NEWS Mitsubishi Electric renews Special Olympics partnership M


itsubishi Electric has renewed their partnership with Special Olympics GB


for a further two years with both organisations committed to building upon the existing mutually beneficial relationship to help transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sport. Special Olympics GB is a non- profit organisation and the largest provider of year-round, sports coaching and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics GB currently has more than 120 all ability, inclusive sports clubs covering 28 sports across England, Scotland and Wales providing approximately 27,000 regular hour- long sporting sessions per year, all delivered by a team of more than 4,000 volunteers. An official partner since 2018, Mitsubishi Electric has been active in supporting a wide variety of events,


from last year’s Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi and the 40th Anniversary Games in Stirling in August 2018, to the smaller individual regional events with employees actively encouraged to volunteer. Moving forward, the partnership will focus on delivering a range of joint initiatives which underpin, promote and reiterate the values and objectives of both organisations. From Unified sport events – both virtual and physical – to providing platforms for our athlete’s stories to be shared, increased interaction and engagement with our Special Olympics GB Athlete Leadership Team and a variety of volunteering opportunities being offered, we will work together to deliver maximum engagement and purpose for both organisations. Commenting on the renewed


partnership, Michelle Carney, CEO of Special Olympics GB said: “We are absolutely delighted


Mitsubishi Electric have decided to continue their relationship with Special Olympics GB. Mitsubishi Electric has a strong employee engagement agenda and with the many opportunities – both physical and virtual – Special Olympics GB can offer, the relationship works incredibly well for both sides. We have seen first-hand the impact Mitsubishi Electric colleagues and their volunteering work has on our events and our athletes and it can only be described as joyful for


everyone involved. We often talk about the transformational effect of Special Olympics GB on our athletes but once organisations and volunteers meet and listen to our athletes, it transforms their lives too. We are very aware of the world we are living in and the many issues businesses are facing at the moment, and we are hugely grateful for the ongoing support from Mitsubishi Electric.” Deane Flint, UK & Ireland branch president of Mitsubishi Electric said: “We are delighted to continue supporting the incredible work that Special Olympics GB does, giving these amazing athletes the recognition they deserve. In these challenging times it is more important than ever that everyone is given the chance to shine and realise their full potential, and we look forward to finding more opportunities for our staff to join in with the brilliant work this amazing body achieves.”


Best ice hygiene practice, by Hubbard Systems I


t’s amazingly simple to serve hygienically clean ice – just stick to the rule of five as laid out by Hubbard Systems.


Periodically ice comes in for a bad press for hygiene reasons. At the moment, with the focus on staying safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, hygiene has shot to the top of the agenda, so expect ice hygiene to come under the spotlight again before long. Hubbard Systems urges operators to stay ahead of the game and check out their ice hygiene procedures to make sure they don’t get caught out.


The first rule of ice hygiene is to keep the machine really, really clean. Recently, Hubbard Systems has launched XSafe, a new system that sanitises the insides of icemakers, destroying 99% of


bacteria and viruses, including coronaviruses. XSafe is a totally natural sanitation system which is fully integrated inside the ice machine. It operates automatically 24 hours a day 7 days a week to keep your ice making equipment clean and safe substantially reducing the formation of mould, mildew, yeast and slime within the machine.


However, no matter how clean the ice is when it leaves the machine if basic hygiene practices aren’t followed then all that clean ice is wasted and customers are put at risk. “It’s actually really simple to serve hygienically clean ice by following a few clear guidelines,” says Pete Gray, managing director of Hubbard Systems. “We’ve produced five essential don’ts and


dos for safe practice.”  Essential 1: don’t touch the ice with your hands – always use a scoop and preferably wear gloves. Even with the current more frequent handwashing advice and regulations, don’t be tempted to cut corners and touch the ice when collecting from the storage bin or serving. Don’t give customers the opportunity to touch ice, either.


 Essential 2: don’t store the scoop on top of the ice machine or inside the storage bin on top of the ice. It’s recommended to store the scoop in a tub of sanitiser to ensure it is hygienically clean and ready for use. This prevents transference of bacteria from the handle of the scoop to the fresh ice.


 Essential 3: don’t leave the


storage bin uncovered. Close the lid. It is there for a reason. It stops airborne bacteria and viruses from getting into the ice and helps the unit to operate more efficiently.


 Essential 4: do follow the manufacturer’s advice on cleaning and maintenance of the ice machine and associated storage bin, and have the machine regularly serviced.


 Essential 5: do regularly train and update staff on the correct procedure for storing and serving ice. This is especially important when staff are bouncing on and off furlough as lockdown restrictions are raised and eased. While these staff specifically might get rusty with hygiene requirements, all staff can benefit from regular refresher sessions.


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January 2021 9


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