On Monday the 23rd March I wrote to the BICSc Members explaining what steps we have taken to keep the Institute operational during this time of uncertainty. We have had numerous responses, in the main from Cleaning Operatives expressing their concern about their employment and how it is affected under the current circumstances, as CEO of the British Institute of Cleaning Science I need to clarify matters:
Point 1 – The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) is a membership, training and standards organisation, not a government lobbying group.
OUR MISSION
The British Institute of Cleaning Science is the largest independent, professional and educational body within the cleaning industry with over 40,000 Individual and Corporate Members in the UK and Internationally.
To raise the standards of education and to build awareness of the cleaning industry through professional standards and accredited training, thereby;
Point 2 – The British Cleaning Council (BCC) is “The Voice of the Industry”, BICSc is an active member of the BCC and continues to support and promote their key priorities, which include:
The British Cleaning Council have this week released the following information:
If you provide a service to an institution or business that is classified as critical, necessary and relevant (Cleaning Provision in hospitals; social care; courts; government estate; supermarkets and the food supply chain; the transport network; national infrastructure and utilities), and their employees are classified as ‘Key Worker’ and the services you provide is required to enable them to continue to function safely it means your staff are also deemed to be part of the ‘Key Worker’ group. This is because without your support/services these critical functions may not be able to operate.
It has been clear to me for many years that the work cleaning operatives carry out is only recognised when it is not being done, or when there is a higher demand, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus the demand for cleaning is higher than ever, particularly within health and social care settings.
I’ve previously written articles on how people working within our industry are viewed, one was entitled “Making the invisible, visible”, people working within the cleaning sector are one of, if not the most, invisible of all workforces.
The specific concerns raised with us (BICSc) by email over the last few days, are as follows:
Question from Cleaning Operative A
Do you know if cleaners are classed as key workers? If not, what’s being done to make the Government aware of how important we are to the society at the moment, and how challenging it is for us to be doing our cleaning jobs during these times? It’s a big issue to all of us and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, at the moment we haven’t got staff to go to work to those key workers premises as our staff are not also key workers. Our staff who aren’t key workers don’t want to go to work as they don’t think it’s necessary to travel, and the other challenge is child-care and public transport to get to work as it is serving key workers only, what shall we do?
Question from Cleaning Company A
What can we do to help with the lobbying for key worker status for cleaners? I am sure other people feel the same way and would want to help support BICSc.
Question from Cleaning Company B
I really appreciate your time to respond to our concerns in regard to key workers and especially in this time when everyone should be coming together in this sector.
We feel as a business, and concerns from our staff and businesses we service, is that we are front line in order to eliminate the virus.
We look after schools, nursery’s, pubs, GP surgery’s etc…. and they still require our services for deep cleans, infection control, decontamination etc…. and we need to be able to receive the PPE, consumables, and be able to work in these very difficult times when our customers look to us for support and guidance.
We have been speaking to MP’s and they are trying to get these concerns to the relevant Ministers and waiting on a response.
I would like to point out that it is the individual employer’s responsibility to show a duty of care to their staff.
Part of the problem is that the industry does not have a Standard Industry Code (SIC), this means that the Central Government does not see us as an industry in our own right.
Finally, we endorse the BCC’s statement that those engaged with providing services and support to the known key workers should be classed the same as that of key workers.
The sensible solution would be to class us as essential support for key workers.
We will continue to offer updates and share information as soon as it becomes available.
I wish you and your families well.
Stay Safe!
Best wishes
Stan Atkins, Group Chief Executive Officer
The British Institute of Cleaning Science
9 Premier Court
Boarden Close
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6LF
Email: info@bics.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1604 678710
© BICSc 2020
Policy Documents | The British Institute of Cleaning Science
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Lorraine is a cleaning and service matter expert with over 30 years experience within the industry. Her career has involved a mixture of senior operational and business development roles all in outsourced cleaning and facilities management sectors but particularly specialising in the technically complex healthcare and education sectors.
Lorraine was the only member of the private sector invited by Graham Jacobs of the NHS Workforce and Facilities to be part of the select steering group that developed the cleanliness section of the government’s Department of Health new PLACE ‘Patient Led Inspections Initiative’ which replaced the annual PEAT inspections. Following this work, she was invited to work with the DoH/AHCP PAS 5748 steering group (known as the Rotherham Group) which reviewed the PAS 5748 guidance published in 2011. This work was recognised when BSI submitted it for public consultation, and it was subsequently incorporated and adopted into the revised PAS 5748 (2014) edition.
