Seize the day

As the nation digests the details of the government spending review the cleaning industry must wait to see how it will be affected.With cleaning budgets often the first to be cut, the industry is under no illusion that it will escape pain free. But for an industry whose profit margins are already squeezed a change of approach may be what is called for, rather than simply slashing spend.

The adoption of daytime cleaning could be one such solution.The practice has grown in popularity over the last decade with contractors reporting an increase in demand.Cleaning during the day time offers efficiencies which can translate to savings for the contractor and client alike, improve both parties carbon footprints, and it has the potential to raise the profile of the professionalism of the sector and improve working conditions.

On the face of it daytime cleaning is a win-win solution. But so far it has failed to become the norm, perhaps because there are still many in the industry who seriously question its feasibility; there remains a stubborn belief that night time cleaning is somehow more practical.

One man with a new perspective on this issue is Douglas Cooke. Inspired by the TV series Undercover Boss, the chief executive of Principle Cleaning took to the streets of London in disguise to experience first hand the work of an office cleaner. Doug says he learnt a lot from the experience, which included travelling across London alone at night and scrubbing desks into the early hours of the morning, (full story page p48) but one of the things that he said stood out for him was how alienated he felt being part of an invisible night time workforce.

With Corporate Social Responsibility rising up the business agenda and the new government promoting a more inclusive Big Society, if the potential savings aren't enough to promote a shift to this practice then maybe a sense of duty to improve the lives of this workforce is. Cleaning Matters is interested to know your thoughts. Is is time to seize the day? Vote now at: www.cleaning-matters.co.uk

Georgina Bisby
editor - Cleaning Matters
[email protected]