ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Almost 2,000 SME cleaning professionals across England have enrolled in free government-funded occupational health training designed to help prevent skilled workers leaving the industry due to ill health. There are still up to 3,000 places remaining to eligible line managers before the March 31 registration deadline.

More than 20 professional, membership, trade and representative bodies are now supporting the initiative, spanning facilities management, hospitality, cleaning and hygiene, and transport and logistics sectors.

There are around 78,900 businesses operating in the UK cleaning, hygiene and waste industry as of 2025. Nearly 83 per cent of these are micro-businesses (very small firms), and more than 99 per cent are independently owned. Twenty-four per cent of cleaning professionals cite stress and burnout from overwork as their most significant business challenge, according to research by trade publication Cleaning Matters. The job can negatively affect mental health due to excessive workloads, physical strain and limited support, with workers reporting stress and psychological impact linked to job conditions.

The IOSH-accredited Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing course - funded by up to £800,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions, supported by the Department of Health and Social Care, and delivered by International Workplace in partnership with Reed Learning - equips line managers to spot early warning signs such as fatigue, behavioural changes and rising absence, and to intervene before problems escalate.

The initiative follows the government-commissioned Keep Britain Working Final Report, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, which highlighted a significant rise in working-age adults leaving the workforce due to health conditions.The programme remains open to eligible SMEs in England. Free registration closes on March 31 and the course must be completed by April 30 2026.

Sign up here: keepbritainworking.internationalworkplace.com