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Cleaning Hygiene Today April 2016

FEATURE INTERVIEW technologies and better training. The BCC has also got close ties with the immigration authorities and we’re trying, with them to cut out a lot of the illegal practices that goes on with within the cleaning industry. So there’s big changes taking place and but I think the industry is getting stronger, and we’re now takling head on some of the challenges, like low pay, that have dogged us for so long. What will be the effect of the recent Living Wage introduction on the cleaning industry? We welcome the Living Wage as it will force less scrupulous operators to pay the going rate, and that is the right thing to do. One of the BCC’s core values is to fight for the dignity of the cleaning operative, and so we believe paying staff a decent living wage is not only a moral issue, it can actually be beneficial to the business, as staff are more likely to stay with the company. What is the cleaning industry’s place within the larger FM sphere? Should cleaning be subsumed this way? Building cleaning will always stand on its own because it’s so specialised. Some areas like street cleaning for instance FM wouldn’t get involved in, so there’ll always be a need for specialised cleaning contractors. An example of that can be found with the CSSA who recently relaunched. They had been set to join Building Futures Group (before its demise) but members wanted it to remain independent, 12 APRIL 2016 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY partly because it filled a highly skilled niche market. At both FMJ and CHT we often hear complaints from cleaners about being overlooked and under trained. Of course it is a relatively low paid, high turnover industry but do cleaning firms (big boys in particular) need to treat staff better? Respect for cleaning operatives is very important, and is something all BCC members buy into. We believe in good quality training, and encourage it wherever possible. But there are also good financial reasons why companies should treat employees well. Decent pay and conditions and good quality training can go a long way to reducing staff churn, and can actually improve productivity. Will recent initiatives like the EHRC campaign improve the lot of cleaners? The BCC was part of the EHRC’s taskforce and is fully behind the ‘Know Your Rights at Work campaign.’ We’d like to encourage all cleaning contractors to use their influence to promote fairness, dignity and respect for cleaning operatives in all corners of our industry. Hopefully campaigns like this can help and be part of a wider process to make our industry better and fairer. The British Cleaning Council is the voice of the UK cleaning industry. It was established in 1982 to coordinate the affairs of the industry and to be responsible at home and abroad on industry matters. The BCC provides a forum for members to meet and work together to raise the profile of the industry and help it gain the credibility it deserves. It also promotes and encourages improvements in health, hygiene and general cleanliness standards. The BCC has 21 members, which cover every facet of the multi-million pound UK cleaning industry. Along with Quartz Publishing & Exhibitions, the British Cleaning Council co-owns the world-renowned Cleaning Show. This is a regular and well-regarded exhibition held at the ExCel Centre London every two years, and is a highlight of the international cleaning industry calendar. The aim is to provide a showcase that both reflects and caters for the UK industry`s needs, with BCC ploughing profits back into the industry, helping us pursue our policy of furthering the educational, training and promotional needs of its member bodies.


Cleaning Hygiene Today April 2016
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