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Cleaning company shortlisted for the YOSCAs
A Swansea cleaning company has been shortlisted for the first ever YOSCAs - the small business version of Hollywood’s annual film ceremony. The Yell Online Small Company Advert awards have been created to honour the best films made this year by independent companies, including cleaning companies, across the nation. ‘Best Performance’ nominee, Paul Donovan from A1 Cleaning and Maintenance, will be representing the cleaning sector against seven other business categories in the awards.
Matthew Bottomley from Yell, which runs the awards, said: “Short films screened online to let customers see first-hand what businesses, their bosses and staff are really like, are predicted to take over from ordinary advertising. In the past, only the big companies could afford to make commercials about themselves and pay to show them on television. Now even the smallest shop or business can shoot its own film, put it up online and might even get an audience of millions if it goes viral.”
The current entries were shortlisted by Nick Dance, the BAFTA nominated director of hit TV series Skins and whose previous work includes Shameless, Footballers Wives and Bad Girls. Dance said of the A1 Cleaning and Maintenance entry: “Paul from A1 Cleaning and Maintenance was really creative with his video - giving a performance to rival the cast of Fast & Furious, by doing doughnuts in his branded Subaru.”
Should Donovan be successful in the ‘Best Performance’ category, he will win a two minute video filmed by the Yell professionals. A business will also be crowned in the ‘Best Film’ category, and will win a free online commercial directed by Nick Dance.
Paul Donovan said: “The filming was fun to do and very enterprising. I'm hoping it will gather lots of interest in my business and the local area.”
The winners of the YOSCAs will be announced in January 2011 when Nick Dance’s video of the ‘Best Film’ winner will be premiered.
www.yell.com
The Merton Group expands
A long established Leicester based company which manufactures an extensive range of disposable paper products and chemical cleaning materials has announced its expansion plans after securing a funding package through NatWest Commercial Banking and an EMDA grant, creating up to 14 new jobs.
The Merton Group UK Ltd was founded in 1978, and over the last 32 years has maintained an impressive record of continuous growth and development. Now, with the financial support of NatWest Commercial Banking in Leicester, and EMDA, the company, which currently employs 58 people, has purchased another freehold property in Foxholes Road, Leicester.
The purchase of the new 14,500 square foot property will enable the Merton Group to upgrade its machinery, increase output and develop new products using premium recycled paper.
Peter Cheeseman, group chairman of the Merton Group UK Ltd, said: "The group has thrived over the last 32 years because we produce quality products and we always put our customers first with our motto of providing cleaning and hygiene products that don’t cost the earth. We also believe in two very important things which have ensured our success - the future of manufacturing in the UK and producing our products with the environment in mind. Our commitment to the environment involves us using premium recycled paper ensuring the production of effective, high specification products. This commitment to our customers, the country, the environment and our ongoing success has resulted in us needing more production space and hence the purchase of a new production property. By purchasing the new property we will be able to expand on the range of products we already manufacture, create more employment opportunities, improve our carbon footprint and, like so many other companies, help to make the UK economy stronger."
Co-chairman of Merton Group, Philip Tipton, said: "We had been searching for a suitable additional site for three years and we are absolutely delighted that we have managed to purchase a property adjacent to our current premises with further expansion opportunities available within the site. This is logistically perfect for us."
Ian Pearce, senior relationship manager at NatWest Corporate in Leicester, said: "I am delighted that NatWest has been able to provide the Merton Group UK Ltd with a financial package to support the purchase of the new production property, and in turn expand its product range and workforce. In these challenging economic times, it really is great news to see a local business not only thriving, but also growing and creating jobs."
Fundraising dinner helps STOP Hunger
Sodexo recently held its fifth annual fundraising Foundation Dinner, which raised some £40,000 for the STOP Hunger campaign. The event was the grand finale to the year’s STOP Hunger fundraising activity, a campaign that aims to tackle poor nutrition in local communities across the UK. The evening was also used to celebrate the fundraising efforts of two Sodexo employees who went above and beyond to help the campaign. Aidan Connolly, chief executive for Sodexo UK & Ireland, presented Neil Watts from Sodexo’s Defence division, with the Charity Champion Award. Watts and his team of regional charity champions, helped Sodexo Defence raise a record-breaking £68,000 for STOP Hunger in a year. Watts won the award for his continued support in organising fundraising events such as the Yorkshire Three-Peaks challenge and a charity ball.
Andrea Lunn-Courtnell, who works in the company’s marketing and purchasing division, was presented with the Merit Award for her commitment to STOP Hunger over the last year. In particular, she was praised for raising 7.5 tonnes of surplus fit-for-consumption food for national food redistribution and food poverty charity FareShare. She worked with suppliers to provide the food as part of Sodexo’s global food ‘Servathon’ earlier this year. This was the equivalent of 18,000 meals.
Thomas Jelley, Sodexo corporate citizenship manager, said: "Throughout the year, Sodexo employees commit their time, energy and imagination to the Sodexo Foundation STOP Hunger campaign in all manner of weird and wonderful ways. The awards and review of last year’s activities shows just what an important part of our business ethos STOP Hunger has become."
www.sodexo.com
Green Planet Solutions joins 1% for the Planet
Green Planet Solutions, supplier of environmentally friendly cleaning, hygiene and water products, has joined ‘1% for the Planet’, a charity which coordinates global companies committed to donating 1% of their sales to help protect the Earth’s future. The funds raised goes to environmental charities around the world that are focused on campaigns for clean air, pure water, safe food and wild places.
