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    As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is essential to reflect on the significance of this day and how far women have come in the pursuit of gender equality.

    International Women’s Day is a global event celebrated on March 8th every year to recognize women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about gender inequality and to promote women’s rights and empowerment.

    This year’s theme, “Choose To Challenge” calls on individuals to challenge gender biases, stereotypes, and discrimination. It reminds us that each of us plays an important role in creating a more equal world by calling out unacceptable behaviour and taking action when we witness injustice.

    At we clean we have long championed women within our organisation, from frontline cleaning staff through to longstanding Board Member and HR & Office Manager, Gaynor Powell, women are a driving force in our continued growth.

    With this in mind we are delighted to welcome two new we clean employees, Bethany Bagley as Contract Manager and Alysha Bird as Junior Payroll Administrator.

    Bethany Bagley – Contract Manager

    The role of a Contract Manager is fast paced and varied, with no two days being the same. Contract Managers are responsible for managing staff, ensuring client satisfaction across their portfolio, addressing and resolving any issues and they therefore play a critical role in the success of any cleaning organisation.

    Bethany has joined we clean with a wealth of industry experience, particularly in the educational sector and will be reporting directly into Richard Wharton in his new role as Operational Business Manager.

    Beth shone throughout the recruitment process as an individual with a strong work ethic and clear desire to deliver service excellence. Her experience and strong industry knowledge will hold her in good stead as she develops with our organisation.

    Beth is delighted to be joining we clean during an exciting period of growth, commenting:

    “I started as a Cleaning Operative at the Birmingham City FC Training Ground which is close to where I live before moving on into other Supervisory cleaning roles In the surrounding.

    This experience at the coalface and at the frontline of cleaning operations gave me a good grounding of the cleaning industry.

    Working within an educational setting was particularly challenging and offered me great insight into the importance of effective contract management.

    I am absolutely delighted to be joining we clean, who’s Head Office is local to where I live meant that I was very aware of their excellent reputation for being a ‘people business’.

    This is a really exciting opportunity for me and I am really looking forward to the role and being part of the we clean team where I will be working closely with Richard Wharton and helping to develop his portfolio across the South Warwickshire region.”

    Alysha Bird – Junior Payroll Administrator

    Back in 2003 when we first began trading, our fortnightly payroll was a much simpler affair, we had fewer staff on our books and only a handful of contracts.

    Nearly 20 years later, we are pleased to say that things have somewhat progressed. We are proud to service over 250 accounts, and count an ever-growing team of 570 frontline cleaning staff who input a staggering 11,000 hours of cleaning a week as part of our cleaning operations.

    This growth has meant that the fortnightly payroll has grown rather more complex, and with it, the Payroll and Accounts Team has grown too with its latest addition, Alysha!

    Living locally in Cofton Hackett, Alysha’s background is predominantly in retail however it was her desire to forge a career in the commercial arena as well as her bubbly personality that meant she was the right candidate for this critical role.

    Alysha believes her background working in busy retail stores will hold her in good stead:

    “I saw this opportunity and thought it would be a great fit for me. I live locally and was keen for a career change where I can develop new skills and pursue new opportunities.

    My retail background has meant that I have good organisational skills and can deal with very busy periods. I have also developed strong customer service skills and enjoy being part of a team where everybody is working towards the same goal.

    Although it is only my first week I feel very settled and everybody has been kind and welcoming. It can sometimes be difficult joining a company where there are lots of longstanding employees but everybody has made me feel part of the team from day one.

    I am really looking forward to working closely with Christine Checkley as Payroll Administrator and learning from her vast experience as well as HR & Office Manager, Gaynor Powell.

    Thank you to Paul and David for the opportunity!”

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    The humble vacuum cleaner dates back to the early 1900’s and has been a staple in homes and commercial properties across the country ever since. However, the benefits of a properly functioning machine as well as the environmental impact of their daily usage is often overlooked!

