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1、2023TRENDSREPORT CONTENTS2023 TRENDS REPORT03FOREWORDAn introduction from PaulSweeney,Event Director,TheCleaning Show04RECRUITMENT&THERESOURCE CHALLENGE08UPSKILLING THEINDUSTRY10TECHNOLOGY:ASUPPORTIVE ROLE14FOSTERINGSUSTAINBILITY17A PERCEPTIONPROBLEM19SUMMARYOver the past three years,the cleaning se
2、ctor has witnessed meaningfulchange.It was thrown into the spotlight during the pandemic,proudlyand professionally taking a frontline position as it played a critical role incleaning and sanitation practices.This not only served to demonstrate theimportance of the cleaning and hygiene industry but i
3、ts frontline role insafeguarding and protecting the public.During this time,consumers andbusiness owners also developed a growing appreciation for its part inkeeping people and places safe.Today,while the pandemic has largely taken a backseat,new challengesare presenting themselves to business owner
4、s as well as the cleaning andhygiene operatives working in the sector.The emergence of thetwindemic which refers to a growing flu epidemic coupled with newwaves of COVID-19 variants,demonstrates the continued importance ofenhanced cleaning regimes.However,the transition into the rhythm ofthe new nor
5、mal comes with wider business difficulties,from risingenergy prices to supply chain disruptions and a cost-of-living crisis.The Cleaning Show 2023 Trends Report is the result of insights fromleading experts at the forefront of the industry.Their insights andpredictions are supported by the trends du
6、e to be represented at thisyears The Cleaning Show,which returns to London from 14-16 March2023.We believe it is these trends that will impact the industry now,next and inthe future.While there may be uncertainty currently impacting businessowner decisions,we are excited to explore how the current c
7、hallenges aredriving innovation and change within this exciting and highly valuableindustry.FOREWORDPAUL SWEENEYEVENT DIRECTORThe Cleaning Show returns to ExCeL,London from 14-16 March 2023 todemonstrate the very latest advancements in cleaning technologies andprovide unmissable learning and sourcin
8、g opportunities for the cleaning andhygiene sector,which together with the waste industry is one of the biggestsectors in the UK,worth nearly 59bn and employing 1.47m people.The show,organised by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz BusinessMedia,is set to attract more than 100 cleaning suppliers
9、,with the likes ofJangro,Numatic,Makita UK,Karcher UK,Nilfisk and SC Johnson Professionalamong those confirmed to exhibit.Registration for The Cleaning Show 2023 is now open.To register for your freepass to attend and to find out more about this years event,visit:https:/cleaningshow.co.uk/london/The
10、re are many reasons for the current recruitment crisis,from reduced migration post-Brexit to high levels of theworkforce not returning to work post-pandemic,as wellas competing industries that are able to offer moreattractive pay,training,and benefit opportunities.Delia Cannings,Director,Environment
11、al ExcellenceTraining&Development Ltd highlighted two notableshifts in the workforce during the pandemic.Sheexplained,“First,there were lots of new entrants joiningthe cleaning industry through default.A lot of these werepeople that had never considered the industry as a careerchoice,but they were l
12、eft with situations where theydidnt have work,and agencies were offering more forthese jobs.The surge of new entrants was,itself,quiteheart-warming.However,conversely,we also saw a mass exodus of stafffrom the industry because the Government did notrecognise or give key status to our cleaning teams,
13、whoworked tirelessly through the pandemic,helped us to getinto a recovery position and then limped away,fracturedbecause the industry was broken.So,we had new entrants coming in without training,often sent from agencies,and those existing,long-standing,experienced staff leaving in droves.”It is wide
14、ly recognised that the UK is struggling with the worst staff shortagesince the late 1990s,amid a perfect storm of unique challenges.In its latestresearch,the Office for National Statistics(ONS)revealed that job vacanciesremain at record highs,with workforce jobs rising by 97,000 in September2022,to
