REGULAR
ANOTHER YEAR OVER
It’s been a busy year for the British Cleaning Council, and as we wind down towards Christmas, Lee Baker, PR and Media Manager for the BCC, takes a reflective look back at the last 12 months, sharing some of the many highs from the Council’s year.
The last twelve months seem to have flown by, but before we hit the party season in earnest, it’s perhaps time to reflect a little on the year. John Lennon famously sang ‘so this is Christmas and what have you done?’ I’m going to take that line literally and try to answer it.
It’s been quite a busy year for the BCC; new secretariat, new Chairman and Deputy, two new members, the announcement of a new regional cleaning show and joining the European Federation of Cleaning Industries, to name just a few of the things that have happened.
The most important item in this year’s diary was undoubtedly the Cleaning Show, and its move from Birmingham’s NEC to a new home at the Excel in London.
There was a lot at stake, and the move wasn’t without its critics. But when the doors opened at the Excel on that brisk spring morning in March, it was obvious to everyone that the show had found its natural home.
The Excel is, of course, a world class venue, and the exhibitors really stepped up to the plate with creatively designed exhibitor stands and slick product presentations. Visitor numbers were impressive over
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the three days and the seminars and workshops were also well attended.
The BCC and Quartz were so pleased with the event at the Excel, they have decided to hold a smaller regional cleaning show in alternate years to the main London event.
The first of these regional shows is the ‘Manchester Cleaning Show 2016’ which is being held at Event City in April next year. There are already a number of big name sponsors on board and it is expected to be well attended as it’s aimed at cleaning and FM professionals from the Midlands, the North, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Another important decision the Council took this year was to join the European Federation of Cleaning Industries. An increasingly globalised market means British cleaning contractors could be left behind, but by becoming members of the Euro Federation it means the Council will have a say in policy and decision making in Europe.
This autumn the BCC has been involved in the ‘Know Your Rights at Work’ campaign which has been launched in the wake of last year’s Equality and Human Rights Commission report into employment practices in the cleaning sector.
An industry wide taskforce, chaired by EHRC Commissioner, Caroline Waters, was split into three groups looking at Responsible Procurement Principles, Dignity and Respect and Know Your Rights at Work. The campaign will aim to give cleaning operatives a better understanding of their rights in the workplace, and it is strongly backed by the BCC.
The Council has also been approached by government officials to help in the fight against illegal immigration. Two members from the Home Office Immigration Compliance team gave a presentation at the recent BCC Council meeting, and will be in attendance at the Manchester Cleaning Show, to give advice on checking immigration status, and how to identify forged documents.
So it’s been a very positive twelve months and the Council is in a stronger position than it’s been for a number of years.
All that is left to say is that I hope everyone has a great Christamas and a very prosperous New Year.
britishcleaningcouncil.org
Tomorrow’s Cleaning December 2015 | 27
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