COVER STORY Building on success ICE builds on record-breaking growth with £1m investment in the future of cleaning.
The cleaning industry is changing fast. Advances in automation, growing sustainability targets and increasing expectations around hygiene are reshaping how organisations approach cleaning operations. As a result, businesses across every sector are looking for smarter, more efficient ways to maintain high standards while improving productivity and reducing costs.
At ICE, we have spent the past year helping customers navigate this changing landscape, and in doing so, achieved the strongest financial year in our history. FY25/26 was our strongest year yet, driven by growth, innovation and investment. From record deployment figures and business expansion to major customer projects and new service capabilities, we’ve continued to build on our ambition to deliver smarter cleaning solutions backed by the service and support our customers rely on.
Most importantly, this success has been built on the trust of our customers. From long-standing partners who have worked with us for many years to organisations that have recently joined us on their automation journey, every milestone achieved this year has been made possible through strong customer relationships and a shared commitment to innovation.
One of the standout highlights of the year has been the continued growth of our Co-Botics division. Autonomous cleaning is no longer an emerging technology: it’s becoming a practical, everyday solution for organisations looking to improve productivity and consistency. Over the course of FY25/26, we deployed 1,706 Co-Botic machines, demonstrating the growing confidence that businesses have in automation as part of their cleaning strategy.
This growth has
culminated in our partnership with Tesco, where we’re supporting the rollout of autonomous cleaning robots across 600 Tesco Express stores. As the largest
deployment of its kind ever seen in the UK convenience sector, it demonstrates how
autonomous cleaning has moved firmly into the mainstream. 22 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING
We’ve been investing in autonomous cleaning technology for more than a decade, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see organisations across the UK embracing automation as part of their long-term cleaning strategy.
However, technology alone is never enough. Successful deployments depend on training, service support and ongoing customer engagement, which is why our teams continue to provide comprehensive support both before and after implementation.
While automation has been an important growth driver, customer satisfaction remains at the heart of everything we do. One statistic we’re particularly proud of is our customer retention rate, which now stands at 98%. We believe retention at that level comes down to delivering what we promise, supporting customers when they need us and building long-term relationships based on trust.
It reflects the dedication of our people and the importance we place on building genuine, long-term partnerships rather than simply supplying equipment. That commitment to service is also reflected in the 607 five-star Google reviews we have received. Positive customer feedback continues to be one of our greatest measures of success, and provides invaluable insight into the impact our teams have on customers every day.
Supporting this growth has required significant investment in our people. During FY25/26, our overall headcount increased by 13% as we expanded multiple areas of the business to meet growing demand. At the same time, our Business Development team grew by 150%, enabling us to support more customers and strengthen our presence across key sectors.
Investment in recruitment has been matched by investment in training and development. Over the past year, we delivered more than 3,470 hours of training across the organisation, ensuring colleagues at every level continue to develop their skills and expertise. As cleaning technology continues to evolve, investing in our people is just as important as investing in our products. From engineers maintaining advanced equipment to customer-facing teams supporting large-scale deployments, training plays a crucial role in ensuring we provide the highest possible levels of service and support.
We have also continued to invest heavily in external training initiatives, helping customers maximise the performance of their equipment while ensuring our engineering teams remain equipped to support an expanding range of innovative technologies.
Alongside growth and innovation, sustainability remains an increasingly important priority for our customers and our business. During the past year, we introduced 10 fully electric Kia PV5 vehicles into our fleet, increasing the proportion of electric vehicles to 38%. This investment helps reduce operational emissions and supports our
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