A show that's in the know

Visitors to the Cleaning Show, at London’s ExCel Exhibition Centre from 10th-12th March 2015, can look forward to a free seminar programme that considers solutions to the challenges currently facing the industry. The confirmed keynote topics range from the Living Wage and quality assurance to immigration and employment issues, and from training to health and safety and hospital hygiene. Here are some of the highlights to watch out for:

Tuesday 10th March 

At 10.30am, Kyran Bracken, former England scrum half, will kick off the conference with a motivational keynote presentation. Though plagued with injury, Kyran earned 170 Saracens caps and 50 for England, including his major contribution to England’s World Cup win in 2003. Kyran’s presentation will inspire managers within the cleaning and hygiene sector to incorporate leadership skills and a strong team ethic in order to deliver results.

At 11.15am, delegates can listen to platinum sponsor Mitie discuss groundbreaking changes taking place in the cleaning industry, particularly the impact of agile working practices on commercial property and emerging technologies. Don't worry if you miss it though – this seminar will be repeated at the same time on each day of the conference. For those that want to brush up on the latest immigration rules don't miss a presentation at 12pm from Ken Hanslip, account director at NSL Validation Solutions.

More cleaning contractors are choosing to pay the Living Wage but for those who haven't signed up yet, Caroline Reilly, programme manager at the Living Wage Foundation, and Sandy Aird, managing director at Enhance Office Cleaning, will impart the benefits of doing so in the first session after lunch at 2pm. Lynn Webster, of Lynn Webster Consultants (LWC), will present on quality assurance and measuring cleaning results from 2.45pm, with Lorraine Larman, health & safety trainer and consultant at SOS, concluding proceedings at 3.30pm with a spotlight on health and safety, and how the new GHS/CLP Regulations will impact you and your business. Visitors should sit tight though as the presentation of the Cleaning Show Innovation Awards will take place from 4.15pm.

Wednesday 11th March

At 12pm, BICSc CEO Stan Atkins will help delegates to understand and navigate the training landscape of the industry, before Mark Cosh, managing director at AsepTech, switches the focus to healthcare and hospital hygiene at 2pm, examining how technology can be utilised to reduce risk, add value, and improve services. 

Thursday 12th March

Opening the final day of seminars at 10.30am will be Mary Schramm, manager of employment skills at South Thames College, and Barbara Ellul from City and Guilds, with an update of the training, apprenticeships and funding available to the cleaning industry. Shweta Jhajharia, director of London Coaching Group, will reveal five ways to get 46.4% growth in the cleaning business at 12pm, and the Home Office's Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Team will help delegates better understand immigration rules at 2pm.

The full Seminar programme can be viewed at www.cleaningshow.co.uk/seminars.

Innovation & interaction

The Cleaning Show will also feature the latest products impacting the cleaning sector, as well as some new interactive features for visitors. Cleaning professionals and facilities managers will be able to get free careers advice, take part in small group training sessions on social media and staff management, and network at a number of social gatherings. With 5,000 pre-registered visitors attending and major companies such as Karcher, Kimberly-Clark Professional, TL Killis, SCA, Disposables and VAX exhibiting, this year’s show in London should make for an interesting visit.  

The Cleaning Show 2015 is organised by BCCE Ltd, a company jointly owned by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz Business Media.