that she hadn’t thought 

about. 

I responded… 

“Did you ever consider that my having 

mental health conditions is why I’m 

suited to FM and do it well?” 

People that know me, know that I am 

always sarcastic and would assume 

that I was making a crack about 

having to be crazy to work in FM, but 

I genuinely meant it, what if someone 

like me that has been managing, 

battling and navigating their mental 

health since primary school, is in fact 

the type of individual that will excel in 

this field. 

REACHING OUT 

Asking for help is nothing, I repeat 

NOTHING to be ashamed of, in fact 

it should be applauded. It is also the 

first, actually the second thing after 

acknowledgement, that most mental 

health literature, professionals, 

institutes and friends tell you to do 

when you are feeling off or in crisis 

or can’t manage in whatever way it 

manifests. It’s also what your employer 

will usually give you as part of a new 

starter pack or what your line manager 

will say while you carry out your work, 

“If you need anything, let me know” “no 

question, is a stupid question” 

This is also true of FM. Facilities and 

Workplace specialists are what I call 

“Generalists” but I coin that term 

with pride, we have our fingers (and 

toes) into EVERYTHING and some 

of us are specialists in certain areas 

but I’m almost certain that regardless 

of having a specialty, whether that 

be “Hard” or “Soft” service delivery, 

“HR”, “IT”, “Business Development” 

“Projects” “Health and Safety” it is 

probably not the only thing we have 

going on at any one time. You need 

to know enough about a lot of things, 

but do not need to be an expert. 

So inevitably, you are going to on 

occasion, need to hold your hand up 

and say “I need support.” 

Same as with mental health, you need 

to know enough to be able to say “hey, 

I’m not doing ok” “Am I coming across 

as manic” “do you mind if you make this 

decision” “I think I need help” 

Reaching out and talking about it, can 

prevent most things from becoming an 

issue. This also enables you to find likeminded 

people or people in different 

areas that may help you overcome 

whatever it is that you are tackling. 

TRANSPARENCY 

I believe in transparency in the 

workplace and I strongly believe in 

transparency about mental health 

conditions. 

It is my belief that it HAS NEVER 

helped anybody to pretend to be 

something they are not unless you’re 

an actor who literally gets paid to be 

someone else, but that’s a horse of a 

different colour. 

I do not believe in “fake it until you 

make it.” 

NO, sorry, but no. 

I believe in being upfront, honest, 

and adaptable. I am transparent 

about my mental health issues and 

my capabilities or limitations and 

because of that it doesn’t completely 

rule me, not like it did when I ignored 

it, couldn’t or wouldn’t manage it or 

speak up and ask for help. 

Because of my transparency, what I do, 

what I can’t do and what I am, cannot 

be used against me, I don’t hide it and 

in fact it’s helped others to be their 

authentic selves and to succeed. 

I’ll end on this question, did my last 

statement relate to my mental health 

conditions or my life in Facilities 

Management? 

…or both? 

If you need any help or advice, 

here are some useful contacts 

Personally, I have concluded that there 

really isn’t much difference between 

me navigating my mental health and 

me navigating the FM world. 

Here are my four core approaches to 

both matters. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

Just because you ignore the situation, 

does not mean that it doesn’t exist. 

As with FM, you can ignore a problem, 

whether that be team dynamics, 

contractor performance or workspace 

functionality, trying to convince 

yourself you have more important 

things to concern yourself with 

because you have many more areas 

that come with the job, but come on 

now, we know that ignoring things, 

doesn’t make them go away, in fact 

it just makes them bigger problems 

somewhere else down the line 

It took me a while but me and my little 

mental health demons are on better 

terms now I’ve stopped acting like 

I’m “normal” and like they in no way 

impact my day to day living or that 

they are not a problem. They are, but 

they aren’t as crippling as they used 

to be. 

PROBLEM SOLVING OR 

MANAGEMENT 

Look for solutions or mechanisms that 

can help you achieve your aim. For 

example, getting through the workday, 

talking to people, getting out of your 

comfort zone, which can apply to both. 