    Not here at we clean however, we have been pioneering innovation and reducing our carbon footprint since our inception back in 2003. With this in mind our Procurement Team recently underwent a process of sourcing a ‘locally’ manufactured, environmentally friendly vacuum that has all the powerful suction required to clean even the toughest of environments.

    Without further ado, let us introduce the Victor V-9 HEPA Dry Tub Vacuum…

    Jennifer Courtney, Location Manager, showcasing the new Victor V-9 Vacuum.

    This new we clean branded tub Vac is being rolled out across our contractual portfolio throughout Q1 of 2023 and has numerous performance benefits as well as the aforementioned environmental credentials to match:

    • HEPA Filtration Rate of 99.99% – HEPA filters use multiple interlaced fibres to create a ‘maze’ that traps particles, preventing them from being recirculated into the air. The V9’s unique rigid filter sits between the bag and the motor and creates a certified HEPA filtration rate of 99.9984%. This means the V9’s filter traps almost every single particle of dust, bacteria and mould, making it very popular in the healthcare sector. Without this level of filtration, other vacuum cleaners would simply recirculate these particles back into the air.
    • Born In Birmingham – Manufacturer Victor are based just 10 miles from our Rubery Head Office, with 98% of all sub assembly parts sourced locally. This was a huge consideration within the procurement process resulting in significant reductions in transportation emissions whilst consolidating our ethos of partnering with local companies across the region.
    • Super Light Weight – The Victor V9 weighs just 6kg, which is around 1.5Kg or 20% lighter than the industry standard. This makes the Victor V9 incredibly easy to manoeuvre whilst not being cumbersome for our team of 550 plus frontline cleaning staff!
    • Powerful Ametek Motor – The high quality, powerful 600w Ametek motor delivers high power suction and lasting performance, whilst remaining extra quiet only creating 60 decibels of sound. Due to the quality of the Ametek Motor it also takes less energy from the power source, without compromising on suction.

    In a nutshell this new addition to our array of cleaning equipment across our contract portfolios offers more effectiveness, advantageous ergonomic credentials and longevity than the previous tub vac used whilst allowing us to clearly meet the strict standards set by our own internal management system, we clean GREEN, so that we can truly deliver consistently sustainable cleaning solutions to our existing and prospective clients.

    Paul Concannon Director, commented:

    “We are delighted to have partnered with ‘Victor’ a longstanding and very recognisable brand within the contract cleaning industry – as a likeminded Birmingham based businesses we believe that our partnership will allow us to effectively and consistently bring ‘sustainable professional cleaning’ services to the many organisations we service across the Midlands region!”

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    Richard Wharton, Operational Business Manager.

    As an organisation we are continually evolving and growing, always striving to deliver service excellence to our wide and varied client portfolio and ensure we continue to meet our own industry leading standards!
    From humble beginnings back in 2003 the we clean brand has grown organically in size and stature and we are now capable of servicing a number of high-profile entertainment / sporting venues, large blue chip professional and commercial facilities as well as expansive manufacturing and technology hubs!  

    However our ethos remains very much the same, to operate with the utmost integrity and place our staff and clients alike at the very heart of our business!

    As the momentum of growth within we clean gathers pace and our geographical reach gets ever wider, it is vital that we have the correct operational management structure in place to manage all aspects of our contract cleaning portfolios, from staffing and their welfare to sub-contractor and asset management and of course, developing client relations.

    With this in mind, we are delighted to announce that Contract Manager Richard Wharton has recently been promoted into the role of Operational Business Manager, a first for the organisation and reflects the strategic direction for the business as it moves into its 20th year of trading!

    Richard joined we clean over 4 years ago and has carefully managed a broad range of contracts, servicing key clients such as Managing Agents Cushman & Wakefield, CEG, Colliers International and property developers St Modwen’s where he has actively developed our brand and forged some excellent working relationships.   

    His new role will be very much focussed on developing the business in all aspects across our Warwickshire, East Midlands and South East operating regions not only evolving the operational structure to deliver service excellence but also to generate additional sales revenues by actively pursuing new commercial cleaning opportunities in these areas.