15、a new record of 36.2 million.RECRUITMENT ANDTHE RESOURCE CHALLENGEAccording to Jim Melvin,Chairman of the British CleaningCouncil(BCC),there are currently 126,000 vacancies in theUK cleaning sector.He revealed that while theGovernment talks about employment figures being thebest theyve been since 19
16、74 which he admitted theyare the challenge facing business owners is that thereare more jobs vacant than there are people looking forwork.Speaking about these challenges,he explained:“The 59billion cleaning,hygiene and waste sector has beensuffering from severe staff shortages for a number ofreasons
17、 amongst which are a tightening of immigrationrules following Brexit aligned with cleaning and hygieneprofessionals being incorrectly labelled as unskilled.Thishas made it much harder for the sector to employworkers from overseas.Many firms are struggling torecruit the staff they need,and the situat
18、ion is gettingworse daily.The industry is desperate for the same kind ofhelp that other sectors such as poultry,truck drivingand fruit picking received during the pandemic.Whenall of the above are put together,it should come as nosurprise that staff feel socially unaccepted and leave theUK.Added to
19、that was the fact that a number of workersleft the UK to go home having not been able to see orhelp their families across the pandemic period.”Delia added,“The Government were making jobs like fruitpicking and driving heavy goods vehicles very attractive.Itwas a nice trend to see new people coming i
20、nto thecleaning and hygiene industry,but it was withouttraining.We lost a lot of people because of Brexit,andmore when the immigration status changed.”Jim and Delias reference to the Immigration Acthighlights the impact of new rules introduced in 2021 coupled with Brexit which resulted in many forei
21、gnnationals leaving the country.According to BCC figures,the cleaning and hygiene industry has traditionallydepended on employees of all nationalities,with LabourForce Survey figures from 2020 showing that 20%of thenational cleaning and hygiene industry workforce werefrom overseas,rising to 55%in Lo
22、ndon.Paul Ashton,Chairman of the Cleaning&Support ServicesAssociation,explained.“Rising labour costs and a reducedlabour pool is placing commercial cleaning and hygienecompanies under unprecedented levels of stress.Employers are continually looking for ways to retain theiremployees and maintain serv
23、ice levels.The statisticsspeak for themselves and there are simply not enoughpeople either available or prepared to work in ourindustry so the fight is on.We are working with ourmembership to help identify ways to support the fight fora reduced pool of people.“Our industry has always relied on migra
24、nt workers,butthe latest statistics for the cleaning industry are as high as40%,whereas many other industries sit at 20%.The harshreality,according to BCCs research,is that some 50-60%of companies cant fulfil the hours that theyrecontractually committed to due to labour shortages.Action is needed an
25、d now.”Kim Phillips MBE,Head of Catering&Facilities Services atRotherham Metropolitan Borough Council,added:“Thecost-of-living crisis has been well-publicised andsignificant media focus has been on employeesundertaking entry-level employment which wouldinclude cleaning operatives in many areas of th
26、e industry.“In April 2022,the living wage,which most LocalAuthorities pay for entry-level employment was agreed at9.50,in April 2023 this was increased to 10.42.For mostcleaning operatives,they will see a rise in hourly pay in ashort timeframe of over 10%.”The wage increase is a positive step for th
27、e recognition ofa cleaning operative role and attracting new personnelinto the industry.However,as Kim explains,theseincreases“generate potential financial trading problemsfor most local authority Direct Service Providers.”Adding further insights into the realities of staff shortages,Hamid Ghadry,Fa
28、cilities Services Manager,Estates&Campus Services,University of Northampton,explained:“Brexit was the starting point.It affected our industry,andmore directly our own portfolio.We have 67 buildingsand more than 160 cleaning operatives,and we noted asignificant loss of employees.Now,people are notapp
29、lying for these jobs.Were a good employer,we offera living wage,we train our employees,provide PPE everything they need to do a good job,but there is still alack of people looking for work,or turned off by thesometimes,anti-social hours.”Meanwhile,Dominic Ponniah,CEO of Cleanology,saidthe companys l