You have so many different 

responsibilities, managing a budget, a 

team, clients, stakeholders, your line 

manager or mental health wise, your 

mood, your tone of voice, your energy, 

your family, friends, and your own 

negative thoughts. 

What tool can you apply to make even 

the smallest modicum of difference. 

Do you switch off your notifications, 

do you take a walk round the block, 

find a quiet place to get your thoughts 

in order, do you get involved in a group 

with people facing the same problem, 

write it down to work it out, do you 

accept the fact that certain things are 

beyond your control and make peace 

with it. All these things are solutions 

that are transferable between the two 

areas. 

In first instance, contact your GP. 

0300 123 3393 

116123 

0300 456 8114 

THE STANDARD 30 | 31

Questions 

about diabetes? 

We’re here to talk. 

If you’re looking for someone to 

speak to about living with diabetes, 

get in touch by calling or emailing 

our helpline. We’re here 9am to 

6pm, Monday to Friday. 

Call 0345 123 2399* 

Email helpline@diabetes.org.uk 

*Calls to 0345 numbers cost no more than calls to geographic (01 and 02) numbers and must be included 

in inclusive minutes on mobile phones and discount schemes. Calls from landlines are typically charged 

between 2p and 10p per minute while calls from mobiles typically cost between 10p and 40p per minute. 

Calls from landlines and mobiles to 0345 numbers are included in free call packages. Calls may be recorded 

for quality and training purposes. 

The British Diabetic Association operating as Diabetes UK,a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 

215199) and in Scotland (no. SC039136). © Diabetes UK 2021 

CLEANING, HYGIENE AND WASTE 

INDUSTRY ‘IN RECOVERY’ AFTER 

COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SAYS 

NEWLY-PUBLISHED RESEARCH 

New research published by the 

British Cleaning Council (BCC) 

shows how the cleaning, hygiene 

and waste sector is ‘in recovery’ 

after the challenges of the Covid-19 

pandemic. 

The latest figures show that the 

industry contributes nearly £59.8 

billion to the economy, after a dip 

following the start of the pandemic. 

The sector remains one of the ten 

biggest sectors in the UK. 

There are a number of positive 

developments for the industry to 

build on including the launch of the 

Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative 

Apprenticeship and increased 

recognition for the sector postpandemic, 

the 2024 research report 

says. 

It also shows how the cleaning, 

hygiene and waste sector faces 

a ‘perfect storm of severe staff 

shortages’ and an ageing workforce. 

Figures quoted in the document show 

that the entire sector was worth 

£58.9bn in 2019, but this dipped to 

£57bn in 2020 before increasing 

again in 2021. All subsectors, bar 

landscape service activities, saw 

growth in turnover in 2021. 

It puts the total number of people 

working in the industry at 1.47 

million, approximately five per cent of 

the UK workforce. 

The sector continues to grow, 

with a reported 75,565 businesses 

operating in 2023, most of which are 

micro-businesses. 

The launch of the Level 2 Cleaning 

Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship 

is a ‘significant development for the 

sector’, enabling millions of pounds to 

be invested in staff training. 

There is increased recognition of 

the important role of cleaning and 

hygiene staff following the Covid-19 

pandemic and the public are 

reassured by seeing cleaning staff at 

work, says the report. 

The BCC’s We Clean, We Care 

campaign also provides an 

opportunity to raise the profile of the 

sector and its staff. 

The All-Party Parliamentary Group 

(APPG) for the Cleaning and Hygiene 

Industry’s report Embedding 

Effective Hygiene For A Resilient UK 

report is a key asset. 

The research report highlights issues 

including the industry’s struggle to 

replace staff who have left the sector 

and says that, with 27 per cent of staff 

aged over 55 years, more needs to be 

done to attract younger workers. 

In the three years since the APPG for 

the industry was established, there 

has been ‘minimal engagement on 

the part of the Government’ in areas 

other than the apprenticeship, it says. 

