Cleaning industry leader awarded MBE

Kim Phillips is a director at the British Cleaning Council (BCC), the National Chairperson of BCC member the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service organisations (ABCD) and Head of Catering and Facilities Services at Rotherham Council. 

She was recognised by the Queen on 1 January this year for public service after supporting communities within the borough, including during the Covid-19 crisis.

At the council, Kim Phillips is responsible for the cleaning of schools, community and civic buildings, as well as school catering, crossing patrols, and caretaking services.

Along with colleagues, she set up the Lateral Flow Test Centre at Riverside House in Rotherham and has been called upon throughout the pandemic to share her expertise on cleaning and hygiene in national webinars.

She has set off at dawn on her days-off to help prepare meals for children during school holidays, helping to pack 3,000 school hampers last Easter, all with the support of her family. 

Kim said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award for public service which has been my career and my life. 

“I am one of hundreds of employees across the country who have endeavoured to fight the pandemic and keep everyone safe and I would like to dedicate the award to all the unsung frontline heroes who have maintained a positive attitude in the face of adversity, which is just as important to success as ability.”

Kim Phillips was elected National Chairperson of the ABCD, which comprises managers of building cleaning services employed by local councils, four years ago and became a BCC Director in June 2020. 

BCC Chair Jim Melvin said: “My warmest congratulations go to our colleague Kim for this well-deserved recognition. I am equally sure that her family will be beyond proud, as they should.

“Kim has made an invaluable contribution both to the cleaning and hygiene sector and the wider community thanks to her expertise, dedication, commitment and hard work.  Everyone at the BCC is extremely proud of her. Well done Kim!

“Reading the words of the Leader of Rotherham Council, the award also assists in shining a light on the work of many of our industry staff during the pandemic, who work often behind the scenes to protect others. Kim is a credit to the industry but most of all to herself. ”

The Leader of Rotherham Council Cllr Chris Read said: “I am delighted the Queen’s Birthday honours have recognised Kim. Throughout the pandemic, she has worked above and beyond in the efforts to keep the public and staff safe. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication public service colleagues have shown over the past two years, and Kim’s award is thoroughly deserved.”

The BCC has 22 members from across the cleaning and hygiene sector. Research it published this year shows that the sector is a UK top ten industry, employing 1.47 million people and contributing over £55.5bn to the economy.