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2009: the year that Britain learnt to wash its hands
According to research unveiled recently by SCA, 89% of the UK has started washing its hands more often since the outbreak of swine flu. Last year the media was saturated with various campaigns highlighting the importance of regular hand washing to prevent the spread of germs - but did the nation pay any attention? The results of SCA’s 2010 ‘Hygiene Matters’ report suggest that in Britain, we have indeed taken action and developed some commendable habits.
The SCA 2010 ‘Hygiene Matters’ report shows that since 2009, 89% of the UK have started washing their hands more frequently. The UK has actually been ranked as one of the leading nations when it comes to hand hygiene in the world. Out of nine countries surveyed the UK came second only to China. Full global ratings are below:
1. China 91.3%
2. UK 88.6%
3. USA 87.6%
4. Germany 85.7%
5. France 80.5%
6. Sweden 74.6%
7. Russia 73.2%
8. Mexico 72.2%
9. Australia 71.1%
It also seems that since the swine flu outbreak, the nation’s understanding and awareness of hygiene has improved too. Over half (55%) of the UK state that they are now more aware of other people’s hygiene, and a similar amount (52%) feel that people should take greater responsibility of health and hygiene where they live to improve local standards. This is in sharp comparison to results from SCA research conducted in 2008 which highlighted an alarming lack of understanding in the UK about the importance of personal hygiene.
Worryingly then, over a third (34.3%) of the nation were not washing their hands regularly enough and less than half (44.4%) were washing their hands during key ‘at-risk’ situations like after sneezing or blowing their noses.
These positive results suggest that the information on hygiene and hand washing issued to the public by both government campaigns and brands such as SCA have penetrated the nation’s consciousness successfully. According to the findings people are not just thinking more about hygiene but are actually taking action and improving their hygiene habits.
www.tork.co.uk
ISS helps to service the nation’s hearts
ISS Facility Services has announced that the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has been elected as its charity of the year for 2010. The unanimous decision means that ISS will aim to raise thousands of pounds through staff and customer fundraising over the next year.
This is the first time ISS has entered into a national charity fundraising relationship which aims to bring together the various ISS divisions to work more closely towards a common goal - beating heart disease together.
Henrik Andersen, CEO of ISS, said: “This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to raise vital funds for the BHF but it will also give ISS employees the opportunity to learn more about their own heart health and how to lead a healthy lifestyle through the education campaigns run by the British Heart Foundation. Heart disease touches the lives of many people and we are delighted to be able to offer our support.”
The relationship will involve an intensive fundraising campaign where employees from all ISS divisions will be encouraged to work together and take part in various fundraising events, initiatives and activities including ‘Wear Red Day’ for National Heart Month and an all staff ‘Heart Health Quiz’.
Celine Gomez, head of account management at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have the support of staff at ISS. It’s great to see that so many employees have already taken the charity to heart and are looking forward to helping raise much needed funds for us during the partnership. This fundraising relationship will play an important role in raising awareness of heart disease and emphasizing the benefits of leading a healthier lifestyle.”
www.uk.issworld.com
BCC expresses unease towards planned frontline public sector cuts
Reports that councils across the UK are planning redundancies in response to the growing crisis in local government spending have been met with apprehension by the British Cleaning Council. Information released recently revealed that up to 20,000 jobs will be axed by local authorities as they attempt to cut running costs during the economic downturn.
The widespread planned redundancies follow warnings by economists that former frontline public-sector workers will account for most of the anticipated unemployment increases in 2010. It also adds to the growing sense of unease amongst council workers that the quality of frontline services provided by councils will suffer greatly because of a lack of staff resources.
The Department for Communities and Local Government released a statement recently confirming that its grant to English councils is due to increase by 4% in the next financial year - above the rate of inflation.
But many authorities are being forced to draw up drastic economies in anticipation of expected cuts in government grants from 2011 - regardless of which party wins this year's general election.
Steve Wright, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said: "The public places a high value on local services: waste refuse, parks and public conveniences play a prominent role in people’s daily lives. We hope that councils have fully explored alternative ways of making efficiency savings before resorting to cuts that will negatively impact frontline services."
www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
Compas Direct acquires Mr PC Clean
Staffordshire based IT services company Compas Direct Services Limited has recently completed the purchase of computer cleaning and supplies company Mr PC Clean. Following the completion of the undisclosed deal the business has been transferred into Compas Direct’s warehouse and office facilities based in Lichfield. The relocation has created two new posts and no job losses.