BCC Chair, Delia Cannings, said: 

“Our annual research report about the 

cleaning, hygiene and waste industry is 

a key document for the sector. It takes a 

detailed, informative and rigorous look 

at the industry and its sub-sectors, full 

of revealing statistics and facts. If you 

are interested in reading the report, 

please contact us and we will be happy 

to provide a free copy. 

“The report highlights the essential role 

of the sector and its staff in keeping 

the nation’s workplaces, hospitals, 

educational establishments, transport 

facilities and public spaces safe, clean 

and pleasant to use, contributing to the 

nation’s health and wealth. 

“That vital contribution to infection 

prevention and control became so 

much more visible during the Covid-19 

pandemic, highlighting the importance 

of the sector in the wider public 

consciousness. The pandemic has left 

many of the current workforce mentally 

and physically exhausted – particularly 

those in the healthcare sector. 

“The report demonstrates that the 

cleaning, hygiene and waste sector 

remains one of the ten largest in the 

UK, though it has been impacted by the 

challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic 

and the economic shock of Brexit and is 

still in recovery. There are some positive 

developments to build on and also some 

issues still needing to be overcome.” 

Free, digital copies of the BCC’s 

2024 research report are 

available by emailing : compsec@ 

britishcleaningcouncil.org 

32 | 33

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simplify your job 

applicant checks 

Looking to take the hassle out 

of pre-employment screening? 

Look no further! 

Our friends over at uCheck have agreed to waive their registration 

fee of £58.80 for BICSc members, but why else should you 

choose to work with uCheck? 

They provide a wide range of checks including DBS, Right 

to Work, Adverse Credit, and Identity checks. 

They provide rapid results, with some checks being instant 

You only pay for the checks you need 

They’re Home Office approved 

Part of something bigger 

You might already know uCheck as a leading background screening provider for businesses across the 

UK. But did you know that they can also help boost your business in a number of other ways? 

As part of a larger group of businesses, they’re able to offer services like: 

• Cyber Security 

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Let’s get ready for anything 

• SSIP Accreditation 

• Fire & Electrical Safety 

Use the code ‘BICSc’ at checkout to get free access to our platform, so 

you can start simplifying your recruitment process today! 

50cl 

5 Recycled 

Bottle 

= 1 Microfibre 

You’re in safe 

hands 

Over 30,000 organisations 

just like 

100% 

yours are already 

using uCheck to make their 

background checks simple. 

With 92% of clients rating 

uCheck as ‘Excellent’ on 

Trustpilot, you can trust that 

they’ll take care of you. 

• Employee Wellbeing 

• ISO Certification 

100% 

Recycled fibres 

Vegetal origin 

No registration fee 

for BICSc members! 

Usually £58.80 

5 Recycled 

Azella 100 

95000129 

Recycled 

Bottle 

5 Recycled 

50cl 

Mercury Roll 100 

0% 


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50cl 

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Colorant 

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0% 100% 

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WE BELIEVE 


Colorant 

THAT Vegetal EVERY originBIT COUNTS ! 

50cl 

50cl 


100% 

50cl 

Simply 

efficient 




100% 

5 recycled 50cl 

plastic bottles 

= 1 microfibre 

R 

5 

B R B 

10 

10 

Re 

5 R B 

Recycl 

V 

Recycl = 1 Mic 

Abso 

10 

10 

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Veget 

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Color 

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THE 

0300 

STANDARD 

140 0022 info@ucheck.co.uk ucheck.co.uk 

1g/l 

sales.mapauk@newellco.com +44 (0) 1905 450300 spontex-pro.com

COSHH, RISK AND METHOD 

STATEMENT FOLDERS IN THE 

OFFICE? 

BY JAMES MARSTON LBICSc 

HEATH AND WILTSHIRE 

MARK 50 YEARS WITH 

BRAND REFRESH AND 

NEW NAME 

Does your legal documentation 

(COSHH, SDS, Risk and Standard 

Operating Procedures or Method 

Statements) keep your staff safe and 

well informed? Do they sign it to say 

they have read it? Most companies 

would say they have the documents in 

place, and they meet these objectives. 