Lorraine was a founder member of the ‘BSA Cleaning Advisory Group’ which advises and lobbies the government on cleaning related matters; this work has resulted in the launching of ‘The Responsible Cleaning Operator Scheme’ 2015 which was nationally acclaimed and endorsed by the UK Cleaning sector.
In February 2022 at an extraordinary members meeting, it was voted upon that Lorraine will serve as Chairman of the Institute until September 2023, this is additional year is due to the effects of the pandemic.
Soo has worked in the cleaning and FM industry for over 30 years, working her way up from a cleaning operative in local schools when her children were little to her current position as Technical Director for Birkin Services.
Soo first became associated with BICSc in 1992 when her then employer, OCS, placed her on a BICSc training course at SC Johnson Wax at Frimley Green. From that moment on Soo was hooked and started using BICSc best practice and applying the standards on every account she worked with. In 2001 she took her BICSc association one step further and completed more BICSc COPC skills with SC Johnson Wax (now Diversey Sealed Air) at Frimley Green and continued with her qualification to become a BICSc assessor.
Since 2001 Soo has trained more than 300 managers, supervisors and cleaning operatives in PBICSc and CPSS skills and has opened four ATP training hubs for her employers, along with developing in-house induction training programs for her staff to lead them into BICSc Licence to Practice and CPSS 2.0.
Soo has continued her education with BICSc and has now qualified in delivering training and assessment for Accommodation Skills within the CPSS skills suite. In 2011 she was elected onto the BICSc Council. In 2015 Soo entered the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, becoming a Freeman of the City of London in 2016 and in 2021 became one of the first members of the Livery to be entered on to the Register as a Chartered Practitioner in Environmental Cleaning.
Darrin has been working in the Cleaning Industry since 1983, directly after leaving school he started out as a Catering assistant in healthcare cleaning large hospital kitchens, then progressing to Cleaning Supervisor. Darrin then moved into Commercial cleaning with Cooper Cleaning managing cleaning of Building societies and banks in Northern Ireland.
After a few years Darrin moved into Retail cleaning managing cleaning of Tesco, Sainsbury and BQ for the Broadreach Group. He also had the cleaning services of Belfast International Airport and in 2004 won the UK overall Golden Service Award for the cleanest contract. After the acquisition of Broadreach Group, Darrin took a change of direction and moved in Aviation cleaning and catering working for Inflight Cleaning Services as General Manager over all of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Liverpool. Since then, Darrin has worked for some many large cleaning services providers including Aramark and Mount Charles as Director of cleaning.
Darrin is now employed with Mitie as their Head of Operations for cleaning services in Scotland. His role is to bring Innovative and sustainable cleaning while improving quality through BICSc training. Darrin has been actively involved with BICSc for 12 years and joined BICSc Council in 2019 as a Co-opted Member.
I have been in the cleaning/FM industry at Management/Director level for some 35 years; working in multiple sectors, including transport, health, retail, public and private sectors.
My passion for engaging with the workforce via training and development has always been a driving force in developing the teams that reported into me. BICSc has played an important role as it provides our Managers, Supervisors and Cleaning Operatives with a recognised worldwide skill base qualification.
As a BICSc assessor I remain at the forefront of training and development, which has enabled me to contribute in developing a highly skilled, motivated workforce currently at Vinci Facilities.
I am proud to be joining as a fellow member of the BICSc Council and look forward to using my platform to promote the rich diversity within our industry.
I have been in the industry for more than 20 years and started my career within the cleaning industry. I completed the BICSc COPC stage 1 and 2 qualifications. The class, style, systematic approach to training, assessment and then certification, raptured me then and still does.
Our founding members were pioneers and built a structure that has withstood the test of time for 60 years. This has evolved over the years and has embraced sciences and technologies which have led the way in education.
I truly believe there is no other training solution out there which even remotely comes close to BICSc. The Institute values, develops and recognises our hard-working staff and members so careers can be built, and potentials unleashed. It is a privilege to see the colleagues that I train and assess receive their accreditations with pride.
The history and heritage of BICSc is something I am honoured to be part of, and I am proud to be a BICSc fellow member and Council member.
I’ve been in the cleaning industry since August 2005 and just with the one company, ISS Facility Services. Back in the day, after being with ISS for a few months, the first external course I went on was a BICSc Assessor’s course, which was a week’s residential course and the knowledge gained stood me in good stead for the development of my career in our industry.
