Cleaning & Maintenance Magazine

Helping the International Aid Trust to stock up

OCS has supported the International Aid Trust’s work with disadvantaged people in the UK and overseas by donating a consignment of surplus hygiene consumables to the charity. The stock of hand gel, hand wipes and surface wipes were transported by OCS to International Aid’s distribution centre in Lancashire. “We are delighted that International Aid will be able to make good use of the hygiene products,” said Adrian Shuker, sustainability director for OCS. “OCS is a privately owned company with over 110 years of trading. During this time, the family values of five generations…Read full article

CHSA warning: watch out for sharks

With the macro-economic environment getting increasingly uncertain and the likelihood of a double dip recession growing, buyers of plastic refuse sacks, industrial cotton mops and paper products need to tighten their monitoring and watch out for shark suppliers, warns the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association. Gordon Butt, the CHSA’s auditor for its Manufacturing Standard Accreditation Scheme, explained: “As the economic uncertainty continues we are seeing an increase in the cutting of corners by disreputable suppliers of cleaning and hygiene products and it is distributors and…Read full article

Brayborne announces new operating structure

Berkshire based Brayborne Cleaning Services starts 2012 with a new corporate structure following the sad loss of its managing director, Simon Berryman, in September. The new structure sees Lorraine Gibson heading up the company as managing director, a role that she commences having been the company’s commercial director for the past 17 years. Brayborne’s co- founder, Mairi Berryman, becomes commercial director. Jeffrey King, who has been involved with Brayborne from day one, becomes finance director. He has over 10 years experience in financial controller roles. Juliet John has been…Read full article

PAT boost for test services business

Investment in new electrical test technology has helped one of Scotland’s leading building support services companies to improve the working efficiencies of its PAT field services team. Arthur McKay has recently equipped its portable appliance testing (PAT) team with new Seaward PrimeTest 350 multi-function electrical safety testers as part of company moves to continue to utilise the latest technology available and improve its services to customers. In doing so the company claims that test times have been significantly reduced, creating improvements in productivity without compromising the…Read full article

XPS receives environmental accreditation

Milton Keynes based facilities management specialist, XPS, has proven its green credentials by achieving an ISO 14001 for its commitment to environmental issues. ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised quality management standard for the environmental impact of business. The accreditation provides a framework for businesses to manage their processes and activities by focusing on proactive management and ensuring employee involvement in defining roles relating to the organisation’s environmental policy. Pat Dean, director of compliance at XPS, said: “ISO 14001 is an obvious measurement…Read full article

Expansion creates over 400 new jobs

Hotelcare, the hotel support services company, has expanded into major cities in north England. After a promising start to 2011, Hotelcare has now secured contracts with several major branded hotel chains in Liverpool and new sites in Newcastle and Gateshead. This success, teamed with recently acquired contracts with hotels in Cardiff and St Albans, means a positive start to 2012. These contracts are forecast to provide 300 new jobs in the Manchester and Liverpool area and 100 new jobs in Newcastle and Gateshead. Eugene Sweetman, who was recently appointed to spearhead the expansion as Hotelcare’s…Read full article