That’s great news but it’s not enough. 

These documents are produced to 

steer and reflect workplace culture, 

safe practice across the service and 

the best cleaning outcomes. 

Two factors are critical in evidencing 

proof of compliance and success. 

Firstly, staff really understand the 

documents and why they are there. 

Secondly, staff demonstrate their 

compliance in their duties and 

recognise the need to do so. 

Many companies fall down when 

evidence is revealed or not as the case 

may be. 

Workplace culture can be difficult to 

identify correctly as it’s a culmination 

of factors. Top of that list is 

management want a safe culture and 

they invest in generating it. Training 

is multi-faceted to nurture the right 

culture into existence and finally, 

all staff display this culture in their 

everyday activities. So, what do the 

documents above have to do with any 

of this? 

COSHH and SDS must be in place 

for all hazardous products in the 

workplace. Its not negotiable. Risk 

Assessments identify the hazards 

all staff will face and provides the 

measures agreed by organisational 

management to remove or mitigate 

the dangers. All these documents 

culminate in the Standard Operating 

Procedures or Method Statements. 

The training manual for service 

delivery. Without these investments 

which instruct the right behaviours 

and safe compliant practice the right 

culture will not materialise. 

To that end these documents 

should be front and centre in the 

workplace. Form part of training and 

consolidation of the right practice 

and behaviours expected. In service 

JAMES MARSTON 

Trainer 

reviews these documents especially 

Standard Operating Procedures 

should form part of the measures 

of success or failures within the 

organisation. 

BICSc standards and assessment of 

skills in the Cleaning Professional's 

Skills Suite (CPSS) require candidates 

to understand the legally required 

paperwork necessary for cleaning 

operations to work within current 

regulations. 

They also promote safe working 

practice and good cleaning techniques. 

Important steps to a great culture. 

Cleaning operatives do not work in 

offices. Dust off those folders, make 

them accessible to staff and embed 

them in operations. Make them 

everyone’s responsibility to promote 

and comply. 

I am excited to announce a 

development that marks a significant 

milestone in our company’s journey. 

It’s been 50 years since Heath and 

Wiltshire Ltd was founded by my 

father in 1974, and over that time we 

have evolved into a trusted partner 

for multi-million-pound contracts, 

serving household names and 

servicing over 650 contracts across 

25 counties in both the public and 

private sectors. Now, we’re on the 

cusp of a transformative shift in our 

business strategy and we needed a 

brand refresh to support this. 

CLASSIC TO CONTEMPORARY 

Heath and Wiltshire Ltd will remain 

the registered company name but 

we will now trade as HW Facilities 

focusing on the ‘HW’ logo mark with 

an integrated tagline ‘Clean Spaces’. 

It was important to us to retain the 

legacy of the Heath and Wiltshire 

brand, echoing the H&W abbreviation, 

so it will still have the sense of 

familiarity with our employees and 

clients. We are very much a family 

business and central to our success 

has been our unwavering commitment 

to people, so this was important to us. 

The brand identity logo mark is one 

of the first things people see on 

employees’ clothing, so we wanted it 

to be bold and simple while staying 

true to our core values of high 

standards, innovation and family 

values. The recognisable ‘HW’ 

lettering design includes an upwards 

arrow beneath the W to signify our 

constant drive for innovation as well 

as a roof showing the spaces we clean. 

The additional integration of ‘Clean 

Spaces’ works brilliantly particularly 

on the livery of our vehicles when they 

are seen out and about! It conveys 

immediately that we are in the 

cleaning and facilities management 

services business, but also, we know a 

clean space creates a sense of physical 

wellbeing, calmness and feeling happy, 

which is what our clients want for their 

workforce and visitors. 

In today's digital age, our online 

presence plays a more crucial role than 

ever before, so we have also invested 

in revamping our website which looks 

so much brighter and engaging, giving 

a much-improved online experience. 

