ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

There's still time to register for The Cleaning Show, starting in London next Tuesday (November 2) and running until Thursday November 4. There, more than 60 exhibitors will be showcasing latest cleaning technologies for cleaning professionals.

The event will also be the launch platform for the Register of Chartered Practitioners in Environmental Cleaning. Also new for 2021 the Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA) will be hosting its Innovation Showcase in a dedicated pavilion. This programme highlights and celebrates the industry’s most innovative cleaning products, services and initiatives.

The Window Cleaning World Cup is also returning, with all visitors being invited to enter. The competition will be professionally judged by Guinness World Record qualified adjudicators.

A comprehensive conference programme has also been compiled by the organisers. 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 be led by Jim Melvin, group chief executive of The Exclusive Services Group and chairman of the British Cleaning Council (BCC).

Inaugurated earlier this year and sponsored by the BCC, 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. With the profile of cleaning and hygiene never having been so prominent, this presentation will look at the work of the APPG and its critical role in keeping cleaning and hygiene at the top of the political agenda.

Another session dedicated to exploring the critical role of the cleaning industry post-pandemic will be delivered by Jamie Wright, managing director of Incentive QAS. 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, Wright 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.

Focusing on the workplace, Lorraine Davis, director of cleaning services at MITIE will offer a ‘non-healthcare' guide to infection control. Her session will cover all the measures that should be taken to ensure cleaning practices do not increase the risk of cross-infection, including the simple changes that can be made in cleaning practices/methodologies to deliver a safe and hygienic working environment.

Another key theme of the 2021 conference programme is the role of technology in the future of cleaning. In a session titled ‘Technology matters - employing new technology to deliver a modern cleaning service', Dominic Ponniah, ceo and co-founder of Cleanology will take a look at an industry that now uses robotics and smart sensor technology to help facilities management professionals manage workplaces in a new post-covid era.

Elsewhere and with a continued focus on robotics, Darren Marston, executive chairman of ICE, will deliver a session on the rise of the co-bots, outlining how autonomous cleaning can enhance cleaning practices and productivity efficiencies whilst providing a dramatic return on investment.

Alongside robotics, a human-centred approach to cleaning will also be discussed at the conference, with a particular focus on training. Delia Cannings, director at Environmental Excellence Training Development, will lead a session on training opportunities, focusing on apprenticeships and funding. The presentation will include a review of the current needs of the cleaning industry with a focus on the lessons learned during the pandemic and will provide recognition of the contribution cleaning teams across the world have made in the pandemic recovery.

Cannings will also take an insightful look inside the work of the apprenticeship trailblazer group and will provide an overview of recent professional developments including grant opportunities for apprenticeship funded programmes and tailored educational provision.

A session led by Neil Spencer-Cook, coo at the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), and his colleague Michelle Iland, marketing and events manager will consider training and delivery styles for cleaning service providers. Covering the importance of training and the delivery methods that are available within the sector, the session will provide commercial cleaning providers with a holistic look at the various training options and their benefits, and what could work best for their organisation.

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.

Other highlights of the conference programme include Lorcan Mekitarian, chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) in a session on the rise of unscrupulous traders, using examples of dishonest 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. James Lee, CHSA council member will examine the association's roadmap for sustainability, developed in response to member feedback, while a representative from Darwin Clayton will explore the role of insurance in delivering a comprehensive cleaning service.

Neil Nixon, conference director at The Cleaning Show, said: "We are thrilled to have so many leading names from the sector joining us this year. Across the programme, we're confident that every single attendee will leave with valuable insights and actionable learnings. With the opportunity to network, learn and engage with thought leaders on a range of hotly anticipated topics, the conference programme will provide attendees with the chance to stay one step ahead when it comes to planning for the future and tackling the challenges of both today and tomorrow."

Stuart Dacre, event director at The Cleaning Show, commented: "The coronavirus pandemic has had an untold impact on every corner of the cleaning industry and we are delighted to share a platform for discussion about how we continue this momentum and drive the industry forward."

Jim Melvin, chairman of the BCC added: "The Cleaning Show conference is always one not to miss and given the fact that within the industry, we have all been affected by the pandemic over the last 18 months, this is even truer this year.

"The pandemic has allowed the industry to be seen in a different light and we must ensure policymakers are aware of the vital work carried out by cleaning operatives and promote the importance of the industry to the wellbeing of people, health and safety, and the protection of the environment."

To find out more about the conference programme and register for your visit: cleaningshow.co.uk