30、atest efforts to recruit had shown himthat there was not enough appeal in the industry forcandidates to want to join it.Speaking to FacilitateMagazine,he said:“The situation was brought home tome recently when Cleanology recruited for a keymanagement role.We interviewed a number of excellentcandidat
31、es and,while they liked our sustainability,diversity,and wellbeing initiatives,I was taken aback tohear five of our applicants say,I like the company,but theindustry isnt sexy enough.”There is a widespread consensus that recruitment ismuch harder today.BCC research suggests that thecleaning,waste ma
32、nagement,landscaping and facilitiesmanagement industries will generate 93,000 new jobs by2024.However,29%of those jobs have been classified ashard to fill.Lorcan Mekitarian,Chairman of the Cleaning&HygieneSuppliers Association(CHSA)suggests that the lack ofcleaning and hygiene operators has been one
33、 of thebiggest challenges to emerge in 2022 and was a clear“carryover from Brexit and COVID”.Meanwhile,theramifications as a result of the labour shortage havedriven a bigger push for automated cleaning systems androbotics.In a dedicated report on the Recruitment Challenge,Yvonne Taylor,Global Head
34、of Cleaning at OCS Group UK,suggested,“As an industry,we must maintain thepressure on our government to recognise the level of skillrequired for the role,aligning with the essential role thatour industry provides across all business sectors.”The report also demonstrates why as an industry there iswo
35、rk to be done to highlight the great choice of thecleaning industry as a career.All the experts interviewedagreed;this has historically been a challenge for manyoperatives who do not see it as a career choice but ashort-term option of employment.One of the biggest questions the industry needs toaddr
36、ess is why people do not consider a career in thecleaning industry,and shift the focus to promote themany,diverse opportunities available.Highlighting the opportunities in the cleaning industry,Dominic Ponniah said,“Cleaning and facilitiesmanagement is a great place to be if you are a graduatelookin
37、g for higher-than-average pay and greatprogression opportunities.We have had cleaners andsupervisors,with little spoken English,progress tobecome managers and directors.There is nothingunsexy about that!Whereas in the fashion industry,withall its perceived glamour,unless you are like NaomiCampbell,m
38、any roles are based on low pay,long,unsociable hours and menial tasks.Our biggest challenge is a perceived lack of glamour.Butif we shout a bit louder about all the benefits,and workharder to address our shortfalls,we might find theindustry becomes a more vibrant,diverse place.WAYS THE INDUSTRY CAN
39、ATTRACT NEW EMPLOYEESProvide the best employment terms not just pay,but benefits such ashealthcare,life insurance,and financial services.Investment in ongoing training and development.Introduce flexible working opportunities,where possible,afforded by the shift indemand for more daytime cleaning.Pro
40、mote the increased use of technology,such as robotics.Focus on the perception of the industry and the cross-industry efforts to raise theprofile and perception of the industry for the future.One of the biggest initiatives in this area is the proposalfor an accredited,industry-wide Apprenticeship Lev
41、ytraining programme.The Apprenticeship Levy waslaunched by the Government in 2017 to create long-termsustainable funding for apprenticeships.Currently,only2%of employers pay the Apprenticeship Levy,a small UKtax of 0.5%of their total annual pay bill.However,with noapprenticeship scheme in the cleani
42、ng sector,employerslose out on the opportunity to invest Apprenticeship Levyfunds on training or upskilling staff.The Cleaning Hygiene Operative apprenticeship,sponsored by the British Cleaning Council andspearheaded by a trailblazer group of industry experts,has now been approved by the Institute f
43、orApprenticeships and Technical Education(IfATE)withefforts now focused on progressing this to the institute ofApprenticeships.Speaking about these efforts,Jim Melvin,explained,“Theindustry has continuously stated the importance of beingable to utilise the Apprenticeship Levy funding andshown overwh