It’s here that the full impact of our 

new colour palette and fonts come to 

life, and the improved user navigation 

helps visitors easily discover the 

information that is relevant to them 

from our wide-ranging services. 

AN INNOVATIVE CULTURE 

The refresh is not just about a new 

look and feel, it runs much deeper 

to the core of our business strategy. 

The whole process has given us an 

opportunity to refine our focus, to 

identify our core competencies, 

renew our company values, reinforce 

our commitment to sustainability, 

and the continued well-being of 

our employees. A lot has changed 

in the last few years, and we are in a 

completely different century to when 

the business was established. 

As we have grown, we have become 

much more selective in the contracts 

we pursue, focusing on opportunities 

that align with our company values, 

and working with like-minded 

businesses. We have surrounded 

ourselves with a network of suppliers 

as well as the industry professionals 

we employ, to constantly research 

and propose innovative solutions for 

our clients, many of whom rely on us 

to be the experts who can showcase 

to them the latest the industry has to 

offer. In addition, we hold an annual 

innovation day for our key accounts so 

here is where our branding needs to 

reflect the scale and direction of our 

operations. 

With our new brand identity, we are 

confident that our market position will 

remain strong and continue to grow. 

I would like to extend our gratitude 

to the HW team, our clients, partners 

and friends in the industry who have 

supported us throughout this journey. 

Check out our new website here: 

www.hwfacilities.co.uk 

TOM MARRIOTT, 

Operations Director, HW 

Facilities 

THE STANDARD 

36 | 37

ELEVATE YOUR HOME MANAGEMENT: 

BECOME THE CEO AT HOME 

PENNY MOYSES 

Founder of the Clean & Tidy 

Home Show 

You may excel at work, 

communicating and working 

effectively, to deadlines, keeping your 

clients' spaces pristine, but when it 

comes to maintaining the same level 

of cleanliness and organisation at 

home, do you find yourself struggling? 

Why not think of your home as your 

personal business and yourself as the 

CEO. Just like managing a successful 

company, running a tight ship at home 

requires strategic planning, effective 

communication, and resource 

management. Here's how to do it: 

Strategic Planning: Set clear home 

goals and develop a plan of action. 

Whether it's tidying up daily or 

tackling deep cleans on weekends, 

having a roadmap will keep you on 

track. 

Clear Communication: Ensure 

everyone in your household knows 

their home responsibilities. Hold 

regular meetings to discuss any issues 

or updates and keep everyone in the 

loop. 

Resource Management: Budget wisely 

for cleaning supplies and invest in 

quality tools. Stock up on essentials 

and find ways to make your home 

routine more efficient. 

Time Optimisation: Make the most 

of your time by prioritising tasks and 

delegating when possible. Set aside 

dedicated time for home tasks each 

week and stick to it. 

Performance Evaluation: Assess your 

home efforts regularly and make 

adjustments as needed. Celebrate 

your successes and learn from any 

mistakes along the way. 

Innovation and Adaptability: Stay 

open to new techniques and products. 

Embrace innovations that make 

your home routine easier and more 

effective. 

Leadership and Empowerment: Lead 

by example and encourage your 

family members to pitch in. Empower 

everyone to take ownership of their 

responsibilities at home. 

Authenticity and Wellbeing: Create 

a home environment that promotes 

relaxation and happiness. Remember 

to take care of yourself and prioritise 

your own wellbeing. 

With a little CEO mindset, you can 

elevate your home management 

skills and create a space that's clean, 

organised, and a launchpad for your 

joy and success. 

Enter now for a chance to win 

The Clean & Tidy Awards celebrate the brands, products, service providers and 

thought-leaders committed to creating happier and more functional homes. 

All BICSc members 

benefit from free entry 

to the Cleaning Company of the Year 

category at the Clean & Tidy Awards 2024 

If you serve the domestic market, 

use code SHINE2024 

and sumbit your entry by 21st June. 

