Putting the spotlight on new sanitation practices 

THE CLEANING Show, organised by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz Business Media, is set to attract more than 7000 senior cleaning professionals from across the contract cleaning, facilities management (FM), healthcare, hospitality, retail, and public services sectors – making it the UK’s largest and most important event in the cleaning and hygiene sector. And, as the first event in the sector to take place since the UK’s national lockdown was lifted, attendees will be able to connect, learn and discover new products, services, and suppliers at a critical time as businesses across the UK prioritise cleaning protocols to ensure returning staff and customers remain safe.

Preventative cleaning in a post-pandemic future
More than 60 leading cleaning suppliers are already confirmed to exhibit, including returning exhibitors, Evans Vanodine, Numatic, ICE, Karcher UK, MITIE, Nilfisk and Killis. Attendees will have the opportunity to test and source new and exciting products from these exhibitors, along with companies joining the event for the first time, including Apex Supplies, Team Software and Wepa Professional. 

With new and recently launched innovations on display, attendees can find the solutions to help them meet the increasing demands for heightened cleanliness and sanitation in a post-pandemic future. For example, ICE, the UK’s largest independent provider of cleaning equipment, will be on hand to showcase its wide range of future friendly cleaning solutions. Among its newly launched products, ICE unveiled its new UV Bot – the latest in its co-botics range designed to advance autonomous cleaning through innovation. It enables the operator to add disinfectant and set tasks before the self-driving UV bots begins its work. It is complete with 3D obstacle avoidance and 360° UV-C and ultrasonic dry mist disinfection. 

One of the largest specialist cleaning providers in the UK, MITIE Cleaning Services, will demonstrate the importance of clean, safe environments for maintaining the productivity and wellbeing of customers and employees. The award-winning company works across a wide range of sectors including Government and Defence, Healthcare and Education, Technical Services, Business Services to Private sector clients in Manufacturing, Transport, Retail, providing essential services and deploying industry leading technology to create safe and effective workspaces.

Among the first-time exhibitors joining the show is Wepa Professional which will showcase its new Satino disinfection range. Offering premium solutions for hand hygiene in public spaces, Satino by WEPA disinfection stands offer touch-free sensor control, combined with quick installation and uncomplicated handling. Ideal for medium and high-frequency use, the range is ideal for a wide range of applications in hotels, offices, production facilities, medical practices, retail and more. 

New to 2021, attendees can also find out more about floor care without compromise using Timberline Cleaning Equipment – available exclusively in the UK through Apex Supplies. While TEAM Software will highlight its leading software for security, cleaning and facilities management companies, designed to help manage the workforce and back office systems. 

Lessons learnt during the global pandemic
Reflecting on lessons learnt during the global pandemic and celebrating the hard work and achievements of cleaning professionals across the UK, The Cleaning Show conference makes an eagerly awaited return. It will provide a platform for attendees to learn and discuss the latest developments, and the critical next steps for an industry on the frontline of public health and safety. 

Industry experts will come together to discuss a range of varied topics including how autonomous cleaning can support and enhance current cleaning practices; the importance of training and the role of apprenticeships; sustainability and more. 

Highlights include Jamie Wright, managing director of Incentive QAS Ltd who will delve into the critical role of the cleaning industry post-pandemic. He’ll address the importance of focusing on public safety, as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and why an emphasis on the importance of front-line staff continues into the new normal. In this presentation, Jamie will explore how the cleaning industry as a multi-faceted sector can work in cohesion to promote the importance of the essential services that it provides to keep people safe.
 
Elsewhere, Sebastian Bachelier, programme manager and project lead for the Recognised Service Providers at The Living Wage Foundation, and Charlie Mowat, founder and CEO of The Clean Space will come together to discuss how cleaning has shifted from an invisible workforce to one of key workers, and why the real Living Wage matters now more than ever. With a record number of organisations publicly signing up to the Living Wage Foundation and with a growth in demand for front line workers in cleaning, catering and security, they will provide food for thought on why now is the perfect time to champion the real Living Wage in employee contracts.

Demonstrating the growing importance of the cleaning and hygiene sectors to public safety, a dedicated session exploring the critical role of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group (AAPG) will also take place. Inaugurated earlier this year and sponsored by the British Cleaning Council, the group is one of the biggest and most credible APPGs to be established with a total of 53 MPs and three members of the House of Lords already members. It will ensure policymakers are aware of the vital work carried out by cleaning operatives, offering support and promoting the importance of the industry to the wellbeing of people, health and safety, and the protection of the environment. 

Another big issue that will be explored during the conference is environmental sustainability. As one of the biggest challenges facing businesses in the cleaning industry, attendees can join James Lee, council member of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) as he examines the association’s roadmap for sustainability, developed in response to member feedback. The session will take a look at the research, before outlining the roadmap including its five key pillars: product, packaging, transportation, social value and ethics, and corporate environmental impact. 

Other highlights include Lorcan Mekitarian, chair of the CHSA delivering a session titled ‘Buyer beware: the rise of unscrupulous traders… and how to spot them’. As demand for cleaning and hygiene products, including hand sanitisers, gloves, soft tissue, and aprons soared during the coronavirus pandemic, unscrupulous traders were quick to make the most of the opportunity. They created businesses overnight, claiming expertise, knowledge and product excellence – something that would not be acceptable under normal circumstances and put people at increased risk. The challenge for buyers is to differentiate between the unscrupulous but apparently credible companies and those trading ethically. In this presentation, Lorcan will use examples of unscrupulous behaviour to help buyers understand the challenges and learn the questions they need to ask to make sure they get products that are fit for purpose.

Demonstrating excellence 
New for 2021, the Cleaning & Support Services Association will be hosting its 2021 CSSA Innovation Showcase in a dedicated pavilion at the event to highlight and celebrate the industry’s most innovative cleaning products, services and initiatives. Businesses and organisations operating throughout the industry can enter their innovations via the CSSA website. Prior to The Cleaning Show, the CSSA will hold an Innovator's Pitch with a panel of leading industry experts who will review and interview all entrants and select those to be exhibited at the Innovation Showcase itself. Visit https://www.cssa-uk.co.uk/ for further information on submitting an entry.

Jim Melvin, chairman, British Cleaning Council, said: “This past year has more than demonstrated the importance of the cleaning and hygiene industry, which reacted and helped significantly and professionally in safeguarding and protecting the public in order to ensure that the UK’s commercial and public spaces are safe. 

“Continuing to spearhead innovation, the industry has quickly adapted to all of the emerging challenges, and we are truly excited to return to the ExCeL, London as the first physical event for the sector to demonstrate our collective collaboration in continuing to drive the industry forward at such a critical time.”

Stuart Dacre, event director, The Cleaning Show, added: “As the UK goes back to work, we are delighted to connect the industry face-to-face once again to network, learn and discover the UK’s largest and most important event in the cleaning and hygiene sector. We are delighted to announce the first details of our best-in-class educational programme which is set to welcome some of the biggest names in the industry to discuss the most pertinent topics facing cleaning professionals today. Plus, there are many more sessions, speakers and exciting show features to announce in the coming months. It really will be an event that no cleaning professional can miss.”

Registration for The Cleaning Show 2021 is now open. For more information visit https://cleaningshow.co.uk