44、elming support for the idea of training anddevelopment aligned to,and with an apprenticeship for,the sector.This is a hugely important initiative,so theprogress achieved to date marks a significant stepforward.“It is a prime example of the unified and collectiveapproach that is required to ensure th
45、ose working in thesector get the technical skills needed.Recognised as an urgent priority for the industry in 2023 and beyond,all theexperts interviewed agreed that upskilling and reskilling will play a significant rolein responding to current challenges,as well as ensuring the industry is equippedf
46、or the obstacles that lie ahead.UPSKILLING THE INDUSTRYIt will also without a doubt assist in the removal of anylow-skilled perceptions that remain or that are levelled atthe industry despite the fact that they are franklyuneducated and completely incorrect.Its been 18months of hard work led by the
47、Head of Cleaning atSodexo UK and Ireland,Lauren Kyle and Head of End-Point Assessment and Responsible Officer at LEIA,KarenSlade,who have both done a splendid job along with allmy colleagues on the Trailblazer team on behalf of theassociations and companies represented.”In a report issued by the All
48、-Party Parliamentary Group(APPG)for the cleaning and hygiene industry,itsmembers,which includes 53 MPs and two Members ofthe House of Lords,outlined 11 recommendations forGovernment,regulators,and the industry itself.Amongthese recommendations,the panel agreed that“astandard qualification for cleani
49、ng should be developedwithin the Apprenticeship Levy to improve the quantity,quality and career prospects of people entering thecleaning industry.”Meanwhile,other recommendations included greatertraining budgets for cleaning staff within both public andprivate enterprises,while the group recommended
50、 thaturgent consideration should be given to making cleaningstaff eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa scheme.Delia Cannings added:“During the pandemic,and thesurge of new entrants,there was this massive rush to getpeople skilled,or to at least profess that they had beentrained and were skilled.The
51、difficulty many companiesfaced is that the Government had not put any funding inplace for training and education.This has raisedawareness of the need for consistency,standardisation,minimum requirements and qualifications for those whoclean for a living.“We also need to recognise that during the pan
52、demic anumber of pop-up companies appeared who became“experts”in cleaning.They did not necessarily have thecorrect training and were running around withGhostbuster packs spraying toxic chemicals into theenvironment.The problem here is that these peopledidnt need licenses to spray these chemicals in
53、the waythat you do if youre spraying pest control chemicals.Itwas a pandemic-related trend that were now trying tocounteract in the aftermath.”Speaking about the future,Jim Melvin,said:“The keymessage is the need to ensure that cleaning and hygieneis given top priority in the future,as was so ablyde
54、monstrated by the bravery and commitment of ourcleaning and hygiene professional operatives during thepandemic.We can no longer be the last to be thought ofand the first to be needed.“The public will be healthier,happier,and safer if cleaningand hygiene is recognised as a key,frontline service witha
55、 vital role in terms of public health.But it must also bemade clear that if this report is not acted on,the risk willremain,and the Government simply cannot allow thatprice to be paid.”APPG RECOMMENDATIONS:Urgent consideration must be given to making cleaning staff eligible for the SkilledWorker Vis
56、a scheme.A standard qualification for cleaning should be developed within the Apprenticeship Levyto improve the quantity,quality and career prospects of people entering the cleaningindustry.Training budgets for cleaning staff within both public and private enterprises to beadequate.The Government sh
57、ould support the cleaning and hygiene industry to promote arealignment in perceptions of the industry.As Kim Phillips MBE,explains,“Since the pandemic,thereis a growing recognition of cleaning activities asprofessional services and has resulted in an emergingsector assisted by technology.”Here,autom
58、ation has led the charge,allowing cleaningcontractors to improve efficiency,and better allocate staffto areas that cannot be covered by machines.Furthermore,the increased use of cobotics orcollaborative robots,along with sensors,IoT and newbattery technologies is progressing the strides alreadymade.