THE STANDARD 

For more information and to enter, please visit 

cleanandtidyawards.com

MEET PUNDARIK, BICSc ASSESSOR 

OF THE YEAR 2023! 

THE CHARTERED PRACTITIONERS 

REGISTER REACHING THE FIRST 

‘50’ MILESTONE 

Hello readers! I’m Pundarik 

Ghimire, and I am working as a 

Soft Services Trainer at Infracare 

Facilities Management in Dubai, UAE. 

Like many people in the cleaning 

industry, I had what you may call 

an “unconventional” route into the 

cleaning industry. Before entering 

the cleaning industry, I taught middle 

school English at various private 

schools in Kathmandu, Nepal, for 

a period of 8 years. However, that 

soon changed when I looked to move 

abroad and attended the BICSc 

Assessor training in Dubai in July 

2014. 

Under the guidance of James Marston, 

my first trainer from BICSc, I received 

comprehensive training that helped 

me transition into the cleaning 

industry. As a complete novice in this 

field, the training was challenging, but 

with the support I received from BICSc 

and my determination, I enjoyed the 

experience. I am very pleased to say 

that the five day training concluded 

with a successful final verification! 

Continuing my learning journey, 

I acquired additional BICSc skills 

throughout my career and eventually 

obtained certification in 25 CPSS skills. 

My previous teaching experience 

at different levels has provided an 

important foundation for my BICSc 

journey. Having taught individuals 

from over 15 different nationalities, 

ranging from ground level teams to 

senior managers, I have accumulated 

more than 20,000 training man hours 

throughout my career. This experience 

has been truly unforgettable for 

me and I have achieved a lifetime 

accomplishment in the cleaning 

industry by being awarded the BICSc 

Assessor of the Year 2023. 

I know my story is one of many 

that demonstrates how BICSc 

can transform your career when 

coupled with passion, dedication, and 

enthusiasm. I am immensely grateful 

to the organisations I have worked 

for within the facilities management 

industry who have supported my 

participation in BICSc and to the 

entire BICSc team for their steadfast 

guidance throughout my career to 

date. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing 

who is awarded the BICSc Assessor 

of the Year 2024! Good luck to every 

entrant! 

PUNDARIK GHIMIRE 

Soft Services Trainer, 

Infracare Facilites 

Management 

We are all of the same mindset as 

we continue to promote cleaning 

as a career as in the strapline from 

BICSc ‘Career in Cleaning’. There is 

considerable movement in raising the 

profile for the many options open for 

careers in cleaning, support of entry 

level training and across all sectors 

of industry to promote the variety of 

roles. 

Alongside all this the Chartered 

Practitioner status is gaining 

increased traction both in the UK 

and internationally. After years in 

development and a formal launch 

in 2021 the Register (of Chartered 

Practitioners) is celebrating reaching a 

successful millstone of fifty individuals 

who have achieved this accreditation. 

To alleviate some possible 

misconceptions, this is not through 

a course of study or a qualification 

achieved through rigorous training 

programs. This is the opportunity 

to recognise the achievement, the 

success and the professionalism 

of individuals in the cleaning and 

allied industry sectors. There is 

no requirement to belong to or 

participate in the Worshipful 

Company of Environmental Cleaners, 

although any registrant is welcomed to 

do so if they wish. 

Those with proven qualifications at 

degree level or above can proceed 

through the Standard route to 

immediate interview whereas the 

majority have the what has been 

described as a ‘cathartic’ experience 

of the Individual route. Feedback 

has included ‘gives me greater 

professional confidence', 'sets me 

apart from the crowd', ‘gives me 

credibility in the wider chartered 

business world’, ‘a benchmark for 

the future leaders of our industry’ 

and where in recruitment having the 

chartered status allows candidates to 

be viewed more positively in key roles. 

professional experience and expertise. 

Whatever field of the industry you are 

in; not only in operational roles but 

also across manufacturing, janitorial 

supplies and support services such 

as Sales and Marketing, Human 

Resources, Finance. It also includes 

colleagues in Facilities Managers in 

hard and soft management positions. 

