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Regent’s security division relocates to Coventry HQ
Regent Cleaning’s security acquisition, Premier Security Services (PSS), has relocated to its headquarters at Prologis Park in Coventry where the cleaning company has doubled the size of its headquarters following the acquisition of a neighbouring facility.
The move is commensurate with a stated aim to integrate the day-to-day management of Regent’s operations under one roof and thereby benefit from improved cost efficiencies and streamlined administration and communication.
“It’s clear that close synergies exist between the cleaning and security arms at Regent and logical that these are located together as we work on developing customer development strategies this year,” said Regent’s joint managing director Jonathan King.
PSS is currently rebranding as Regent Security and can now be contacted at 2 Oak Court, Pilgrims Walk, Prologis Park, Coventry CV6 4QH. Tel: 02476 339890.
www.premiersecurityservices.co.uk
PHS Direct and The National Forest - first planting day
PHS Direct held its first National Forest planting day on 2 March in its area of the forest at Overseal in Derbyshire. Around 50 people – customers, suppliers and staff alike – got stuck in and planted the first 500 trees to get the site started. The day provided an opportunity to understand why PHS Direct is undertaking this project – to define its ethical trading stance and do something tangible that will be in place for many years to come.
The National Forest is a forest in the making, transforming 200 square miles of central England. Already more than 7 million trees have been planted and woodland cover has been increased from 6% to 18% since the Forest was established in the early 1990s. The eventual aim is for a third of the area to be covered by woodland to create a mosaic of farmland, open space, towns and villages, transport corridors, industrial use, waterways – all framed by woodland.
PHS Direct is committed to planting 5000 trees a year for three years at the Overseal site, with the option to continue in the future. A contribution from each box of paper sold is donated to The National Forest, and a similar donation is also being made by PHS Direct’s paper suppliers.
The National Forest was chosen as a project by PHS Direct because it is a local scheme that will enable its staff to directly engage with the project in a real and material way.
James Clark, managing director of PHS Direct, said: “I’m really excited about the start of our project, and it is great to see the trees actually going into the ground. I’m delighted that our staff and other stakeholders have been able to get to grips with what the project is all about - seeing is believing after all! We had a great time and as a bonus, the weather stayed dry!”
www.phs.co.uk/direct/national-forest
Fountains future secured
Fountains, the environmental management company, has announced that its long term financial future has been secured with the completion of its sale to a group of financial institutions. Fountains is now owned by a group of financial investors including Royal Bank of Scotland and Alchemy Partners. It also has in place a new working capital facility.
This sale represents the final step in the separation of Fountains from Connaught plc group. Connaught plc was placed into administration in September 2010. Since September 2010 Fountains has continued to trade normally.
Richard Haddon, chief executive of Fountains, said: “This is a significant step for our company and provides us with stability and security of finance that will allow us to continue with our growth plans. I would like to sincerely thank our staff, customers, suppliers and contractors for their support, especially in the last few months.”
Helping to cut costs at BNHFT
A major investment in Vileda Professional’s microfibre Swep floor cleaning system is helping to cut running costs at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust (BNHFT). It’s all part of ‘The Prudence Project', which encourages staff to identify efficiency improvements.
The Foundation Trust delivers acute hospital services to around 300,000 patients in Basingstoke, as well as surrounding towns and villages in North Hampshire and West Berkshire. The majority of services are provided from the 450-bed Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
“It's an important and essential development, particularly in the current climate of funding cutbacks and cost saving measures,” said BNHFT facilities manager, Andrew Buckley. “Our challenge was to find innovative ways to do this without cutting corners on patient care or increasing the risk of healthcare acquired infections.”
Buckley first started trials with microfibre cleaning systems in 2009. “There’s no doubt that microfibre cleans more deeply than standard appliances,” he said. “Vileda’s Swep floor cleaning system combined with its Origo trolley scored highly on cost, quality and appropriateness.”
Buckley was also impressed with Vileda’s implementation, training and product support. As a result, earlier this year, Vileda Professional was given sole supplier status by BHNFT for all its microfibre floor cleaning systems. It's a £100,000 investment that also includes the installation of an Otex laundry system to launder the microfibre mop heads. The hospital's 100 operatives were trained by Vileda Professional to ensure they know how to get the most effective results from the new equipment.
“Whilst it's early days, we're delighted with how things are going,” said Buckley. “There is a large upfront cost, but we’re sure that moving to Vileda’s Swep system will save money in the long run. Microfibres are just one part of an effective infection control programme. But all the signs are that we're delivering the results to meet the 'Clean Hospitals Agenda' whilst cutting our costs, which is what we set out to do.”
www.vileda-professional.com
BICSc launches Education Conference
The British Institute of Cleaning Science is launching an inaugural education conference for the cleaning industry, designed to raise standards of education and to build awareness of the industry through professional standards and accredited training.