59、Speaking about the role of technology in the nextchapter of the cleaning industries,Paul Ashton,said,“Thefuture of cleaning has never been so exciting.Technologyis having a profound impact on our industry,which couldbe quite intimidating for some people.The harsh reality isthat if we embrace tech,we
60、 have immense opportunityto support our front-line teams with effective automationwhich will help address the wider resource challenge.Thecleaning service of tomorrow is truly data-led,creatingintelligent solutions that drive positive change andminimise our impact on planet Earth.Making informeddeci
61、sions has never been easier.“The CSSA is here to support our members on the techjourney and help them introduce state-of-the-artprocesses so they may evolve and succeed in the modernmarketplace.The key step is to not see it as a threat,butan enhancer and use it to tackle the current challengesfacing
62、 the industry.”For a long time,the cleaning industry has been a predominantly manualindustry.However,its digital transformation over the past decade has seengroundbreaking technologies deployed.TECHNOLOGY:A SUPPORTIVEROLEAmong the technologies identified by the expertsinterviewed,data-led dynamic cl
63、eaning,the evolution ofrobotics and autonomous cleaning,geofencing andsensor technology were all noted,along with the rise ofsmart buildings.Speaking about how sensor technology is impacting theindustry,Paul Ashton recalled the opportunities itprovides to demonstrate a wider perspective onoccupancy
64、levels,leading to a more intelligent anddynamic approach to cleaning.“Using sensor technologyto enable smart buildings,particularly in this post-pandemic climate of increased flexible working,wereable to prove how a space is being used and createcleaning solutions which meet the actual demands ofeac
65、h location.We can add genuine value anddemonstrate a wider scope of services provided by thecommercial cleaning and hygiene company oftomorrow.”This is a significant development for both the cleaningindustry and its customers.Cleaning costs on a particularbuilding are influenced by a number of issue
66、s includingthe use of a building;the hours of operation;hours ofaccess for cleaning and hygiene operatives;frequenciesof cleaning;and finally,the level of cleaning required.Gaining a full picture of the use case helps to accuratelyinform the decisions required to ensure services are fit forpurpose.H
67、e continued,“Were able to show our clients exactbuilding usage levels,as well as the peak activity periodsin terms of timings and days of the week.Data enables usto potentially reconfigure the schedule,creating new shiftpatterns that enable greater recruitment success.As partof any solutions offered
68、,we can identify opportunities toreduce their lighting and energy bills,which is especiallypertinent given the current cost-of-living crisis.“Its this intelligent approach that is expanding thetraditional cleaning remit into the wider FM space andchances external opinions about the potential impact
69、ofthe cleaning sector.A highlight from a recent clientsurvey read:Youre more like a tech company than acleaning company.This feels like you are the future.”The shift to using data-led intelligence is also helping toboost efficiency,productivity,and staff welfare.Takegeofencing,for example.When used,
70、it enablescompanies to track the movement of their employees inreal-time.From a staff wellbeing perspective,this isparticularly important.If a site only has one or two peoplein attendance,and they have a fall or accident,employerscan check in on their welfare.Another area of growth,owing to the fast
71、-pacedtechnological advancements converging in automation,machine learning,engineering,and artificial intelligence,is the utilisation of robotics.Predicted to grow at a CAGRof 24.6%to 2027,service robots that work collaborativelywith the workforce-rather than the commonmisconception of robotics repl
72、acing the workforce-arehelping to drive operational efficiencies.This growth is evident by the types of well-establishedtechnology companies joining the sector.This includesJapanese robotics business,SoftBank Group.Thecompanys robotic cleaning solutions are designed toaddress the gap between growing
73、 customer needs and ashrinking workforce.Meanwhile,British informationservices company,InfoGrid provides the technology anddata that powers JLLs Dynamic Cleaning offering.Here,real-time building data is integrated into Infogridsbuilding intelligence platform,which then generatestrends and real-time
74、workplace usage reports.However,there are cases where technology,such asnano-coating or surface treatments,need to be proven totruly play an effective role.Lorcan Mekitarian spoke aboutthis in relation to the emergence of new technologiesduring the pandemic.He said:“Covid proved that thereare huge g
75、aps in testing regimes and claims can be verywoolly and not challenged.During the pandemic,we sawfogging machines and peroxide sprays used,but therewas no framework to either prove their efficiency ordisprove them.”Paul Ashton offered a similar perspective,suggesting thatincreased governance and use