Applications are not restricted to 

the UK and welcome international 

candidates too. 

The process is straightforward but 

you are not alone as help is available 

through mentorship and the regular 

virtual workshops. 

The month of May marked the 

presentation of the most recent 

cohort of successful Registrants at the 

next Court Meeting of the Worshipful 

Company of Environmental Cleaners 

where all candidates are recognised 

and welcomed to celebrate at the 

Court Lunch with members and their 

guests. 

The February cohort included: 

Kelsey Hargreaves (BICSc Technical 

Specialist) Jay Adderley, (Operations 

Director Clean Event Services) Peter 

Robb (Business Development Director 

NIC Services Group), Matt Burtinshaw 

(Managing Director, Lime Sustainable 

Supplies) and Lisa Holmes (Services 

Director, Nviro). 

If you would like more information 

on how you can become a Chartered 

Environmental Cleaner, please make 

contact by email CPR@wc-ec.co.uk 

and consider attending the next 

workshops. 

Pictured from left to right: Kelsey Hargreaves (BICSc Technical Specialist), Jay Adderley (Operations Director Clean Event 

Services), Peter Robb (Business Development Director NIC Services Group), Jim Melvin (WCEC Master), Matt Burtinshaw 

(Managing Director, Lime Sustainable Supplies) and Lisa Holmes (Services Director, Nviro) 

The Chartered status is a prestigious 

demonstration of your own 

40 | 41

UV INDEX 

LEVEL LOW 

MEDIUM HIGH VERY HIGH EXTREMELY HIGH 

TO FIND OUT TODAY’S UV LEVEL VISIT: www.metoffice.gov.uk 

PRIORITISE 

UV 

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SUNSCREEN FOR PROFESSIONALS PROTECTS THE 

SKIN FROM THE DANGERS OF UV RADIATION 

SC Johnson Professional conducted a survey of 558 people who regularly 

work outdoors, 16% never use sun protection at work because it wasn’t 

provided by their employer. 

People exposed to UV radiation during their working hours are particularly 

at risk. It is important we prioritise UV protection! 

Outdoor workers, teachers, students, 

maintenance staff and office employees 

are regularly exposed to UV radiation 

during work and should therefore be 

provided with effective UV protection. 

Our research found that more than 

a fifth (22%) of respondents, stated 

that having sun proctection cream 

accessible when needed would 

encourage usage. 

What‘s the most important thing when 

it comes to sun protection cream? 

Over half (54%) said that they 

prioritised high UV protection, 47% said 

that they prefer a non-greasy product, 

and a third said that they placed 

importance on it being water resistant. 

STOKODERM ® SUN 

PROTECT 50 PURE 

*SPF 30 ALSO AVAILABLE 

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the risks and providing guidance to protect against UV. 

Email talktous@scj.com for more information 

SILICONE 

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APPLY SUNSCREEN TO 

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TODAY’S UV LEVEL IS: 

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This product is not to be used as a replacement for PPE. 

• UV-B 50 - high protection 

• UV-A protection 

• UV-C protection 

• Water resistant formulation 

• Non greasy feeling after application 

• Contains glycerine 

• Perfume-free and dye-free 

• Silicone free 

• Compatible with rubber 

manufacturing processes 

Wipe clean with damp cloth only 

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TORK NATURAL COLOUR PRODUCTS 

COMBINE SOFTNESS WITH 

SUSTAINABILITY 

Online training www.bics.org.uk 

Elevate your 

career 

Enhance your 

cleaning 

New from Tork is a range of 

washroom tissue products made 

from 100 per cent recycled 

fibres. 

I tested this recently at a The 

toilet paper and hand towels in 

the Tork Natural Colour range 

have a natural, light brown hue 

which helps to demonstrate a 

customer’s sustainability values 

to employees, guests and visitors. 

And besides being highly 

sustainable, the new products 

are also significantly softer to the 

touch than traditional recycled 

washroom tissue. 