    Richard will be responsible for evolving the Contract Management structure to support this large geographical spread of contract locations with Chris Cooke being promoted into a Contract Manager role for the South East to complement our long-standing Contract Manager for the East Midlands, Charlene Bowen. A new Contract Manager is to be appointed imminently for our Warwickshire based business whilst Nick Jeywright will continue to provide a Contract Management Support role to Richard in our Milton Keynes contract hub.

    Following the successful implementation of this first we clean Operational Business Manager (OBM), it is hoped that a template is in place to create an additional two OBM opportunities within the current structure that is designed to facilitate strategic organisational development between the Company Directors and the Operational Management Team!  

    To gain insight into Richards new role and discuss his aspirations for the future, we sat down for a Q&A with the man himself:

    Firstly, congratulations on the new role Richard! Tell us about your prior experience and how you feel this will hold you in good stead?

    I have vast operational experience from previous roles where I have been Operational Manager / Director and this passion for Operations has helped me develop and grow throughout my career. I see we clean as a fast growing and developing business and I fully buy into that.

    Similarly to Directors Paul and David, I have high standards and therefore expect the best from both myself and my staff. I have always been ambitious and keen to progress my career. I am very fortunate to be in this position and appreciate the trust that Paul and David are placing in me to evolve the business and I am very much looking forward to my future with we clean.

    What will your new role entail?

    As Operational Business Manager (OBM) I will be looking to grow the brand in strategic geographical areas, develop Contract Support staff and try to bridge the gap between the Directors and Contract Management Operation. I have a wide and varied portfolio of clients so I will be looking to ensure that these continue to run smoothly whilst we drive for new business and further revenue streams. As Directors Paul and David are very much hands on so I will also be hoping to remove some of their day-to-day pressures so that they can continue to develop the longer term plans for the business!

    This role is a new one for our organisation, what aspects of it are you most looking forward to?

    I am excited to watch individuals reporting into me progress and hopefully I can pass on my knowledge and experience helping colleagues to develop and grow.

    I am confident in my ability so believe that I can meet and exceed the expectations and objectives set and hopefully repay the faith that Paul and David have placed in me. We as a business have had a very strong start to the year and I am excited by this momentum and very much hopes it continues.

    It is certainly an exciting time to be part of the we clean journey and I personally can’t wait to get stuck into this new role!

    Director Paul wishes Richard every success in his new role:

    “We are delighted to announce this appointment of Richard Wharton as our first ‘OBM’ who moves into this position having delivered diligently contract management to a broad spread of clients in an array of differing commercial, industrial and leisure sectors for a number of years. Richard has proved consistently over that time that he is ready to continue with his professional development having successfully completed an NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Strategic Operational Management and we believe he will flourish in this new role where his range of responsibilities will extend to developing an effective and motivated Contract Management Team delivering service excellence consistently whilst organically growing sales within his business unit. We wish Richard all the very best in this next phase of his career.”

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    Our 2022 Dee Richards Pride Award Winners

    1. Damion Christie and David Westwood – West Bromwich Albion FC

    Our first Individual Pride Award Winners are from the high profile West Bromwich Albion FC contract, both operating as part of our expansive Stadium Cleaning Team, delivering cleaning pre, during and post-match!

    Damion Christie was nominated by Contract Manager Jane Shields due to positive feedback received from our client contacts at ‘the Baggies’, he was identified as a member of the team that consistently goes above and beyond, carrying out this varied role with real enthusiasm and a friendly demeanor.

    Our next nomination from the Albion is David Westwood, somebody described as ‘golden’ by Contract Manager Jane and an employee always willing to be utilised as a cover Operative or carry out overtime. Individuals such as David are a key part of any successful cleaning team and the support he offers is certainly valued by everybody associated with this contract.

    Reflecting on Damion and David’s career over the past 12 months, Jane commented:

    “Both Damion and David have genuinely stood out over the past 12 months, it is a cleaning contract where no two days are ever the same and we go through immensely busy periods so reliability and a ‘can do’ attitude is critical. They are both deserving of this prestigious award and I would like to congratulate them on their achievement. Well done both, you are great ambassadors for we clean and the West Brom!”

