A CLOSER CLEAN


Marc Ferguson, International Business Development Manager for Kaivac, takes a closer look at the UK contract cleaning industry.


In September of 2015, Dublin-based international research organisation Research and Markets released ‘The Contract Cleaning Market Report – UK 2015 – 2019 Analysis’. This report had some interesting observations that all in the contract cleaning industry should be aware of. And, as with many reports of this type, there was some good and some not-so-good news.


On the plus side, the study indicated that the contract cleaning industry in the UK and surrounding countries performed relatively well during the 2008 recession. “Despite the difficult economic climate over the last five years, and continued cuts across budgets in both the private and public sectors, the [contract cleaning] market has performed reasonably well compared to the wider facility management and construction industries.”


It also indicated that some of the key trends in the industry over the next coming years will include the following:


• The growth of ‘powered’ cleaning machines. • Greater focus on improving cleaning efficiency. • Increased automation in the cleaning process. • Growth in Daytime Cleaning.


INDUSTRY CHALLENGES As to the challenges the industry is facing, some are the same problems most of us are aware of. For instance, the report indicates that the contract cleaning industry is very competitive – no news there – but it also reports that both private and public sectors are tightening their budgets, as mentioned above. This means the industry may become even more competitive.


But one of the biggest tests for the industry is the UK Government’s Living Wage program that went into effect in April 2016. This increased the minimum wage paid to


workers aged 25 and above and applies specifically to lower paid workers, such as custodial workers.


According to the report: “While some of these costs will be absorbed [by the cleaning contractor], the rise is substantial and will have a major impact on the contract cleaning industry where average pay rates are low, and labour costs represent a high proportion of the contract price.”


Now we must ask ourselves: what does this all mean? What changes do contract cleaners need to make moving forward so that their businesses not only survive, but thrive?


Our answers lie in some of the key trends noted in the report, specifically those pertaining to the growing use of ‘powered’ cleaning systems; automation; and improving overall cleaning efficiencies. What this means is that cleaning contractors are going to have to evaluate virtually all their cleaning methods and procedures, and determine which ones can be performed faster and more efficiently using new or different types of cleaning machines.


For instance, according to studies published by ISSA, to vacuum a 10,000 sq ft facility using a standard upright vacuum cleaner takes about three hours. A backpack vacuum cleaner, on the other hand, can clean the same area in about one hour.


How about floor mopping? We know that mopping is not the most effective way to clean floors, but what continues to be overlooked is how much time it takes.


For instance, tests using Kaivac’s AutoVac, a low-cost, automated floor cleaning machine, found that it cleans floors as much as four times faster than mopping. On top of that, a study reported in Canada’s Machinery and Equipment magazine indicates that the AutoVac’s ‘effectiveness at removing soils and contaminants is as good as, if not slightly better than, an automatic scrubber’, both of which are far better at cleaning than a floor mop.


ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE While some UK cleaning contractors may be grinding their teeth regarding the new minimum wage increase, they may be missing the more positive side to it. While studies do vary as to whether workers perform better or work harder if paid more, some indicate that higher wages can help keep workers on the job a bit longer.


This is important for contract cleaners. It’s been reported that turnover in the UK professional cleaning industry is as high as 70%. This means workers usually leave the company after about 15 months and then the contractor must start all over, training the new worker.


That takes time and time costs money: keep this in mind as you begin automating your cleaning so that it is performed faster and more effectively.


www.kaivac-emea.com www.tomorrowscleaning.com CONTRACT CLEANING SUPPLEMENT 2018 | 17


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