Company director Bernadette Hanley said: “We have been looking to acquire a professional business to support and complement the activities of our IT base to ensure that the equipment at our client sites operates, at all times, at maximum efficiency. We were, therefore, delighted when we were able to secure one of the leading and most respected names in the PC cleaning industry, namely Mr PC Clean. Over the years Mr PC Clean has trained many of the independent computer cleaning operators in the industry and we aim to continue to provide this service. The people that Mr PC Clean has trained have all come to recognise that the products Mr PC Clean supplies are the most effective in the industry and, along with many commercial, public and private sector customers they are all regular purchasers from our on- line store at www.mrpcclean.co.uk.”
Hanley continued: “Compas Direct Services Limited on behalf of Mr PC Clean has also agreed to continue to operate as the UK’s distributor of the CleanSaƒe range of products. Again we are pleased to be continuing Mr PC Clean’s relationship with a company who we believe provides the leading range of computer cleaning chemicals in Europe and possibly the world.”
www.mrpcclean.co.uk
New brochure reflects versatility
Rieke Dispensing has launched a new product catalogue which underlines the huge range of dispensers that the company manufactures for the household and janitorial industry.
The diversity of the different models on offer demonstrates Rieke’s flexibility and versatility in meeting the demands of a broad spectrum of companies, from small localised and boutique businesses to major multi-nationals, with reliable, stylish and user-friendly packaging.
Highlights of the new catalogue include the expansion of Rieke’s Airless HVDS system to include sizes from 300g to 1050g, and the introduction of the new DuraTouch range for lotions, which incorporates dispensers from the recently acquired ContinentalAFA business.
As well as the extensive choice of dispensers, the brochure also explains the various customisation options available for different ranges to enable products to be individually tailored to create and reflect brand image and ensure maximum on-shelf appeal.
“Our new catalogue ideally illustrates the many skills and expertise that exist within Rieke Dispensing and our ability to deliver efficient, reliable and cost-effective packaging solutions for the widest range of products,” said sales and marketing director Warren Wharton. “While this is probably the most extensive range of dispensers available from any company, the selection of the dispenser is only the start of the process and we work closely with each customer to ensure that their choice is specifically tailored to their precise requirements.”
www.riekedispensing.co.uk
JohnsonDiversey announces new name and brand identity
JohnsonDiversey, Inc. and JohnsonDiversey Holdings, Inc. have announced that the board of directors of both entities has approved a change of their corporate names. JohnsonDiversey, Inc. is changing its name to Diversey, Inc. and JohnsonDiversey Holdings, Inc. is changing its name to Diversey Holdings, Inc., both effective immediately. The corporation’s operating companies are also changing their legal names to reference Diversey. Concurrent with the name change, Diversey, Inc. is adopting a new corporate identity, branding and tagline, ‘for a cleaner, healthier future’.
“Today represents an important milestone in the history of our company,” said S. Curtis Johnson, Diversey’s chairman. “Our new identity and tagline captures our people’s passion for helping to make our world cleaner, healthier and safer for future generations.”
Diversey president and CEO, Ed Lonergan, added: “Simplifying our name to Diversey and adopting a meaningful, unified global brand image derives from our commitment to provide our customers and their employees with superior and sustainable cleaning, sanitising and hygiene solutions. Our new brand strengthens our ability to communicate the benefits of our high quality products and services.”
The corporation’s new name and brand are captured in a new logo that includes the Diversey name and a stylized water lily - a reflection of the company’s heritage of environmental leadership. The bright, clean and contemporary qualities of the new mark connote the spirit of the brand. In selected applications, the logo appears with the new tagline ‘for a cleaner, healthier future’, further strengthening the message of the company’s purpose. The new logo and tagline are two elements of a broader rebranding of the organization that will touch every piece of communication worldwide.
Diversey’s new identity, branding and tagline will be introduced in a phased approach over the next two years.
The Diversey name extends back to 1923, with the formation of Diversey Corporation in Chicago. It eventually became known as DiverseyLever, and, in 2002, Johnson Wax Professional acquired the company from Unilever NV. The combined company was known as JohnsonDiversey, Inc. until this latest name change.
www.diversey.com