During the last 14 years, I’ve had a range of duties including in HSQE, Compliance and Operations roles, leading to my current position heading up the Cleaning Excellence Department for ISS in the UK. A role I’ve enjoyed immensely since early 2017. The areas my team focuses on can be broken down into seven:
I have two key interests:
Jill has 38 years’ experience in cleaning and facilities management currently as Facilities Manager, Cleaning Services at the University of Leeds, over the years she has managed facilities and cleaning services to varying complex establishments including hotel, nursing home, local authority, schools, colleges, shopping centre, airport and now Universities.
The University of Leeds has a complex in house facilities operation that includes over 300 cleaning operatives and 76 buildings.
She is passionate about promoting cleaning as a professional industry and always strives for continuous improvement and creative solutions through new innovations and development and as such keeps up to date with the industry and is currently an executive committee member of BACHE (British Association of Cleaning in Higher Education).
One of the key factors in the success of improving cleaning services throughout her career has been by implementing effective training through becoming accredited BICSc training and assessment centres and is totally committed to BICSc aim of raising standards of education, building awareness of the cleaning industry through professional standards and accredited training.
Yvonne has been working within the FM sector since 1995 starting as a pot washer and cleaning operative with Compass. After progression through the ranks in 2000 Yvonne became the General Manger for a large Healthcare Trust with Medirest, quickly progressing to Regional Operations Manager. In 2007 she gained further knowledge and experience working for Balfour Beatty as Head of Soft Services for Healthcare, Education and Blue Lights. In 2012 Yvonne joined G4S as a Soft FM Solutions Specialist working within in all sectors creating innovative service delivery models. In September 2015 Yvonne joined OCS as Head of Cleaning covering the UK, Ireland and Middle East a position she is very passionate about, Yvonne is responsible for ensuring the OCS model is delivered to the highest standards, using the latest technology and innovation and a bespoke training programme for their cleaning operatives.
Andy has worked within higher education since 1994. Andy became a member of BICSc in 2002 at a time when he was working as a Housekeeping Manager at Warwick University. Andy has consistently encouraged the delivery of BICSc standards.
Between 2010 and 2014 Andy was part of the Estates team at Warwick University where he continued to deliver BICSc training and assessment. During this time he was appointed as Cleaning Services Manager at Aston University in Birmingham. In 2016 he became the Facilities Officer and is now responsible for cleaning, portering, postal services and the campus wardens.
Andy has a CIPD qualification in Human Resources and during 2018 he also completed the BIFM level 4 certificate.
Andy will bring years of experience and knowledge to Council and is passionate about his new role as part of BICSc Council.
The cleaning industry is Andrew second calling after serving 16 years in the UK Armed Forces, so although a relative newcomer to the sector he brings a wealth of knowledge in regards to learning & development, team dynamics and behavioural change.
In 2015 he joined the ISS Cleaning Excellence Team and in doing so was exposed to so some of the most knowledgeable and experienced cleaning professional in the business, this accelerated his understanding and appreciation of the sector, as well as the obstacles that hold it back.
He is currently employed on the ISS PwC account as the Senior Operations Manager where he is responsible the 6 sites that makes up the London region as well as overall responsibility for Learning & Development, Standards, mobilisations as well as the Health, Safety and wellbeing across the 23 sites.
Andrew cares deeply about education, wellbeing and creating pathways for individuals who want to progress within the industry.
Lorraine has been a member of BICSc for over 16 years. She is also the current Chairman of the Employers Group for Cleaning Industry Apprenticeships.
Lorraine came to cleaning from a career in catering; BICSc was the first course she completed, and from the first day of chemical competency, she was hooked and wanted to train and assess to BICSc standards.
At the time there was no local branch meeting, so with help from BICSc headquarters, in 2005 Lorraine restarted the London & Home Counties region. It is now thriving with many events throughout the year. In 2013 she was honored to be made a Fellow of the Institute. 2013 was also the same year Lorraine became a member of the Worship Company of Environmental Cleaners and achieved the Freedom of the City of London.
In 2012 Lorraine became Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner, training first aid, IOSH and NEBOSH courses along with all other health and safety courses. She has a passion for training, mentoring and coaching people, and therefore it has been a natural progression to turn this devotion into a career.
Health and safety and the environment is Lorraine’s specialty, and she currently represents BICSc on the Cleaning Industry Liaising Forum, a committee set up by the Health and Safety Executive to oversee health and safety in the cleaning industry.
Lorraine has worked in the service industry, across many sectors and has a broad portfolio of experiences including overseeing companies in achieving accreditations in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, Investors In People, and other safety accreditations
Three out of five council meetings attended in 2017