We are delighted and immensely proud to announce that we clean have been awarded the RoSPA Gold Award for its internal management of Health & Safety Practices, Policies and Standards!
The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, and receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for Health and Safety worldwide. Currently, around 7 million people are directly impacted by the RoSPA Awards programme, but the scheme’s global influence is even wider – with nearly 2,000 organisations from 50 countries represented this year.
Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in Health and Safety practice!
Leading our submission was ISO Administrator Amanda Headland and Company Health and Safety Manager David Holmes-McClure with Amanda commenting:
“It’s a terrific accomplishment and an endorsement of the entire organisation’s commitment to safe working, we clean is not only a great place to work, but also a very safe one! We’re focused on consistently delivering a safer environment to work in, but we don’t cut corners to do it and this award is testament to that”.
In order to achieve the accolade, we clean had to provide comprehensive evidence of a workable and effective health and safety management system by answering key performance questions and supporting the answers with a concise portfolio of relevant and evidence based documentation.
David Holmes McClure added: “The RoSPA Awards encourages improvement in occupational Health and Safety management and contributes to raising standards overall. As an organisation Health & Safety is paramount and we place the utmost importance on workplace safety, ensuring our staff and clients alike can operate in as safe an environment as possible”.
With the company reporting zero RIDDOR incidents for the past 3 years we clearly showed the RoSPA awards panel that we are leading the way in ensuring that both our frontline Cleaning Staff together with our Specialist Cleaning Team operate too the most stringent and impeccable health and safety practices!
Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “This is a fantastic and well-deserved accomplishment. All our award entrants demonstrate their unwavering commitment and passion for keeping people safe at work. By receiving this recognition We Clean Ltd join like-minded businesses and organisations worldwide, who represent the very best in their approach to Health and Safety. I would like to add my personal thanks for all the work that it has taken to secure this well-deserved award – congratulations to all those involved, who champion and drive up Health and Safety standards every day. You are a fantastic example to others in your sector.”
The recent shift in working patterns has been dramatically accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with large workforces across the globe being confined to home-working when the virus was most rampant. Whilst the remote working trend was emerging prior to the pandemic, the onset of COVID-19 resulted in our daily lives being dramatically affected and organisations were forced into this new method, with it unlikely for us to ever return to the pre-COVID way of working, changing the office landscape forever.
However, the commercial office space sector has shown great resilience, adapting to the ‘new norm’ and hybrid method of working. As such, demand for tenanted or co-working office space has surged through Q1 of 2022, with companies looking to test the waters post-pandemic rather than commit to long term leases and gauge how employees respond to office working following the COVID-19 pandemic.
With this in mind a large number of our long-standing corporate and blue chip clients like The West Brom Building Society have also embraced the ‘new norm’, recently installing an extensive ‘Micro-Market – Self Service Café’ via Walsall based Coinadrink as well as introducing a number of multi-use workspaces throughout the facility geared towards maximising employees time when on-site and encouraging a collaborative working environment.
For nearly two decades we clean has been serving a wide and varied portfolio, and our management team possesses well over 80+ years of industry experience. As a result, we are well positioned to keep clients and their stakeholders safe. Daytime cleaning has become ever more prevalent following COVID-19 and is certainly something we as an organisation champion, with there now being a greater need for immaculately uniformed, highly trained Cleaning Technicians who operate within a very much public facing role, carrying out vital touchpoint cleaning across office ‘hotspots’ such as kitchenettes and washrooms.
David Bird carrying out important daytime cleaning.
Within The West Brom’s, Providence Place facility in West Bromwich, we have provided a steadfast daytime presence, with David and Linda Bird, long-term employees across The West Brom Head Office and branch network carrying out these important roles.
David and Linda are on hand throughout core business hours to respond to busier periods within the ‘Micro-Market’, replenish consumable stock across washrooms and carry out sanitisation cleaning.
There are numerous benefits to a strong daytime cleaning presence:
Any spillages can be dealt with immediately
Symbolically, the presence of an immaculately uniformed Cleaning Technician helps alleviate concerns employees may have upon returning to the office.
Ensures minimal build up of dirt, bacteria and viruses, meaning workplaces remain both aesthetically and hygienically safe at all times.
Contract Manager Jane Shields, who manages The West Brom’s Head Office and 36 strong branch network is confident of the benefits a daytime cleaning service brings:
“David and Linda are exemplary employees, they have both worked for we clean for well over a decade and their experience is critical as I trust them to carry out important cleaning roles across the West Brom’s portfolio. They are always on-time, well uniformed and they are genuinely proud to be carrying out their cleaning roles. We often receive positive feedback from both our main client contact, Corporate Facilities Manager Mark Brayford as well as a number of The West Brom’s own employees.”
David and Linda Bird in The West Brom’s New Micro-Market!
