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:

1. Contract interventions – i.e. productivity and quality improvements via process re-engineering, continuous improvement, change management
2. Introducing innovation – working with colleagues across the UK business, ISS Europe groups and ISS Global
3. Contract mobilisations
4. Business development/Solutions assistance
5. Rationalisation and Procurement
6. Best practice and standardisation (including training strategy for the business)
7. Electronic auditing systems – design and implementation of appropriate systems

I have two key interests:

1. Bringing innovation into the cleaning business to ensure our cleaning operatives, supervisors and front-line managers have the ‘tools’ they need to deliver excellent customer service to delight our customers and help make their jobs easier and more fun. To this end, I lead a cross-business unit Innovation Group in ISS UK, sit on the ISS Northern European Innovation Board and ISS Global Collaborative Innovation Group.
2. Raising the standards of training delivered in ISS for our front-line staff, to increase their professionalism in their own eyes and those of our customers.

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.