https://youtu.be/Ia6izxAm-lA
A message for the masses
Paul Thrupp reflects on how the BCC and its members have enjoyed some great PR results in recent weeks.
In 2016 the Chair of the British Cleaning Council appeared on BBC Breakfast as part of a morning of live reports direct from The Manchester Cleaning Show. Exhibitors also featured in interviews with Steph McGovern, and it was great PR for the show and the wider cleaning industry.
However, a lot of questions weren’t directly related to cleaning activities. Brexit, the Living Wage, skills and zero- hours contracts were hot topics of the day. As a sector we were on the frontline of these challenges, which is what got the BBC’s interest.
It was therefore great that at the 2019 Cleaning Show, the national media spotlight fell on us for what we actually do – clean things.
The main hook for this was the Window Cleaning World Cup, an event devised by the show’s organisers in partnership with the BCC, facilitated by the Federation of Window Cleaners (who I also officially represent within the BCC’s membership). It was pitched as a showdown between Essex’s Terry Turbo Burrows, Guinness World Record Holder for over 20 years, and California’s Jeremiah Hickey (the USA’s fastest window cleaner) who flew in especially for the contest.
We had both of them at ITV’s This Morning’s studios, with Terry and Jeremiah taking part in a live ‘wipe off’ with me as referee. This was followed by Phil and Holly having their own ‘battle of the squeegees’ – resulting in lots of mock outrage from Phil at Holly’s unconventional approach to window wiping.
It didn’t stop there though. Back at ExCel, we were met with numerous film crews and reporters, including The Press Association, all wanting a piece of the action.
There was also a large, enthusiastic crowd gathered to watch the contest – and it was only then I was told that Sweden’s fastest window cleaner had also made the trip, which ratcheted up the tension. Jeremiah emerged victorious on behalf of the USA, with Sweden second and Terry in third.
Despite no world records being broken, the media interest continued. The story began to appear on national and regional websites, and the following day The Sun made the Holly Vs Phil window cleaning challenge a full-page story while the Daily Express went big on The Window Cleaning World Cup and Jeremiah’s surprise victory.
The event was also discussed on the BBC Breakfast sofa, while a short clip was promoted via both BBC Sport and the BBC World Service. Terry also appeared on Channel Five’s Jeremy Vine Show. It’s also been featured in
28 | REGULAR
umpteen local and national papers both in the UK and overseas, with Jeremiah enjoying great coverage back home in California.
From a BCC, FWC and Cleaning Show perspective it was clearly an incredible result – but judging by the buzz around ExCel I’d say it was a great fillip for the whole of the cleaning industry.
This wasn’t the only high-profile media exposure which the BCC and its members have enjoyed recently. Domestic Cleaning Alliance director, Stephen Munton, was interviewed in February for a Guardian ‘ask the experts’ feature about cleanliness. He commented on correct cleaning regimes and best practice alongside the likes of Lynsey Crombie (the ‘Queen of Clean’ from Channel 4’s Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners), TV cleaning expert Aggie MacKenzie, and Good Housekeeping Institute representatives.
Keep Britain Tidy meanwhile have been enjoying masses of positive media coverage linked to their fantastic Great British Spring Clean initiative. And a few weeks ago, the British Toilet Association’s Raymond Martin was interviewed by The Times about the shocking lack of investment in public toilets by local councils.
From competitive window cleaning on TV to national litter campaigns and public loo lobbying in the papers, it’s been a very good few months for the BCC and its members media- wise, and deservedly so.
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org twitter.com/TomoCleaning
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