    2. Etna McNeil – we clean Head Office

    Etna is a valued and popular member of our Head Office Team, carrying out her Administrative duties with minimal fuss, she simply gets the ‘job done!’

    Etna plays an integral role in a number of critical Head Office functions, assisting in our ever-growing payroll function, invoicing for ancillary services and offering general support to our Finance and HR Teams.

    Gaynor Powell is full of praise for Etna:

    “Etna is a very reliable member of the Head Office Team – whatever task she is presented with she ‘just gets on with it’ and invariably does it to the highest possible standard. She is a really lovely lady and we are very lucky to have her within our Administrative team”

    3. Fati Burai – No 4 Brindleyplace

    Our next Pride Award winner hails from our Early AM Brindleyplace Cleaning Team.

    Brindleyplace is an immensely popular mixed use estate, consisting of various restaurants as well as vast Grade A Office Space. A longstanding we clean contract and a ‘jewel in the crown’ of our Birmingham portfolio we are always striving to deliver service excellence to the Brindleyplace FM Team and their respective tenants.

    Starting work at 5am takes a lot of motivation and discipline, particularly on cold, dark winter mornings however Fati is ‘Mrs Reliable’ and arrives early, day in, day out. She operates with great integrity and is always on hand to help Lead Housekeeper Baba Seckan.

    Baba in conjunction with Robb Paton Contract Manager nominated Fati due to her unwavering commitment and desire to always better herself.

    Baba commented:

    “Fati is a wonderful Cleaning Operative and very attentive in everything she does. Both myself and Robb thought she was a very worthy winner and Dee herself would be proud of her. The team are in very early in the morning, it is not easy to do this each day over a long period of time yet Fati has never let me down. Thanks for all your hard work Fati!”

    4. Lubomir Hromy – Birmingham Hippodrome

    Lubo has been with the organisation for well over a decade, operating within the iconic Birmingham Hippodrome Contract throughout his career with we clean.

    Lubo’s role is primarily an external one, operating in all weather conditions, ensuring the busy entrances remain pristine and also managing the extensive waste systems. As a person Lubo is always willing to do whatever is requested of him and is a credit to our business.

    David Holmes-McClure, H&S Manager and Yvette Meade, Cleaning Manager for the Hippodrome are very proud to have Lubo as part of their team, he is always wears full corporate uniform and is very polite to all Hippodrome employees as well as members of the public. He has also begun helping out at the Hawthorns as part of the Matchday Cleaning Team.

    David who has worked closely with Lubo throughout his time at the Hippodrome had this to say:

    “I have managed Lubo for the past 8 years and he has been a genuinely great part of the team. The Hippodrome is a challenging environment to clean and Lubo adapts brilliantly to the different demands that this contract brings. Both myself and Yvette are immensely proud of Lubo, he is truly deserving of this award!”

    5. Michael Hodgetts – The West Brom Building Society

    Michael was a longstanding member of our West Brom Building Society Head Office cleaning team up until his recent retirement.

    Nominated for his dedication and reliability and a real ‘can do’ attitude Michael could have retired some years earlier however due to his passion and commitment to The West Brom decided to stay on and continue his career. A popular member of the team Michael always gave his best day in, day out and will be sorely missed by his colleagues on site.  

    Tammy Reynolds, Location Manager for the state of the art West Brom Head Office commented:

    “He was an amazing team worker, we all have total respect for Michael and he was such an important member of the team and had a great relationship with all of his colleagues. He was polite and conscientious and genuinely enjoyed his day to day role. May we wish him all the best in his retirement!”

    6. Nick Jeywright – Milton Keynes

    As an organisation we clean has grown organically over the past 19 years, being incredibly selective in the markets within which we operate. However, as part of that growth we have spread geographically, north to the East Midlands as well as south towards Cambridge and Milton Keynes, with the latter being where our next Pride Award winner is based, Nick Jeywright!

