FOCUS CLEANING
the future, due both to Brexit and recent
changes in immigration rules. Despite
the fact that overseas staƒ are such an
important part of the cleaning and hygiene
sector’s workforce, immigration rules
currently class cleaning operatives as
‘unskilled’ or being exempt of skill which
makes it much harder for people from
overseas to come into this country to work
in the industry.
Says Melvin: “The view that staƒ are
exempt of skill is completely unjustified
and misguided – as indeed the COVID19
pandemic has ably demonstrated. I do
not recall anyone being concerned that
socalled
‘unskilled’ hygiene operatives
were helping to keep people safe. However,
I do recall the Prime Minister amongst
others praising our teams. As these
tragic circumstances have
shown cleaning and hygiene
operatives are not only
doing skilled and
essential work but
doing it extremely
well. That should
not and cannot be
forgotten.”
The BCC has
been concerned
about the future
in relation to the
Immigration Act
and its contents and
is calling for a change in
immigration rules as part of
its strategic approach.
Cleanology CEO Dominic Ponniah
points out that the pandemic may have
gone some way to raising the status of
cleaners as key workers, but he adds: “We
have a long way to go to before cleaning
operatives are valued as highly as they
deserve. At management level, our industry
struggles to attract the top candidates, who
feel cleaning is not as bright and sparkly as
other sectors like hospitality or retail.”
When it comes to recruitment adds
Ponniah: “Our recent candidates have been
drawn by our work on sustainability or fair
pay, rather than a driving desire to work in
cleaning.”
While sustainability may have appeared
to take a back seat during the pandemic,
it still plays an important role in the
cleaning sector. At Mitie, in addition to
using net zero emission electric vehicles
to transport cleaning supplies across
customers’ sites, all products it utilises are
checked thoroughly, with in many cases
solutions focused on reducing the amount
of packaging of the products and limiting
the landfill waste that cleaning services
generate.
Says Davis: “We decided to replace the
cleaning products with chemicalfree
36 SEPTEMBER 2021
Davis believes there is a science to
cleaning services: “And this requires both
skills and knowledge, from health and
safety to infection control, and cleaning best
practice to using new technology. We know
that all these areas are important when it
comes to training teams so we’ve developed
courses and guidance to help our colleagues
not only develop the skills they need to
deliver excellent services for our customers,
but also to progress their careers.”
On a broader scale adds Melvin: “The BCC
is actively involved in The Apprenticeship
Levy Trailblazer Group on behalf of the
industry. Currently we have no accreditation
despite the fact that we are a £56 billion
industry employing 1.47 million staƒ . That
simply cannot be justified as it results in a
great many companies within the industry
not being able to use the Apprenticeship
Levy funds to deliver more apprentices,
which is a stated part of Government
policy. In eƒ ect, we are paying monies for
a Government led accreditation that we
currently do not have full access to, and
as such can arguably be described as a
stealth tax. We have recently had some
promising discussions with The Institute of
Apprenticeships and Technical Education
and remain extremely hopeful that this may
change.
“The Worshipful Company of
Environmental Cleaners have been working
diligently on the Chartered Practitioners
Register for Environmental Cleaning.
Between the register and any potential
success in the Apprenticeship Levy, there
is arguably a pathway for a cradle to grave
industry development programme.
“These are just some obvious examples
of the plethora of work that is currently
being undertaken within the industry.
If successful, it is hard to imagine that
there would be any evidence to support
a continued claim that our cleaning and
hygiene teams could ever be seen to be
exempt of skill.”
alternatives and, if this wasn’t a feasible
option, to start using predosed sachets –
made of recyclable material, of course
– to limit the amount of chemicals
we use and the number of
bulky products that need to
be transported around the
country.”
Mitie is also using
technology to make cleaning
services more sustainable.
For example, with some of
its NHS Trust customers, it’s
rolledout
autonomous scrubberdrier
robots. Meanwhile, at Mitie’s
We have a long way to go
to before cleaning operatives are
valued as highly as they deserve.
At management level, our industry
struggles to attract the top candidates,
who feel cleaning is not as bright
Head Oƒ ice in The Shard and at some
and sparkly as other sectors
like hospitality or retail.”
customers’ sites, including oƒ ices, train
stations and airports, UV light disinfection
systems have been installed to reduce the
amount of virus and bacteria in the air
and on surfaces without having to use any
chemicals.
For the BCC, says Melvin: “Virtually
everyone within the cleaning and hygiene
industry is likely to be completing or working
on their sustainability and environmental
strategies and SDG’s (Sustainable
Development Goals) which may include
areas such as carbon oƒ setting and will
almost certainly include financial accounting
under ESG as a yearend
requirement.
“In doing so they continue to ensure
that cleanliness and hygiene are fully
maintained whilst also working towards
SDG’s. All of the approaches taken by the
industry are also demonstrated at events
such as The Cleaning Show and via the CSSA
(Cleaning and Support Services Association)
Innovation Showcase.”
SKILLS SET
Alongside the recruitment challenge is that
of ensuring cleaning operatives are oƒ ered
the best training possible. The BCC regards
training programmes and the development
of teams as the lifeblood of the industry.