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Attracting the best workers
Vince Cable, Business Secretary, has announced that Britain's economy must undergo a culture change in order to stop manufacturing losing talented young people to other industries. Addressing workers at an automotive factory, Cable said: "In order to get the population of highly motivated, good, young people coming into manufacturing, we have to change the perception that it is technical, noisy and dirty. At a graduate level there is a cultural issue, and it is also true of school-leavers."
Cable's comments are the latest contribution in a government drive to boost the role of manufacturing in the UK economy. George Osborne called for a ‘march of the makers’ in his budget speech in March, but concerns over where the next generation of engineers and scientists will come from persist.
Mark Woodhead, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said: "The perception of the manufacturing industry amongst our most talented workers has been poor for too long, and many people are unaware of the fantastic opportunities that lie within the sector. If we are going to achieve this change, in addition to selling the industry better, we must show how valued people working in manufacturing are, both economically and socially."
The manufacturing sector currently employs 2.6 million people in the UK and contributes more to the economy than financial services, generating 11% of GDP.
The British Cleaning Council will host its annual conference on 11 October 2011 at Kings Place, featuring a session on rebalancing the economy and attracting workers to more sustainable industries.
The Conference will host up to 400 high-level delegates congregating in the award winning exhibition space set in London’s vibrant Kings Cross-St. Pancras.
For full details of the line-up and sponsors exhibiting on the day or to purchase tickets please visit the conference website: http://britishcleaningcouncil.org/cleaningconference.html
Gold sponsor for the AHCP
bpi.healthcare - manufacturer of polythene products for the healthcare sector - has become a gold sponsor of the AHCP (the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals). For more than 17 years, bpi.healthcare has been recognised as a market leader in the provision of high quality polythene solutions, which include the Visqueen range of clinical and domestic waste sacks, specialist aprons, bedding protection and more. The company’s products are backed by a support network, which includes the company’s audit service.
As an AHCP gold sponsor, bpi.healthcare is demonstrating its dedication to providing the best quality products on the UK healthcare market. The company will also have a valuable insight into the latest healthcare developments and innovations, helping it to maintain its output of high performance products.
Lorcan Mekitarian, sales director, said: “bpi.healthcare is committed to standards of excellence across each and every area of our operations. As gold sponsors of AHCP, bpi.healthcare is reaffirming its commitment to these standards of excellence - not only through manufacturing products that deliver exception performance, but also through providing exemplary service and support for its customers.”
BICSc training from Jangro
Janitorial Express, a member of Jangro, the UK’s largest network of independently owned janitorial supplies companies with 41 in the UK and the Isle of Man, has expanded its customer training activities with the launch of its first BICSc scheme.
The programme, which was attended by 30 end user Jangro customers, comprised 30-minute workshops and demonstrations covering health, hygiene and safety. It was organised by one of BICSc 12 approved training organisations, NICE.
Trainers attended this one-day event from guest manufacturer Rubbermaid Commercial Products who focused on bucketless mopping and profit from recycling.
3M demonstrated chemical free stripping and protection for hard floors and NICE, the event facilitators, organised two sessions - iTC accredited training and BICSc accredited training.
Des Fulcher, chairman of BICSc East Anglia branch and managing director of NICE, said: “This pilot programme was very successful and small groups up to 30 are ideal for personal tuition. I look forward to the next one.”
www.jangro.net
Research proves benefits of antimicrobial Copper
Early results from a comprehensive, multi-site clinical trial in the US demonstrate that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care unit rooms resulted in a 40.4% reduction in the risk of acquiring a hospital infection. Initial study results were presented at the World Health Organisation’s 1st International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva, Switzerland on 1 July 2011.
The study, funded by the US Department of Defence, was designed to determine the efficacy of antimicrobial copper in reducing the level of pathogens in hospital rooms, and whether such a reduction would translate into a lower rate of infection. Researchers at the three hospitals involved in the trial - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, both in Charleston, South Carolina - replaced commonly-touched items, such as bed rails, overbed tray tables, nurse call buttons and IV poles, with antimicrobial copper versions. Rooms with copper surfaces demonstrated a 97% reduction in surface pathogens, the same level achieved by ‘terminal’ cleaning: the regimen conducted after each patient vacates a room.
Dr Michael Schmidt, professor and vice chairman of microbiology and immunology at MUSC, who presented the results at ICPIC, said: “Bacteria present on ICU room surfaces are probably responsible for 35-80% of patient infections, demonstrating how critical it is to keep hospitals clean. The copper objects used in the clinical trial supplemented cleaning protocols, lowered microbial levels, and resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the number of infections contracted by patients treated in those rooms.”
In healthcare facilities around the world, 7 million infections occur every year. In addition, these infections cost over $80 billion globally, according to the World Health Organisation. Independent laboratory testing has demonstrated that, when cleaned regularly, antimicrobial copper products kill greater than 99.9% of microorganisms. These include deadly antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA, VRE, and other bacteria which can cause fatal infections, such as Clostridium difficile. Antimicrobial copper has also been proven effective against viruses such as Influenza A and pathogenic fungi.
Antimicrobial copper is the only family of solid materials that has been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency as capable of killing disease-causing organisms.
www.antimicrobialcopper.com
ISSA golf day
The recent ISSA Europe 2011 golf day, held at the Toft Hotel and Golf Course, Bourne, Lincolnshire, was again a success with great hospitality, great fellowship and some great golf played.
Among the 24 players, a number of companies submitted teams including Vectair, NSS and CPD but it was Eddie Samways, playing as a guest of Greyland, who emerged as the overall winner of the Stableford competition with 37 points. Richard Dyson of Greyland won the ‘nearest the pin’ challenge.
Keith Baker, ISSA’s director of European services, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part, it was an incredibly enjoyable day with great company, and to top it off we were extremely lucky with the weather!”
To secure your place for the 2012 event, please contact Keith Baker: keith@issa.com .
Sodexo opens new London HQ
Sodexo UK & Ireland has moved its headquarters to brand new state-of- the-art offices in London. The food and facilities management company is now headquartered at One Southampton Row, Holborn. It was previously headquartered at Chapel Street, near Edgware Road tube station, London, for nearly six years.
The move has provided the opportunity to bring together about 400 Sodexo staff, formerly dispersed across offices in Paddington, Stevenage, Feltham and the City of London, into an open plan environment. The design of the new premises is stylish, functional and modern providing a flexible working environment.
The new offices are a showcase for services provided by Sodexo with the company’s own staff running catering, hospitality, cleaning, mailroom and reception services.
Aidan Connolly, chief executive, Sodexo UK & Ireland, officially opened the new premises at a Champagne reception held in the staff restaurant at the new offices. He said: “One Southampton Row is a fantastic office space of which we are all really proud. It will provide a great showcase for what Sodexo stands for and what we’re capable of providing for our clients.”
www.sodexo.com