With ever increasing agile and flexible working environments, daytime cleaning is here to stay and in conjunction with Training Manager Duncan Thomson we are ensuring our staff and management are poised to keep clients and their staff alike safe, as the ‘return to work’ picks up speed and offices across the Midlands become busier and busier.
We are a people business, our 525+ frontline cleaning staff are at the heart of everything we do. Personal development and encouraging employees to form genuine and long-lasting careers with our organisation is why we continue to be Accredited as an Investors In People business.
With this in mind, we are delighted to welcome the newest addition to our Head Office Team, Rajwant Kaur, Trainee Administrator who has joined us as part of a Business Apprenticeship scheme where she will be working as within our Administration Team alongside as well as continuing her education.
We sat down with Rajwant to learn more about her and why she chose we clean as the starting point for her business career…
First off, tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am from Kings Norton on the outskirts of Birmingham and have always grown up in the city!
I am very family oriented and enjoy spending time with family, whether that be around the house or out for meals – and a I also love shopping with my friends!
I would describe myself as very fun, outgoing, and confident for my age.
When compared to an average 17-year-old I feel I am different in terms of wanting to go into the workplace and begin a career whereas a lot of my peers are going onto college and university.
I went to Swanshurst Secondary School where I studied Business, History, Health & Social Care, PE and Drama and I feel this gave me a good foundation for what lies ahead in my career!
What inspired you to embark on an apprenticeship?
I have always been more of a practical and visual learner with the college / university route being more theory based I decided to embark on an apprenticeship where I could put into practice my practical skills. I couldn’t see myself following a course that was purely theory based!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic I didn’t go on work experience and so I feel i missed out on this opportunity and so was keen to go into a workplace and develop further.
The fact I can gain important experience within a local business as well as earn a wage is also a big bonus.
Why did you choose we clean?
After researching the organisation, I liked the company’s values and what we clean as a business stands for. The fact it is a local business with hands on management was also a big plus as I felt that would be important as I begin my working career.
As part of me looking for an apprenticeship scheme I researched other companies and opportunities but we clean stood out and I knew I would be a good fit and things have gone really well so far.
What does your role entail within our Head Office Team and how does it support your Apprenticeship?
On my very first day I received a full induction from the we clean Training Manager Duncan Thomson whose passion for the business and the cleaning industry as a whole provided me with a great insight into the opportunities that lie ahead whilst Gaynor Powell HR Manager walked me through the company policies and procedures.
Essentially, I will be undertaking an Administration roe supporting and working closely with Rachael Peacock, Procurement and Fleet Administration. So far I have predominantly focused on learning more about the business and the importance of customer service in answering phones and emails in a very professional manner.
I have also helped transfer data across company systems as well as collate mileage for the company vehicle fleet.
All the above has aided me in my apprenticeship so far because it is helping me to improve my communication skills as I liaise with my colleagues and clients.
How do you see your career progressing and what do you hope to get out of the apprenticeship?
I certainly hope to develop firstly as a person, but also professionally In my role and I want to further my all round skills. I feel I have a good work ethic and this will hold me in good stead as I progress withwe clean. It is inspiring to see so many females within the business who have furthered their careers and I hope to do the same.
My apprenticeship will last for a year which is a Level 2 Customer Service qualification and I then hope to progress onto Level 3 Business Administration and then onto Level 4 and hopefully gain a long-term, full time position with we clean.
Audeen is our Daytime Housekeeper within the prominent ‘Tricorn House’ Offices located on the Hagley Road near the busy 5 Ways island in Birmingham. Audeen is always immaculately presented, polite and respectful when liaising with the many clients, tenants and visitors to these well-known commercial premises.
Audeen also manages a team of 3 Cleaning Operatives in the early morning as part of our Gymnasium Cleaning Contract located in the basement of the building where she is responsible for ensuring that it is impeccably and hygienically clean in readiness for the many users of this on site gym facility by 7.00am each morning.
Maureen Francis, Contract Manager who has seen Audeen progress within we clean commented:
“Audeen began her we clean career at the mac where she made such an impression on me that I knew she had a genuine passion for the industry and was fully invested in our Company ethos. She possesses excellent communication skills and has real attention for detail with feedback from our principal client contacts on site Christine Byrne and David Minnock always being very positive as they see Audeen as an excellent ambassador for their Building”.
2. Johanna Cooper –
Johanna or ‘our Jo’ as she is affectionately known is the Cleaning Location Manager overseeing the Solihull Senior School where she has worked for over a decade and is an immensely popular member of the team not only with her colleagues at we clean but also the staff and pupils at this prestigious educational establishment. Robb Paton Contract Manager who works closely with and fully supports Jo in her role commented:
“This award is long overdue, Jo has faced a difficult challenge in recent months due to some operational changes within the school and of course the demands of the ongoing COVID pandemic, however she has consistently risen to the occasion and our client contact, Chris McCall (School Marshal) has been delighted with her efforts and the manner in which she continues to carry out her day to day duties so efficiently commenting: “Well done Jo, you thoroughly deserve this award!”
