Sodexo awarded for diversity and inclusion programme

Sodexo has picked up another award for its diversity and inclusion programme - this time securing the best overall private sector organisation prize at the Employers Forum for Belief and Employers Forum for Age (EFB and EFA) awards.

Held in partnership with the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), the awards showcase the organisations that have spearheaded new ways to tackle discrimination in the UK workplace.

Sodexo secured the award after demonstrating both a clear commitment to good practice above and beyond legal compliance, and developing innovative initiatives or policies that inspire other employers.

Particular praise was given for Sodexo’s efforts in raising awareness of different religions and cultures and the positive impact this has had both internally and with clients who have undergone a major rethink in their approach to dealing with such issues.

In December 2009, Sodexo embarked on raising awareness of religion and belief through the launch of a series of materials such as ‘Inclusion’ fact sheets focussing on festivals such as Ramadan and Easter.

Sodexo was also commended specifically for its approach to tackling a religion-relating issue with a major client, resulting in a significant change in its company policy. Sodexo’s efforts in raising awareness enabled the company to make reasonable accommodations for employees.

The judging panel highlighted Sodexo’s efforts as a good example of what focusing on diversity can bring - a shared understanding and a positive approach to working together to resolve issues.

Sharon Kyle, head of diversity and inclusion, Sodexo, UK and Ireland, said: “The discussion of religion and belief within the workplace can sometimes be viewed as a ‘no-go’ area by organisations. However we have demonstrated that by raising awareness and opening up dialogue, we are able to make a real difference to the working lives of individual employees and in turn provide a better service to our clients and customers.”

Denise Keating, chief executive, Employee forum on age and belief, added: “Sodexo is a role model for all organisations working on accommodating religion and belief in the workplace and we will be working with them to spread this best practice to other UK employers. The leadership from Sodexo is commendable and they truly deserve the recognition this award gives them.”

www.sodexo.com

NCCA offers hard floor courses

A growing number of NCCA (National Carpet Cleaners Association) members are adding hard floor cleaning and maintenance to their list of services. Hard floor care requires a degree of knowledge and the NCCA has a keen interest in ensuring that there is an increasing supply of trained and qualified technicians. To make certain that members are trained to a high standard of proficiency, the association offers a two-day course dedicated to hard floor cleaning.

The programme includes some practical hands-on training and covers the cleaning and care of resilient, wood, ceramic and natural stone. Each delegate is provided with an accompanying manual, which is theirs to take home once the course is over.

The course instructor is NCCA director and hard flooring expert, Keith Robertson, a professional with over 30 years experience running a floorcare company in Edinburgh. As well as being a committed affiliate of the National Carpet Cleaners Association, Robertson is a member of the British Institute of Cleaning Science, an IICRC master textile cleaner, and an IICRC stone masonry and tile instructor.

The next NCCA hard floor cleaning course will take place on 14 and 15 October in Leicester. Places will be booked on a first-come, first- served basis so early booking is advised.

www.ncca.co.uk
 

Green Compliance acquires Envirocare

AIM-listed Green Compliance plc has secured its first acquisition within the pest control and pest prevention arena. On 7 July 2010, in line with the company’s strategy of building a business focussed on its selected compliance markets (water, fire, pest and energy), the company completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Envirocare GB Limited which trades as Envirocare.

With close to 100 staff, Envirocare provides a comprehensive range of pest control and pest prevention services and associated products on a nationwide basis. Envirocare operates from four regional offices throughout the UK with locations in Hull, Kenilworth, Exeter and London.

Since trading started in 1971, the business has had a strong client base generating revenues of some £4 million per annum. National contracts are held with customers in the food and drink manufacturing, retail and entertainment and leisure sectors, as well as local authorities.

To assist its clients to comply and avoid prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, Envirocare provides pest control, bird control, flyscreen installation, electric fly killers, specialist cleaning, kitchen and ventilation cleaning and pest awareness training services.

John Prowse, chief executive of Green Compliance plc, said: “The acquisition of Envirocare establishes Green Compliance as a considerable player in the national pest control and pest prevention arena with a number of significant household brand clients. We are excited about the opportunity this provides Green Compliance to grow Envirocare alongside our other businesses as we begin to sell our total capability and services to all our customers. This acquisition, combined with our existing presence in water treatment and hygiene, fire protection and energy services, further establishes Green Compliance as a serious national player within the compliance services marketplace.”

Peter Priestley, managing director of Envirocare, added: “We are delighted about joining Green Compliance and are very proud to be the first pest control and pest prevention business to join the group.  Green has a very clear and compelling business growth strategy and my team and I are excited to grow the pest business and the group as a whole.”

