10 QUESTIONS
10 Questions with... Nick Atkinson
Each month we ask a cleaning industry professional the Tomorrow’s Cleaning 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Nick Atkinson, Managing Director at Aston Services Group (ASG).
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WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Professional Tennis Coach for three years.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE CLEANING INDUSTRY? I was asked to become MD of ASG in March 2019. Prior
to this, I didn’t possess any cleaning industry experience but held various MD roles and board positions in my B2B career. I was brought into ASG to add a new strategic vision to the business, which has been an exciting journey.
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WHICH THREE WORDS DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Determined, focused and realistic.
IF YOU COULD VISIT ONE PLACE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHY?
Being an avid tennis and horse racing fan, I’m split between two places, I still haven’t managed to attend the US Open in New York or the Kentucky Derby, so would like to be greedy and chose both.
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IF AN INTERN WERE TO START TOMORROW, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM?
Be open minded, focused and determined.
IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY TOMORROW, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR FORTUNE?
Buy a racehorse to run on the flat in the summer, and a steeplechaser for the winter.
IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER PARTY AND INVITE ANY PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD THEY
BE AND WHY? Henry Cecil, one of our greatest ever racehorse trainers and an extremely charismatic person who I’m sure would have many interesting stories. Historian David Starkey would make excellent company, as he views history with the perspective of the time and is very opinionated. Finally, being a lover of opera, I would invite the greatest ever tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, and request an aria from him to finish the evening.
WHAT, DO YOU THINK, IS THE FUTURE OF THE CLEANING INDUSTRY?
The further professionalisation of it through the promotion of career prospects. Greater adoption of cobotic cleaning technology as it becomes more reliable and cost-effective, and technology to provide key management information. More chemical-free systems and practices, along with an increased focus on ESG.
Werner du Plessis, Managing Director at Rawlins, asks: 10 5
HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE CLEANING INDUSTRY?
I’d like to see the perception of the industry change to attract a broader range of people, and for it to be viewed as a career choice. Too many people view cleaning as a low skilled industry. As I’ve discovered, it's far from being so. Career progression opportunities and corresponding responsibilities need to be highlighted by those promoting the industry, too. A cleaning license, in the same manner as the security industry’s SIA license, could help professionalise the industry and justify a higher wage rate.
50 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING
WHAT INNOVATIVE/SUSTAINABLE CLEANING TECHNIQUES OR PRACTICES SHOULD THE
CLEANING INDUSTRY ADOPT TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT? Chemical-free innovation has led to a more environmentally friendly approach, both in terms of reducing chemical use and the volume of water and ‘single use plastic' transported, all of which help to reduce carbon footprint. A shift to microfibre systems rather than more traditional cloths and mopping systems will help, and there are also opportunities for marginal gains by reducing numbers of deliveries, working with forward- thinking equipment manufacturers by looking at recyclability and lifecycle costs.
www.astonservicesgroup.co.uk
Check out next month’s issue to see what Nick asked our next industry professional...
(
https://2san.com/who-is-2san)
twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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