76、 of innovation to validateall aspects of service delivery from proof of presence,cleaning standards,access to data and validating trainingand development is required.Thankfully,there are cases where testing suchtechnologies is having a proven,significant impact.Speaking from his perspective as Group
77、 Chief Executive ofExclusive Services Group,Jim Melvin recalled efforts takento deep clean Adams Park Stadium home to theWycombe Wanderers ahead of an importantchampionship game.In just nine hours,ExclusiveSpecialists Services team were able to sanitise the areasrequired within the 10,000-capacity s
78、tadium completewith full surface e adenosine tri-phosphate(ATP)surfacehygiene testing.“In another one of the trends identified,Jim Melvinpointed to battery technology as one of the biggestemerging developments to have a significant impact onthe future of the industry.Cleaning machines all require hi
79、gh quality batteries toensure performance and long autonomy.However,thecleaning industry offers significant challenges for batterymanufacturers and distributors,given the often less thanoptimal charging conditions.However,continued advancements in battery technology such as increased energy density,
80、which reduce weightand size and improve durability,mean battery-poweredcleaning equipment can go further.This is a critical development for operators when cleaningmajor facilities such as stadiums or airports.Furthermore,the continued development and adoption of new batterytechnologies will further
81、revolutionise the cleaningindustry,increasing productivity and efficiency.It enablesbusinesses to drive ROI,focus on creating the cleanestenvironment possible,and build a safer and healthierwork environment for employees.However,not all are convinced that technology is makingsuch a big difference.De
82、lia Cannings said:“If Im honest,Idont see that technology,such as robotics,are makingany significant adjustments where Ive seen themimplemented.Some of the bigger contractors will dobecause theyre showcasing their company.But theyvenot been trialled enough to have identified what thepitfalls might b
83、e.And there is a concern that they will replace people inthe workforce,but they still need to be programmed,andcleaned and there are limitations on what they can do.She continued,“Technology is a wonderful thing,and weneed technology,especially when we consider things likehigh-powered pressure washe
84、rs and steam cleaners.However,Im not overly convinced about robotics just yet they work in bigger environments such as airports,butwhere a building is predominately having a heavy footfall,Im not sure they are the way forward.”Furthermore,while advances in technology may becreating all new possibili
85、ties in the industry,HamidGhadry is quick to highlight the context in whichtechnologies are being deployed.He explains,“whiletechnology is important,not all tasks can be fullyautomated,and even where the technology is available,you need to have the capital expenditure in the first placeto implement
86、it.”He believes that technology-when used wisely canmake a significant impact,using the example of cleaningthe floors of a large open lobby or reception area.Here,just 30 minutes of automated cleaning can replace up tosix hours of manual labour driving efficiencies and jobquality for operatives.THE
87、BIGGEST 2023 TECHNOLOGY TRENDS:SENSOR TECHNOLOGYDATA-LED DYNAMIC CLEANING ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMOUS CLEANING GEOFENCINGBATTERY TECHNOLOGYAs Delia Cannings explained,“everybody has a duty ofcare to demonstrate that they are adhering to thesustainability agenda and some are,but some arent.”As part of it
88、s remit to help the industry prosper,maintain,and enhance standards on quality,ethics andsustainability,the Cleaning&Hygiene SuppliersAssociation formally launched its Roadmap toSustainability in 2022,built on five pillars:product,packaging,transportation,social values and corporateenvironmental imp
89、act.Speaking about the initiative,Lorcan Mekitarian said:“Sustainability is one of the biggest issues facing oursector and it is one of the most complex.Identifying thebest way forward and making the right environmentallyand ethically sustainable choices is challenging.Itsparticularly tough when set
90、 in the context of day-to-daycommercial pressures and the current huge escalation inthe cost of energy.“Our approach isnt a one size fits all,but the five pillarsprovide our members with the building blocks to focuson whats attainable.For example,zero waste to landfill.Looking ahead,it is important
91、for suppliers to understandthe impact of new legislations,such as ExtendedProducer Responsibility(EPR)policies and the impact thishad on the packaging used by chemical suppliers.”Business owners are faced with the continual challenge of understanding andnavigating the complexities of environmental s
92、ustainability,while managing andgrowing a business in an increasingly difficult climate.FOSTERINGSUSTAINABILITYAdding to the debate,Jim Melvin highlighted the effortsmade by his own team at The Exclusive Services Group tofocus on its own performance and carbon footprint.“Wehave reduced virtually all