Tork has long been a 

manufacturer of products made 

from office paper, newspaper 

and other high grade materials. 

But these items are becoming a 

scarce resource, says Tork Global 

Brand Innovation Manager Tomas 

Gandemo. “There is a general 

shortage of high-grade recycled 

paper due to more people working 

from home and businesses shifting 

to paper-free behaviours,” he said. 

“At the same time, e-commerce has 

been booming which means the 

supply of used cardboard boxes has 

risen across the globe. So we are 

now using recycled boxes as a fibre 

source.” 

Global Brand Director Toilet 

Systems Ivette Perez Badillo 

says Tork Natural Colour toilet 

paper and hand towels have the 

same quality and softness as Tork 

Advanced products. 

“Customers no longer need to 

choose between sustainability and 

performance,” she said. “The Tork 

Natural Colour product family is a great 

choice for customers who want to show 

their environmental commitment while 

keeping the same high Tork quality.” 

Products in the Tork Natural Colour 

range are Tork Matic® Natural Hand 

Towel Roll; 

Tork Xpress® Soft Natural Multifold 

Hand Towel Advanced; Tork Natural 

Coreless Mid-Size Toilet Roll 

Advanced and Tork Natural Mini 

Jumbo Toilet Roll Advanced. All 

refills may be used with existing Tork 

dispenser systems. 

Around 30-50 per cent of the fibres 

that make up Tork Natural Colour 

products come from used corrugated 

containers while the rest originate 

from other recycled fibre sources 

such as sorted office paper. All 

products are FSC® and EU Ecolabel 

certified. 

And Tork Natural Colour washroom 

products are compatible with Tork 

PaperCircle® - the world’s first 

recycling service for paper towels. 

Customers signing up for Tork 

PaperCircle® have their used 

washroom hand towels picked up 

from their business premises and 

taken to local recycling centres 

where they are turned into other 

tissue products. Around 25 million 

hand towels in 14 countries are 

recycled every month under the 

scheme. 

Around 83 per cent of office 

workers and restaurant visitors 

agree that offering paper towels 

in a natural colour made from 100 

per cent recycled materials is a 

good way for restaurants to show 

their environmental commitment, 

according to user research . 

The study also shows that 87 

per cent of respondents like the 

idea of paper towels being made 

from recycled single-use products 

such as cartons. And 85 per cent 

of office workers said they were 

happy to use natural coloured toilet 

paper provided it was of the same 

quality to which they had become 

accustomed. 

44 | 45

WELCOMING 

OUR NEW 

MEMBERS 

CORPORATE MEMBERS 

UK MEMBERS 

COMPLETE FACILITIES 

MANAGEMENT LTD 

CQD CLEANING 

SERVICES LTD 

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GROUP LIMITED 

OFFICECARE LTD 

CORNWALL CRISIS 

CLEANING 

DART FM SERVICES LTD 

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SERVICES LTD 

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FOUNDATION TRUST 

JA CLEAN SERVICES LTD 

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EAGLE MAINTENANCE & 

CLEANING SERVICES LTD 

LEE CHANNEL SERVICES LTD 

INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS 

A-Z FACILITIES 

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VIVO GROUP LIMITED T/A 

VIVO CLEAN 

SYKES CLEANING GROUP 

LTD 

DARIEN GLOBAL LTD 

JMC CLEANING 

CONTRACTORS LTD 

SWEEPR CLEANING 

SOLUTIONS LTD 

AAA CARING 

CARETAKER LTD 

ACORN ENVIRONMENT 

SERVICES LTD 

FARYED AL-AMAL CO 

(FAOMCO) 

OCTOPUS MEP 

TECHNICAL SERVICES L.L.C 

MANARAT ALAMEED 

(CARENR) 

Get your tickets to the 

BICSc Awards 2024! 

FACILITIES 

MANAGEMENT 

INTEGRATED (PVT) LTD 

PREMIUM HOSPITALITY 

W.L.L 

SAUDI BUILDING TECHNIC 

MAINTENANCE 

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