Green Planet Solutions has chosen two charities to donate 1% of its sales to. The first is ‘Fresh2o’, a charity which aims to reduce poverty and prevent death by enabling the provision of clean water for drinking and sanitation globally. The second is ‘Waste Watch’, an environmental organisation that advises, educates and supports people in making changes to their lives that will reduce their environmental impact.
Shaun Chatterton, chief executive of Green Planet Solutions, said: "The 1% for the Planet message fits perfectly with our ethos that if everybody makes a small change to the way they run their business, it can make a huge difference to our environment and the future. We strongly believe that businesses should be leading the way when it comes to increased recycling, reducing carbon footprints and safeguarding our natural resources. We need to be part of the solution - not the problem. Our Green Planet Solutions name describes perfectly what we are about - finding green solutions to protect our planet. This is why we are constantly looking for new ways to help our clients reduce their impact on the environment - by using eco-friendly cleaning products, recycled toilet tissue and energy efficient water coolers. We are also currently undertaking some exciting research into developing a biodegradable polymer that will revolutionise packaging in the future."
Sam Jarvis, head of communications for Waste Watch, said: "We’d like to thank Green Planet Solutions for their generous offer to donate a proportion of profits to support our work. The donations will help us continue to support communities to become more sustainable, show children and teachers what they can do to protect the environment, advise businesses on waste and resource use and campaign for change. We are a practical charity inspiring and helping individuals, communities and organisations to waste less. For us, it’s about showing what we can all do to change the way we produce, buy, use and dispose of things. It’s about how we can encourage, support and challenge each other to do things differently. It’s about bringing people together to share more, to learn new skills, and to build strong communities. We want to transform the way we live so that we - and future generations - can enjoy life without costing the earth. Our association with Green Planet Solutions and the 1% for the Planet initiative will provide much needed support."
Candice Farmer, founder of Fresh2o, said: "Fresh2o is proud to be involved in the 1% for the Planet cause with Green Planet Solutions, so that we can jointly help to save the lives of some of the 5000 children dying each day from dirty water."
www.greenplanetsolutions.co.uk
Report raises concerns that Indian superbug is spreading
New research has raised fears that the superbug New Delhi metallo-1 (NDM-1) is more prevalent than previously thought. A report aired by Channel 4 News has suggested that the spread of the superbug has extended to both the NHS and outside of the hospital network in the bug’s native India.
Researcher’s collected 100 samples from sewers across Delhi and found NDM-1 present in 11, while there were traces of the bacteria found outside hospitals. Their findings also suggested that NDM-1 is present in bacteria like E. coli, and could be widespread among the population in Indian cities. This means that stopping the superbug from spreading could be a huge challenge, as people will continually re-introduce the infection by entering hospitals.
The results of the study also revealed at least 64 cases of NDM-1 in the UK, with five related deaths. The results are another milestone in the growth of NDM-1 which has been reported in 16 countries since its identification in 2007.
Medical professionals have expressed their concern that the latest strain, known as enterobacteriaceae, will produce enzymes that attack and counteract powerful antibiotics called carbapenems, which the NHS relies on as its last line of defence against particularly damaging infections.
Mark Woodhead, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said: "This report sheds new light on the potential risks associated with NDM-1. Although the number of proven cases we've seen in the UK is still relatively small, the concern that they will start to spread from patient to patient within UK hospitals has to be taken very seriously; the cleaners who are at the front line of protecting patients from hospital acquired infections will play a crucial role in this fight."
Andrew Large, chief executive of the Cleaning and Support Services Agency, said: "Due to the possibility that this virus is untreatable, preventative measures are absolutely vital as we move to combat this threat. Once again, the first line of defence will be the cleaning staff who toil away at our hospitals, reducing the threat such viruses pose. We ask that the government recognises the vital role they play, and allocates sufficient resources so that we are well prepared for the challenges that lay ahead."
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
Regent Cleaning moves into Scotland
Regent Cleaning has expanded its field of operation into Scotland following a merger with Glasgow-based provider Precise Cleaning Services. Precise Cleaning delivers daily cleaning services to blue- chip companies throughout Scotland and the north of England from its base and via regional offices in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Newcastle. In addition to its core office cleaning business, Precise also offers specialism in IT equipment cleaning, property and grounds maintenance, pest control, washroom and waste services.
"Precise has an excellent reputation in Scotland and we look forward to building on this together, going forward," said Regent joint managing director John Critchell. "The company shares in our philosophy of providing a professional bespoke service offer, making it a very good fit for Regent as we continue to expand our geographical field of operation."
"We see this as a very positive move," added Precise Cleaning managing director Stewart Yardley. "It enables both parties to develop customer relationships both north and south of the border, while taking best practices from both companies, enabling us to improve both our service delivery and service offerings."
www.precisecleaningservices.co.uk
www.regentcleaning.com