93、 our packaging and productbasket numbers.We had over 100 products;we now havejust over 30.But,its more important than just our product line,it hasbecome part of the culture.We invested in specialistknowledge and employed a Sustainability andEnvironmental Expert to help us answer such questionsas to
94、what our strategy was going to be?What was itgoing to look like?And how were we going to get to netzero?“Weve completed scope one and two now our biggestconcern is the fleet used within our organisation as wetransition to electric vehicles(EV)and hybrids.The nextchallenge is scope three,where it bec
95、omes morecomplex.That is indirect value chain emissions.In otherwords,what is your effect on a clients premises and howdo you measure that?”Electric vehicles were also recognised by Paul Ashton,who spoke about the use of EV vehicles at Birkin Group.“46%of our fleet are fully electric,with four high-
96、speedcharge points installed at our Grays office for easy accessto our operational team,”explained Paul Ashton.“Its been a big change for the team but theyveembraced the opportunity to go green and are keen tobe at the forefront.Everyone we speak to is trying to goelectric,so its great to see a genu
97、ine commitment toreducing carbon in that way.”He also highlighted how responsible purchasing iscreating a positive shift within the industry.“Its great tosee so many industry leaders making purchasingdecisions based on more than just price”,he explained.Today,supporting waste management initiatives
98、and thezero-to-landfill commitment,cutting back emissions fromvehicles,reducing the impact of cleaning products andensuring environmental awareness is driving change.In addition to the technologies helping to drivesustainability,there is a growing discussion about the useof chemicals,leading to prod
99、uct innovations in chemical-free,natural,and biodegradable products.Speaking about the University of Northamptons efforts tomeet its targets,such as Net Zero Carbon by 2030,HamidGhadry said,“For most organisations,especially those inthe public sector like Higher Education,sustainability is ahigh pri
100、ority.Our own mission and values have been setthat by 2030,all practices should emit no carbon.Anysuppliers responding to tenders must consider this,whileany cleaning products used must be green,eco-friendly,and independently verified.Any containers are recycled its all part of a good procurement pr
101、actice.However,thisneeds to be embraced across all organisations andsectors,while verification is key to avoid greenwashing.”However,one concern that has emerged with theincreased use of green products is their efficacy.While ashift to using eco-friendly and antiviral products willremain paramount,p
102、roving their role in providingsustainable yet Covid-safe hygienic workplaces will be atop priority.“There is definitely a drive and appetite for naturalingredients,”explains Ashton.“But there is a wider pieceabout the science.We can reduce our impact by usinglocally sourced ingredients and manufactu
103、rers,as well asaddressing how we distribute and recycle our products.While there is definitely a focus on a more naturalapproach,and actually the choice of products is certainlyexpanding,there is still a peace around greenwashing tobe addressed.”Paul Ashton added:“Greenwashing is something that weal
104、l need to be aware of and look for the signs of wherefalse claims are being made.How do we know the claimsmade by certain products is true?The more awarenesswe can generate,and look to create a consistent standardto work collaboratively towards,we will be able toidentify warning signs,hold each othe
105、r to account andhelp remove greenwashing altogether.At the CSSA,we have engaged with Professor RobHoldaway,a leading independent consultant to conductin-depth analysis and create an ESG maturity matrix forour industry to help our members understand thebaseline and recognise best practice in action.”
106、ZERO TO LANDFILL COMMITMENT CUTTING BACK EMISSIONS INCREASED USE OF EV AND HYBRID EMISSIONSREDUCING THE IMPACT OF CLEANING PRODUCTSUSE OF IOT SENSOR TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE EFFICIENCYCREATE A CULTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Delia Cannings agrees,“From a sustainability point ofview,were not there.We l
107、ike to think we are,and we talka good job.We put it on every slide,and tick every box,but are we doing it?No,its not fully embedded in myopinion.In my role,I go from site to site assessing whatpeople are doing,and I see the tick boxes as opposed tothe actual action.From a cleaning point of view,weve
108、seen the introduction of biodegradable cleaning clothsand mop heads,but there is still more research anddevelopment needed because theyre not currentlydurable enough to sustain hard usage.”She continued,“Whats important is that the informationon how we can be sustainable and environmentallyfriendly
109、needs to be cascaded down.Its about helpingand informing the operators,the people that are doingthe work need training and education on what they needto be doing and how they can contribute in a massiveway by adhering to specific routines and using specifictechnologies and methodologies.”BIGGEST FAC