The conference is entitled ‘Green and keen cleaning workforces - setting new environmental and training standards in the cleaning industry’ and key event themes are sustainable workforces, training and the environment.
Where and when?
The event will take place at Manchester United’s football stadium conference centre, in Salford Suite 1 in the north stand, level 4 on 23 June from 9.15am-4pm.
Keynote speakers at the event will include:
• Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, an internationally recognised expert on green cleaning.
• Laurence Harvey, chief executive of Actuate, a leading UK training specialist in conflict management and equality and diversity.
• Lance Harris, prison industries employment engagement manager.
• Mark Roberts of Action for Employment (A4E).
The event is aimed at individuals and companies working within the cleaning industry and those providing support services to the industry. Conference tickets are £99 inclusive of VAT for members and £124 inclusive of VAT for non-members.
To find out more about the conference, please call Ceris Burns International on 01825 714329 or email marketing@bics.org.uk.
Stan Atkins, group chief executive officer of BICSc, said: “Raising standards of education and building awareness of the cleaning industry through professional standards and accredited training is the focus of the British Institute of Cleaning Science. Our conference gives attendees the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues which impact the cleaning industry and to share positive initiatives which can help the industry grow in a professional manner.”
Aims and objectives
The aim of the conference is to explore key issues affecting the cleaning industry, focusing particularly on training and motivating workforces, green practices and sustainable working practices; share industry best practice in the areas outlined above; and demonstrate the impact training can have for cleaning operatives within the industry.
Conference timetable
09.15 - 10.00: Event registration and refreshments on arrival 10.00 - 10.10: Opening welcome - Laurence Harvey, chief executive of Actuate.
10:10 - 10:15: Patricia O’Mara, head of operations, BICSc – future proofing education in the cleaning industry.
10.15 - 10.40: Lance Harris, Prison Industries employer engagement manager.
10.40 - 11.00: Refreshment break.
11.00 - 11.10: Welcome back.
11.10 - 11.25: Mark Robert, A4E Employment Project.
11.25 - 11.30: Introduction of key note speaker, Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group.
11.30 - 13.00: Keynote address - Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group.
13.00 - 14.00: Buffet lunch.
14.00 - 14.05: Welcome back.
14.05 - 15.30: Interactive motivational workshop - ‘Equalities and diversity’ - facilitated by Laurence Harvey, chief executive of Actuate.
15:30 - 15:50: Closing speech.
15:50 - 16:00: Refreshments and event close.
Directions
• Rail: The nearest mainline station is Piccadilly station in Manchester city centre which is approximately 2 miles from Old Trafford. Either take a taxi to the stadium which will cost approximately £8.00, or alternatively catch a metro link to Old Trafford or Exchange Quay and then the stadium is a 5 minute walk from either metro link station and costs approximately £3 for a return ticket.
• Car: The M60 is the nearest motorway to Old Trafford and you can use a number of junctions starting from J9, J8 and J7. Complimentary car parking is available in car parks N1 and N2.
For more detailed directions please see www.manutd.com/en/Conferences-And-Events/Maps-And-Directions.aspx
Hotel accommodation
The conference centre has a list of discounted hotels for users of the conference facilities.
www.bics.org.uk
Cyclist celebrates world-beating infection control system
A cyclist has helped celebrate a state-of-the-art infection control laundry at an Air Ambulance Support Unit - with the crew who rescued him after a crash.
Phil Coleman, an employee at laundry distributors JLA, officially unveiled the company’s Otex disinfection system at Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s base in Leeds, famous for rescuing TV presenter Richard Hammond.
The system uses ozone to eliminate all bacteria, including C. difficile. It is one of only 10 products to have received the Department of Health’s top accolade, Level 1 Rapid Review Panel status, and is a front-line infection control tool in more than 70 hospitals and 1000 carehomes nationwide.
This will help prevent cross contamination after incidents, and is more cost-effective as it uses mainly cold water. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity so every penny counts.
The air ambulance crew said: “We are delighted to see Phil again, this time in a celebratory way, and having Otex at our base preventing cross contamination is paramount. This revolutionary new system uses the same processes found in thunderstorms - definitely worth avoiding with our helicopters, but not with our uniforms!”
Phil Coleman said: “It’s great to meet the team again – they are real lifesavers and I know Otex will extend the hospital environment into the heart of their operations.”
