FEATURE LOCKDOWN LEARNINGS
Jan-Hein Hemke, Managing Director of Facilicom UK & Ireland, shares his thoughts on lockdown and discusses what the future could look like if we embrace fresh ways of living and working.
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, the country is very much focused on restoring a degree of normality. But if these past few months have taught us anything, it is that our former way of life wasn’t as perfect as we once thought.
Over the past few months, we have adopted many new ways of living and working that, although make a lot of sense and have the potential to save both time and money, we haven’t embraced until our pandemic days.
So, as some of our freedoms start to return, we must ask ourselves, do we really want to go back to the ‘normal’ pre- pandemic days? Or are there lockdown learnings that we can carry into our future to make it a more sustainable and efficient place?
As a business we have had to adapt very quickly to the fragile circumstances and many of our traditional operations have been forced to change. This is no bad thing, in my eyes. In fact, there are many opportunities to seize. Here are a few key learnings that I hope we can carry into the future of our business.
Communication We are having regular virtual Zoom briefings with the workforce who cover the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland and, although these sessions are not mandatory, we have seen fantastic take-up. From those who are currently on furlough, to those working on the front line, we feel it is more important than ever to stay close to our teams and ensure they feel involved in the business, from company updates to new ways of working.
Despite the travel and social distancing restrictions, we have also been able to connect with existing and prospective clients. We have kept up to date with our customers and adapted to their challenges, and have even pitched – and won – new business via video call. And although direct contact is vital for building relationships – and we very much look forward to meeting up with clients when it is safe to do so – the efficiency that video calls bring can save both parties a lot of time and money.
Adaptability As a cleaning services provider, we have always been focused on delivering the highest quality, most hygienic solution for each environment we work in. But COVID-19 has resulted in a huge demand for more regular deep cleans and fogging, increased touch-point cleaning in offices and public settings, and different working patterns to adhere to social distancing. Ensuring teams have up- to-date training, and the right equipment to work in such environments, has become increasingly important and will continue to be vital as we move forwards.
During these challenging times, having the ability to adapt is key to survival. The cleaning sector must look beyond
42 | TOMORROW’S FM
its traditional role, listen to customers’ needs and provide a tailored solution that exceeds expectations. In doing so, they will continue to prove their worth and become an invaluable extension of a clients’ operations.
Environment The final gain that I am keen we uphold is the impact on our environment. One major positive to come out of this difficult time is the reduction in pollution levels. Since the start of lockdown, London experienced an almost 60% reduction in air pollution, and a similar pattern has emerged across the globe.
In my opinion, we have never had a better chance of improving our planet’s health. As the world has paused due to the COVID-19 crisis, so has the deterioration of our environment. But as we edge out of lockdown, we must continue to build on our sustainable achievements. From less travel pollution thanks to video calls, to a greater commitment to reducing carbon emissions, we can all play our part.
The new normal I believe we should always look for the positives in every situation, and whilst we can’t ignore the sadness that this pandemic has brought, we can learn from the changes it has enforced and use them to shape a brighter future, for our society, our economy, and our environment.
www.facilicom.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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