3. Ray Janssens –
Ray is a valued member of our Head Office Warehouse Team carrying out a range of tasks from Stores Management to Site Deliveries and more recently PAT Testing where he has recently and successfully completed a City & Guilds ‘Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment Course’.
Ray joined we clean in 2017 and has shown total commitment and diligence initially as a Cleaning Operative on a number of contract locations within the Worcestershire area before joining our dedicated Warehousing Team.
Gary Gallier Warehouse Manager and his wife Nicki Stock Control Administrator who work closely with Ray and support him in his day-to-day role, couldn’t be more pleased to see Ray pick up this prestigious award with Gary commenting:
“I really cannot fault Ray; he is so hard working and conscientious and takes great pride in all that he does. His roles vary greatly and he is naturally proficient in all of them whether it be PAT Testing across our contractual portfolio or delivering a high quality cleaning service to local contracts. He is well deserving of this award and I am very proud of Ray!”
Paul Concannon Director also commented:
“Ray has been an absolute star, nothing is ever to much trouble and he really is an unsung hero at times – so it was so fitting that he received this Dee Richards Pride Award as he epitomizes everything this award is about – Well done Ray proud to have you in our team!
4. Lorna Benton –
Lorna is our Location Manager at TNT’s Distribution Centre in Atherstone where she manages a team of 9 Cleaning Operatives. Lorna has been with the organisation for 4 and a half years and has excelled in her role, particularly through the pandemic where even during the ‘national lockdowns’ TNT due to the nature of their services operated fully hence requiring a consistently high level of cleanliness across their business premises.
Jane Shields Contract Manager commented:
“Anything I ask Lorna to do she will put 100% into it, nothing phases Lorna and she is passionate in her day to day role and genuinely goes above and beyond. Lorna is a pleasure to work with and she certainly meets the criteria for this award. Well done Lorna, you are a superstar!”
5. Marvin Williams –
Marvin carries out his cleaning roles within Brindleyplace No 4 building working both a morning shift and evening shift and is particularly skilled at maintaining the expansive reception floor area where ‘first impressions really do count’!
Marvin has worked withinwe clean for over a decade and his commitment and conscientious approach makes him a truly valued member of the team.
Baba Seckan Internal Cleaning Manager at Brindleyplace commented:
“Marvin is a brilliant and hardworking Cleaning Operative, very reliable and consistent in his service delivery. He is a real asset to the team and I can’t praise him enough”.
6. Peter Meadows –
Peter is a very popular member of our HORIBA MIRA Cleaning Team and his experience is invaluable across this large and ever evolving automotive engineering innovation hub where he has taken on the role of cleaning and maintaining a large number of differing hard floor surfaces across this diverse site!
In addition, he diligently looks after the extensive fleet of Industrial Floor Cleaning Machines that are utilised daily to meet the cleaning expectations of both HORIBA MIRA and their on-site tenants many of whom are marquee names within the motor industry!
Overseen by Site Cleaning Manager Karen Lord, he has been a wonderful addition to the Cleaning Team from day one:
“Our Pete is a lovely and very knowledge gentleman, he possesses great expertise with the cleaning machinery from a user and maintenance perspective. He carries out his cleaning schedules very efficiently providing work sheets for all the garages we manage on-site I never have to chase him, he is always on the button!”
7. Theresa Ricknall –
Theresa is another valued member of the HORIBA MIRA cleaning team carrying out her daily activities with genuine enthusiasm and has proven to be extremely versatile in meeting the demands of this multi-sited estate based contract.’ Karen commented:
“Theresa is a fantastic Cleaning Operative and a real ‘Team Player’, she genuinely goes above and beyond and works so hard – she is my go to here on-site! So many of the team look up to her and we can always count on our Theresa!”
8. Ralston Miller –
Ralston is our day time Estate Service Operative at the exciting new Paradise development in Birmingham City Centre where you will see him in this very public facing arena diligently carrying out his litter picking and waste management duties! Ralston is always immaculately presented in Paradise branded uniform and immensely polite and helpful not only to his colleagues but also the many visitors that flow through the Paradise realm on a daily basis.
Sean Wright, Site Cleaning Manager works closely with Ralston and is delighted that he picked up a Dee Richards Pride Award commenting:
“The best thing I can say is that Ralston just gets on with his work with no fuss and carries out his role to the very best of his ability. The Paradise Estate and particularly the pathway experiences extremely high footfall and is exposed to the elements and so it can be a very challenging environment to work within but Ralston stands up to this challenge every day with a ‘passion and desire to do the job right!’ Well done Ralston great to have you in our team.”
