FEATURE
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT
As we move through 2015 we can reflect on what’s been a very transformative time for the UK cleaning industry, with I’m glad to say, more highs than lows.
It’s been a period in which the UK economy has slowly edged forward, after a few very sluggish years, and it’s safe to say that real confidence is finally returning.
The forthcoming general election does bring political uncertainty, especially as the outcome is so difficult to predict, but the economic climate that surrounds it is much calmer than the previous one in 2010.
The banking crash of 2007 and the recessions which followed are still fresh in the memory, but this year’s election gives us an opportunity to draw a line under that period, and move forward.
The contract cleaning industry was hit badly at the time, but has weathered the storm, and is now growing again, although many companies had to adopt tough re-alignment strategies which were necessary for their survival.
But now we’re in calmer waters it’s vital that companies don’t continue to cut back, but look to the future and invest in technology and training.
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New innovative products are emerging all the time which will enable savvy companies to stay ahead of the game. For instance, new battery technology is enabling the manufacture of smaller, more versatile scrubber dryers. Also, the development of microfibre mopping systems which clean more effectively without the need for harsher chemicals.
Investment in training is also an area that companies need to keep pursuing. BCC member BICSc has introduced into the UK CIMS (Cleaning Industry Management Standard), which has transformed cleaning standards in the US, and looks set to do the same thing here.
Companies are understandably weary of spending too much on capital projects, but they do understand that investment is the only way to stay competitive and secure their long term future.
It’s also good news that some of the broader issues haven’t been forgotten amongst all the economic doom of the last few years. The living wage continues to grow and has just risen by 2.6%, with the new rate set at £7.85 per hour across the UK. Both main political parties are committed to
The past twelve months have seen the country slowly start to recover from the doom and gloom that has shrouded our economy in recent years. And Lee Baker, PR and Media Manager at the British Cleaning Council, tells us why he believes that things are starting to look up for the cleaning industry.
it, so we hope to see more companies in the cleaning sector rolling it out during the next 12 months
The Employment Practices in the Cleaning Sector report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which was published in the autumn, was disappointing in that it sampled a very small section of the cleaning industry, and used that information to spin a negative message. But, we can take some comfort, as the Commission searched high and low for serious malpractice and found very little, so the industry can take credit for improvements it carried itself during the last few years.
So as we approach this summer’s general election, we can confidently say that the future looks much brighter than the recent past. But the new economic realities mean business is tougher than before, contracts have to be fought for, and standards have to be higher than ever. But with the right investment in technology and training, the industry will remain competitive and can only get stronger.
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
FEATURE | TOMORROW’S CLEANING YEARBOOK 2015/16
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