This is the 8th business to be acquired since February 2010, enabling Green Compliance to offer national coverage in the areas of pest control and pest prevention, water treatment and hygiene, fire protection, fire extinguisher recycling, and energy services.

www.envirocaregroup.co.uk

Proventec reaches restructuring agreement

Further to recent announcements regarding the capital restructuring of Proventec Plc, Thomas Stücken, chief commercial officer, has announced that the company has now reached an agreement in principle for a comprehensive capital restructuring with the representatives of the loan notes. The highlights of the agreement are that the prior debt will largely be converted into equity and there will be a cash injection of £2.5 million.

Proventec plc is the group parent of cleaning industry brand names Contico, OspreyDeepclean, Frank, and Proventec Healthcare, as well as a small number of other specialist non-cleaning industry companies.

Stücken said: “The new development in fact will create a near debt free company with a clean balance sheet and demonstrates the support of the financial market in Proventec Plc and provides a platform from which to continue the growth of the company. This will enable the business to leverage its unique proposition as a leading provider of integrated hygiene systems to the UK and indeed the global markets.”

It is likely that the restructuring will require the approval of shareholders and it is the intention of the board that, if so required, an appropriate circular to shareholders calling a general meeting of the company will be sent out as soon as possible.

The healthcare division of the group recently received a Framework Agreement from the NHS Supply Chain for cleaning brushes, mops, buckets and associated products, valued at £4 million. This follows another recent tender award from the Scottish NHS.

www.proventecplc.com

PHS: sponsor of The National Forest

PHS: sponsor of The National Forest

PHS Direct has embarked on a new sponsorship with The National Forest by helping to create a particular woodland within the Forest. The project involves the planting of six hectares of land at Overseal, just a few miles from the PHS Direct site, with the option to plant further in due course.
As a responsible business, PHS Direct is keen to demonstrate its social responsibility, and wants to work with the forestry industry which is key in creating the paper products it sells.
However, the idea behind the project goes deeper than that. James Clark, managing director of PHS Direct, said: “We wanted to support a project that will have a positive effect on the environment, but that also was able to engage with our staff, suppliers and customers in a very real and tangible way. The majority of our staff at our Dordon operational centre live within 10 miles of the Forest, and this enables them to really see the impact of the project, and allows them to make great use of it over the years. We have already seen our staff enjoying and using the Forest with their families, and we are confident that PHS Direct’s involvement will deepen that connection.”
PHS Direct will make a contribution to The National Forest for every box of paper it sells, and will result in 5000 trees being planted every year for at least three years.
PHS Direct’s involvement is also galvanising its suppliers, who are contributing to the sponsorship activity as well. Clark said: “We work with responsible suppliers who share our outlook, and we’re delighted that they are able to come on board with The National Forest project as well.”
Sophie Churchill, chief executive of the National Forest Company,
said: “We’re really fired up by the enthusiasm of PHS Direct for the Forest. It’s a wonderfully creative company to work with and it will be great to have the benefit of their suppliers’ involvement too.”
The site is currently being prepared, with planting due to start in Spring 2011.
www.phs.co.uk

Ionator scoops Italian award

The Activeion ionator EXP, the handheld chemical-free cleaning tool that ionises tap water into a powerful, bacteria-killing cleanser that also kills the swine ‘flu virus, has won the Italian AFIDAMP Green Award 2010 for Eco-Design and Innovation for environmental sustainability.

Recently launched in the UK and Europe by Activeion (Europe) GmbH, based in Switzerland, the Activeion ionator EXP is slightly larger than a conventional trigger-spray bottle. It is simply filled with tap water, with no added chemicals. Technology within the ionator temporarily converts the tap water into ionised water which, when sprayed on to surfaces such as glass, stainless steel, laminates, wood, natural stone or marble, breaks down dirt, grease, food residues, and other soil to leave the surface sparkling clean and almost totally free of pathogens. The ionised water reverts to being ordinary tap water after 45 seconds.

AFIDAMP is the Italian association of manufacturers of equipment, machines and products for the professional sector. The Clean Green Award is AFIDAMP’s annual event highlighting companies that have contributed to the cleaning industry with their innovative environmentally beneficial products.

Activeion won the award in the cleaning tool category, shortlisted by a panel of highly-qualified technical experts from the international cleaning industry.

“It is an honour for Activeion technology to be so recognised by such a distinguished panel of experts,” said André G. Krell, general manager of Activeion (Europe) GmbH. “We are proud that our innovative approach to cleaning, our remarkable cost-saving benefits and the ionator’s ability to reduce the use of environmentally damaging chemicals has earned this prestigious award.”

www.activeion.com