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Coalition threatens outsourced workers’ benefits
The government is ‘minded’ to scrap an informal code guaranteeing public sector benefits for thousands of outsourced private sector jobs. The proposal, aimed at cutting the cost of outsourcing from everything from cleaning to health and waste management, was raised by the new Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude.
More than a third of all public services, totaling £80 billion a year, are currently delivered by the private and voluntary sectors. As the coalition government seeks to extract ‘more for less’ from public spending, it is looking to increase the use of outsourcing on reduced terms.
The move is likely to meet resistance from both employees and unions. It also brought a guarded welcome from employers, some of whom believe it will lead to individuals doing the same job in the same company for differing rates of pay and benefits.
Mark Woodhead, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said: “The rationale behind this move is that we need the public sector to deliver things more efficiently. But that does not necessarily have to mean the erosion of the terms and conditions of workers. While it is clear that we are living in different times that will require many of us to be more flexible about how we operate, having workers doing the same job on vastly different rates of pay cannot be a recipe for a motivated and happy workforce.”
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
Peter Grant Papers recognised for innovation
Peter Grant Papers is celebrating after winning the Innovation Award at the inaugural Makro Pro-Caterer Awards. The award recognised Peter Grant Papers’ contribution to the development of new, attention- grabbing packaging for the retailer’s own brand range of professional paper products.
Sales and marketing director, Paul Weddle, who received the award, said: “I had no idea we were going to win and so was delighted. It’s a real testament to hard work and our team’s commitment to finding and delivering the solutions our customers need. It was a wonderful evening; thank you to Makro for recognising our contribution and thank you to the team for developing a new approach and making it a reality.”
The packaging of Makro’s own brand professional paper products was clear plastic, which allowed little scope for creativity and provided limited protection to the product inside. Makro wanted to increase the differentiation of the product range at the same time as improving the resilience of the packaging in order to minimise the risk of damage to the product in transit and storage. It turned to Peter Grant Papers for a solution.
Working closely with Makro, one of the UK’s leading cash and carry wholesalers, the Peter Grant Papers team created a new tray to hold the product and enclosed it in an opaque, tough wrap with a lifelike image of the product printed on the top. Makro’s customers responded well and sales sky rocketed.
Explaining the rationale for launching the awards and why Peter Grant Papers won, Jason McDonald, buyer at Makro, said: “We launched the awards to celebrate the best of the best in the catering profession at the same time as thanking our suppliers for their commitment and contribution in recent years. Peter Grant Papers had made the best effort with regard to product innovation, in particular using their industry expertise to advise us on a number of areas including specifications and packaging. Their attentiveness and attention to detail meant the whole launch process was smooth and took place on time and budget.”
www.petergrantpapers.com
FM: ‘still keen on green’
85% of facilities managers polled at this year’s Summer FM Forum reported that their organisation had not reduced its commitment to ‘green’ policies since the onset of the recession; just 13% conceded that their organisations had made a change. But despite this strong commitment, only 66% said that if a supplier could not ‘demonstrate acceptable green credentials and an ability to perform in an environmentally sound manner’ they would be unlikely to contract with them regardless of price.
The results of the ‘What the forum thinks’ survey, organised by Forum Events and completed by over 100 in-house facilities buyers and supplier representatives, highlights the pressure that facilities managers face when sourcing services in the post recession depression.
Their employers would like to maintain their position on the environment but some are being driven to prioritise cost savings instead.
The debate on this challenge was further informed by Dan Murphy, operations manager of Centre MK, winner of last year’s BIFM Environmental award. In his case study he demonstrated a stream of practical and successful green initiatives ranging from rainwater harvesting to cooking oil recycling, and everyone one showed a positive cash benefit to the company.
Other workshops included a session on waste legislation, environmental engagement and a talk by Karen Waterlow of Asset Skills explaining the new FM qualification hierarchy. This supplemented the careers advice being offered in the job clinic by John Davis from FRL recruitment and a keynote speech on carbon footprints by Ben Murray of Carbon Smart.
This year’s Summer FM Forum was held at Whittlebury Hall, near Towcester, where delegates participated in a busy timetable of social networking, discussion groups and supplier and client meetings.
The 20011 Winter FM Forum will be on 24-25 January at The Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted.
www.forumevents.co.uk
Albany’s growth brings change of name
Albany Washroom Services has changed its name to Albany Hygiene Facilities, with effect from 1 August 2010.
Managing director, Mike Burton, emphasises that this is a change of name only: “Albany Hygiene Facilities is the same company, with the same ownership, the same partners and the same broad range of services that we have been offering as Albany Washroom Services,” he said. “In fact the name has changed precisely because Albany now offers so much more than just washroom services - although that remains a key area of our business.”
In recent years, Albany has grown to offer additional services such as hygiene audits, infection control and hygiene training, remedying sick building syndrome, clinical waste management, legionella control, specialist washroom and kitchen deep cleaning and the supply of safety matting.
“Albany is also directly involved in research into the control of infection,” continued Burton. “The Department of Health has recently approved part funding of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership - ‘For the health of the nation’ - between the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) and Albany, under the academic supervision of microbiologist Dr. Ron Cutler. The partnership is carrying out in-depth scientific research into the methodology required to break the chain of infection in schools.”
A new company logo has been designed as part of the change of name, and a new website for Albany Hygiene Facilities will be completed later in 2010.
Clean Sweep UK celebrates anniversary
Clean Sweep UK is celebrating its first three years in business supplying cleaning machines for hire across the UK. Clean Sweep UK was set up in 2007 by MD Steve Dennis who had spent most of his career in the tool hire sector.
Dennis researched the cleaning sector and soon established that most suppliers were regional. It was difficult to find a company with stock available who could deliver anywhere in the UK for a fixed price. The range of machines was critical, as was availability and the ability to deliver and provide service anywhere in the UK.
He said: “I knew from my time in tool hire that multiple machine manufacturers would lead to complexity in the business. I wanted to find one manufacturer whose range encompassed all requirements; quality was of the utmost importance.”
Clean Sweep UK forged a partnership with Nilfisk Advance early in 2007 and has not looked back since.
The Clean Sweep operation today covers all of the UK and offers everything from industrial vacuums to road sweepers. Fast moving units include scrubber dryers, steam cleaners and carpet care equipment.
www.cleansweephire.co.uk
Fashionable MITIE
Strut, the corporate wear fashion experience designed by MITIE’s client services business, brought the latest lines in work wear to its clients in a stunning catwalk show. Developed to highlight the importance uniforms can have in enhancing a company’s brand image, the show gave clients the opportunity to see the difference the right uniform can make.
As specialists in five-star front-of-house service, MITIE’s client services team know the impact that the right first impression can have. Working with suppliers TM Lewin, Fat Face, Burlington, Brook Taverner, and Simon Jersey, they proved facilities management can be both fun and fashionable. This year’s event was held in Canary Wharf, where MITIE provides front-of-house, telephony, floor management, and porterage services to a number of clients.
Debra Ward, managing director of MITIE’s client services business, said: “Creating exceptional, memorable experiences, one guest at a time, starts from the moment a guest walks through the door into your reception. The look and feel of the uniform should match the image you want to portray - we know that getting the right look is crucial. Whether it’s a bespoke three-piece suit or a branded polo shirt and cargo pants, work uniforms are a very emotive topic for both the company purchasing them and team member who wears them. There is no one-uniform-fits-all approach to styling a company and the importance of getting it right should never be underestimated.”
www.mitie.com
