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The benefits of employing a professional contract cleaning company

Our Managing Director Gary Breach shares an insight into the growing number of companies hiring a professional cleaning company.

There are a number of factors which have contributed to this shift, most notably the Covid-19 pandemic which has led to organisations reevaluating their expectations of cleaning and hygiene. This increase in expectations has been seen by both employers and employees to ensure work environments are clean, hygienic, presentable and clutter free. Companies have also found it increasingly challenging to recruit cleaning operatives inhouse since Covid-19 and Brexit. This coupled with the resource required to manage an individual cleaner or team inhouse and deal with any HR matters, makes outsourcing to a cleaning company more attractive and eases any operational burdens.

Companies who manage their cleaning inhouse may feel like they are saving money, but it can cause the company issues. Such as not having an effective cleaning schedule in place, relying on employees and difficulty maintaining high levels of cleanliness. Furthermore, health and safety pose a significant cost to a business, particularly those with ISO certifications. A commercial cleaning company will manage these aspects to ensure the company is compliant in all areas including training, risk assessment and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).

Here are some of the reasons why you should consider hiring a professional commercial cleaning company:

The benefits of employing a professional contract cleaning company

Time and cost savings

Expecting employees to carry out cleaning duties in addition to their day-to-day responsibilities is not the most productive use of their time. Appointing a professional commercial cleaning company will ensure high levels of cleanliness are continuously maintained and health and safety standards are met. This will also enable the employees to focus on business operations rather than cleaning tasks. Furthermore, if a cleaning operative is ill or on annual leave, a replacement will be provided to undertake the cleaning tasks, this will be more difficult to manage internally and may result in the cleaning not being done or being done to a subpar standard.

A professional cleaning company will also conduct regular stock checks and replace key items like disinfecting wipes, hand sanitiser, paper towels, and toilet paper before they run out. They will also ensure extra supplies are stocked during times of increased illness, such as the winter season.

Reduces sickness

The ONS estimated 185.6 million working days were lost because of sickness or injury in the UK in 2022, equivalent to 5.7 days per worker. The most common reason for sickness absence was minor illnesses, accounting for 29.3% of occurrences.

Office Cleaning 2 - improving indoor air quality

High contact areas such as work surfaces, desks, light switches, door handles, telephones, toilets, communal spaces and shared equipment can harbour bacteria and viruses if they aren’t regularly cleaned and disinfected. The average desktop harbours 20,961 germs per square inch and that’s in addition to 3,295 on the keyboard and 1,676 on a mouse and a staggering 25,127 on the phone. Without regular cleaning there’s an increased chance of these surface germs spreading from employee to employee, which will then lead to increased sickness and absences amongst staff.

Hiring a professional commercial cleaning company to clean the premises will keep germs and bacteria at bay and create a safe and clean space.

Employee morale

Dirty environments can negatively impact the morale of employees. Cluttered workspaces, dirty toilets and untidy common areas can lead to stress and a lack of focus amongst employees. Nobody wants to spend eight hours a day in a disorganised and stressful environment.

A clean and tidy workspace creates a positive and uplifting atmosphere. A professional cleaning company will take into consideration your equipment, processes and cleaning requirements and design a bespoke cleaning schedule to meet the business’s needs. They will also offer flexible working hours and days to ensure the cleaning services provided are at a time which suits the business. Higher frequency of cleaning and the visibility of these services will more likely give employees motivation, focus and satisfaction.

Offices 1 - indoor air quality solutions

Expertise and experience

A commercial cleaning services provider will have a team of qualified and professional cleaning operatives who are carefully selected, and have the appropriate checks for the settings they operate in. For example, companies may require personnel to be DBS checked or Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS) checked.

They will offer a range of specialist cleaning services including janitorial services, deep cleans, builders clean and floor maintenance. In addition, they may also provide fully trained operators such as IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) and PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association) accredited operatives who are equipped to use specialist equipment for example Cherry Pickers, Scissor Lifting System, One Man Lift Platform and Mobile Scaffolding.

Improves air quality

According to the British Safety Council, indoor air concentrations of pollutants are often two to five times higher than outdoors. This stealth hazard cannot be escaped – it envelops our indoor environments. As most people spend approximately 90 per cent of their time indoors, we are therefore exposed to indoor pollutants to a much greater extent than outdoors.

A regularly cleaned workplace helps keep the air fresh and in turn, reduces the levels of mould, dust and allergens that can spread through the air. A professional commercial cleaning services provider will also tend to use harmless, environmentally friendly products where possible, and consequently this helps to minimise your carbon footprint.

Creates the right first impression

A clean and tidy working environment instils confidence and trust to help create the right first impression of a professional and respectable organisation. If it is untidy or unhygienic, it could impact the judgement of a potential client or employee. Ensuring the safety of employees and visitors is key and cleanliness can help prevent or reduce the occurrence of slips, trips, and falls in the workplace. For example, addressing spills and leaks quickly and moving any obstructions from entrances and exits will improve safety for everyone.

Comprehensive commercial cleaning services

A North East of England based CRM solutions provider approached us about our professional cleaning services as they had been experiencing issues with their cleaning provider including reliability and cleaning operatives without a Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS) check which is a requirement for the site.

We conducted a site visit to determine their specific requirements and following an extensive process, were awarded approved supplier status. We designed a cleaning schedule in line with the company’s working patterns and requirements which included early mornings, lunchtimes and late evenings. In addition, the schedule accommodated for extra cleaning on a bi-weekly basis to accommodate for the extra staff working in the building on those weeks. Our BPSS approved cleaning operatives provide daily cleaning services to its office space, toilets and canteen. They have also subsequently added window cleaning services and feminine hygiene bins to the service provision.

To discuss your cleaning requirements, get in touch with our team here.

Sources:

www.britsafe.org/publications/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2022/the-air-we-breathe/

www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/labourproductivity/articles/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket/2022

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/average-desk-germs-toilet-seat-kitchen-keyboard-mouse-phone-a8237431.html

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Our Certifications

You can be confident you will receive a safe, dependable, and high-calibre cleaning service from NECS as we are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Constructionline Level 2 and BICSc certified.