    Nick initially TUPE’d across as part of our contract win with the FM Company, CEG back in 2019 and had been a constant at this Milton Keynes hub for many years prior. He has fully embraced the role of Location Manager with support from Contract Manager Richard Wharton and has ensured that we clean have maintained a high level of service and enabled us to further our portfolio within Milton Keynes Central. He has been key to numerous new tenants within Witan Studios utilising our service and has proven to be a valuable member of the we clean management structure.

    Richard echoes this:

    “The main reason for Nick being recognized with a Pride Award is that over the past 3 to 4 years Nick has on many occasions gone way over and above the scope of his role to facilitate the smooth running of all 4 buildings we manage within Milton Keynes. He has maintained a strong relationship with CEG Building Managers and they were therefore keen to formally recognise Nick’s commitment to this contract as a thank you for his ongoing support. I would personally like to thank Nick for his efforts and support to me personally and I look forward to furthering a longstanding relationship with Nick throughout the years to come and to make sure that he feels a valued member of we clean!”

    7. Theron Plowright – Tricorn House

    Theron has been exceptional in his role over the last 12 months and beyond since joining we clean during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the son of Audeen Bonnick, a past Pride Winner herself he is fully aware of the standards set by Contract Manager Maureen Francis and our client base and has excelled in his role.

    All those that work closely with Theron note what a polite young man he really is, and he is loved by all clients and colleagues alike.

    Maureen had no hesitations in nominating Theron:

    “Theron has been exemplary throughout his time with the business, his work ethic and dedication has blown us away and he is highly regarded by our client contacts.

    In terms of the criteria for the Pride Award, Theron ticks every box, he is:

    • Professional
    • Reliable and consistent in everything he does
    • He works with massive integrity and this shines through in his personality
    • He also possesses great desire to deliver service excellence to our client base
    • As an Operative he is very effective, working diligently and embracing new cleaning methodology following the pandemic.

    This was an easy decision in nominating Theron and I genuinely couldn’t be prouder of him.”

    8. Tina Franklin – HORIBA MIRA

    Tina is a very longstanding member of our HORIBA MIRA Cleaning Team, initially TUPE’ing across as part of our contract win back in 2015, she has now been working at the expansive automotive hub for over 15 years, even meeting her Husband Chris, on-site!

    Tina works as a Daytime Housekeeper in what is a client facing role and her experience is invaluable on a site with over 60 individual locations and buildings dotted across 100+ acres.

    Karen Lord, Site Cleaning Manager couldn’t be prouder to have her as part of her team:

    “Tina is absolutely brilliant, she has been here for so long that she knows everybody on-site and represents we clean in a very positive manner. Nothing is ever too much trouble, she is more than willing to return and cover of an evening, help with the arrival of consumables on-site or anything outside of the remit of her traditional day to day tasks.

    We deliver cleaning to so many buildings and it is really important to know that I can trust my team and I have zero doubts with Tina, she is just fantastic.”

    9. Yafiet Asefaw – Colmore Gate

    Yaf began working with we clean as a very shy and quiet man before developing into his cleaning role working closely with Location Manager Dale Brewer where he became more confident, displaying real potential and becoming an integral part of the team.

    As a result Contract Manager Debbie Rhodes offered more roles throughout Birmingham to Yaf who welcomed the opportunity and began to thrive as a Cleaning Operative. He carries out a number of differing roles and also works for Contract Support Manager Sean Wright at Brindleyplace Number Eleven building.

    Debbie commented:

    “Yaf is willing to step in at a minutes notice, he is always happy to help and does everything with a smile. Whichever site he works on our client is always full of praise and can’t speak highly enough of him. During his time with us he has learnt to drive and is currently at college doing a maths and English course, a testament to his desire to better himself as both a we clean employee and person in general.

    Yaf is loyal, hardworking and a pleasure to work with. He is just a nice, well-mannered respectful man and I am very proud to have overseen his journey with we clean develop.”