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New dates announced for postponed APPG inquiry into cleaning and hygiene during Covid-19

The remaining two sessions of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry inquiry into the role of cleaning and hygiene during the Covid-19 pandemic will take place on 11 October and 18 October. 

The APPG inquiry, entitled Embedding Effective Hygiene for a Resilient UK, held its first session earlier this month but the final two sessions were postponed following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for the duration of the national period of mourning.

The inquiry is examining what was successful and what was not from the national approach to cleaning and hygiene during the pandemic to ensure lessons can be learnt. These will be taken forward to increase disease resilience to current common infections and help inform the UK’s response to any similar future public health emergency.

The review aims to produce a report with policy recommendations which will feed into the national UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The upcoming sessions are structured as follows:

  • Tuesday 11 October, from 10am: Evidence from contractors who delivered cleaning services at the time, alongside suppliers and manufacturers of cleaning and hygiene products which were very much in demand during the pandemic
  • Tuesday 18 October, from 10am: Evidence from owners and landlords of a variety of buildings who had to deliver high standards of cleaning and hygiene during the pandemic, in order to protect the public.

BCC Chairman Jim Melvin said: “We are pleased to see the APPG inquiry resume and look forward to what we believe will be two incredibly important and insightful sessions. I would encourage industry members to take the time to watch the discussions.

“These sessions must play a key role in ensuring that lessons are learnt nationally from the role of cleaning and hygiene during the current pandemic, so that the UK is ready if and, undoubtedly when, Coronavirus variants or other viruses return in the future.

“These sessions will give the cleaning and hygiene industry the opportunity to discuss its vital role keeping people heathy, safe and well and give its expert opinions to MPs on how we ensure that cleanliness and hygiene become and remain a top, national priority going forward.

“As such, the inquiry is a vital stage in our campaign for more recognition for the crucial work of staff as frontline workers and the importance of the industry.”

Industry members are again being encouraged to watch the remaining sessions. Anyone interested in watching either of the Zoom sessions is invited to email compsec@britishcleaningcouncil.org by 6pm on the day before the session they want to attend. Each session will need to be applied for separately, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Webinar: Use of tech in helping FMs deliver ESG

FMJ, in partnership with PlanRadar, is pleased to bring together a panel of experts to discuss achieving ESG using the power of digitisation.

According to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) the UK’s built environment is responsible for 25 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and a large proportion of the commercial stock in the UK requires further investment to become environmentally sustainable. With climate deadlines looming, urgent action is needed.

The pandemic taught us the importance of utilising digital technology to protect people. FMs are now aware of the use of accurate data to help manage assets as well as occupants, by streamlining maintenance programmes, monitoring building assets performance and measuring the amount of energy being used.

FMs have a key role in meeting ESG goals, which include:

* Environment: Meeting sustainability goals, including net zero targets, waste reduction and recycling

* Social: Maintaining health and safety, delivering social value, equality and diversity, duty of care and investment in skills

* Governance: Compliance with all regulatory requirements and legislation, and reducing errors by the use of robust data processes.

The webinar will take place on the 11th October at 11am.

Register for the webinar here.

If you are unable to attend please register and we will send through a recording of the event post webinar.

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