110、TORS IMPACTING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE“There are several ways we can start to shift theperception of the industry,”says Jim Melvin.“For one,Imadamant our staff should have been recognised asfrontline workers,not key workers.We should also seek toincrease cultural and social acceptance and perhaps startby
111、 removing the title of cleaners,as they are cleaning andhygiene operatives.The outstanding important thingremains progression of our people,and the culture ofthe industry.“To do this,a collective strategy is needed because of thehuge diversity of the industry.Whether youre involved incontract cleani
112、ng and hygiene,machinery,chemicalmanufacturing,maintaining toilets or collecting wheeliebins all these things fall within the cleaning andhygiene industry.Healthcare also plays significantly intothis.But there are two strategies needed one for theshort term,and a second long-term piece.The long-term
113、strategy must address how we continue to develop theindustry in terms of achieving continuous improvement,a focus on innovation and sustainability and creating anenvironmentally strong,professionally skilled workforce inwhich young people see the industry as a careerdevelopment opportunity and recog
114、nise the innovativeuse of technology and forward thinking.”Unfortunately,there are far too manyexamples of how cleaning and hygieneoperators are overlooked,with a perceptionthat the industry is unskilled,uneducated,and unintelligent.It is also perceived as adirty job due to its nature,somethingwhich
115、 the industry is working hard tooverturn,but changing public perception isnot easily done.A PERCEPTIONPROBLEMHamid Ghadry believes that the pandemic offered theindustry its 15 minutes of fame,when cleaning andhygiene operators were called to help make everythingsafe through sanitisation and disinfec
116、tion,but have sincetaken a backseat,stepping back into the shadows.He explains,“In the eyes of people from outside of theindustry,the perception of the sector is that its notcritical,and were not frontline workers,but rest assuredour efforts are vital.”Paul Ashton adds:“Partnerships and collaboratio
117、n are akey priority for the industry,and the wider educationpiece that is required.We saw how valued the cleaningindustry was during the pandemic.Now,we need to address how we professionalise it.Itsalways been there,and people within the industry knowit.Now,its the turn of the industry to be formall
118、yrecognised by the Government.With the developmentswere seeing in sensor technology,robotics and more were on the cusp of the next chapter of the industry andtruly showing how we are most definitely not,nor shouldwe have been considered a low-skilled industry.”STEPS TO ENHANCE THE PERCEPTION OF THE
119、INDUSTRYProgress the Cleaning Hygiene Operative apprenticeshipFocus on upskilling and raise awareness of the knowledge and skills necessary to excelBuild collaborations,giving new sectors a view of the opportunities availableBe a cheerleader for the industrypromote and market your green and/or susta
120、inable initiativesKeep pressure on the Government and APPG and advocate for the industry.Unfortunately,there are far too manyexamples of how cleaning and hygieneoperators are overlooked,with a perceptionthat the industry is unskilled,uneducated,and unintelligent.It is also perceived as adirty job du
121、e to its nature,somethingwhich the industry is working hard tooverturn,but changing public perception isnot easily done.SUMMARYThe pandemic,or as previously mentioned,twindemic,has had a huge psychological impact on how the publicviews the cleaning industry.Once the invisible workforce,cleaning and
122、hygiene operatives are now recognised forplaying a central role in getting the public back to work making offices and public spaces safe for occupation.Today,more than ever,leaders within the sector arelooking to capitalise and build on this awareness,helpingto catapult the industry to new heights.S
123、o,what does the future of the industry look like?Whattrends will hold strong and drive tangible change withinthe industry?As outlined by the industrys foremostchange makers,technology will remain,and will continueto diversify and evolve the industry.As outlined by PaulAshton,the cleaning industry ha
124、s not been mops andbuckets for some time and the rhetoric must change.Theimpact of technology is driving significant change so itscritical that we receive the external recognition needed toenable learning and development to support out front-line teams.Cleaning operators are a fundamental aspectof a
125、ny built environment,and the ability to truly supportthem with leading technologies has never been moreaccessible.We have a duty to seize the moment andensure the industry makes the most of the opportunitiesahead.A hopeful outlookDespite the challenges of the economic climate,theoutlook for the cleaning industry is positive.The industryhas demonstrated how it can change and adapt,and aswe look to the future,we are confident that there aremany reasons for hope.