Delia Cannings – Just Saying

Hello Colleagues,

We need your support as some hotels are closing, others downsizing. We are losing staff and still we smile!

Our cleaning, hygiene and waste industry is one of the UK’s top 10 industries, contributing £55.5 billion to the economy and employs 1.47 million workers.

We’ve seen a mass exodus of cleaning staff and the labour pool is diminishing at an alarming rate.

The loss of cleaning personnel can be attributed to Brexit, immigration regulations and the pandemic, each contributing in a daunting way. The national cry for HGV drivers, the attractive training packages, and subsidies available has seen housekeepers and cleaning operatives lured by this opportunity.

The opinion expressed by some in politics, that cleaning requires little or no skill and is not categorised as essential, is one of ignorance. Key worker status being denied is totally unacceptable. Our housekeeping professionals, health care and other cleaning colleagues have fought a battle, supporting us towards pandemic recovery and rightly feel their contributions have been dismissed.

We are post lock down, but not post pandemic. We must fight for our housekeeping and cleaning teams to be recognised. Please stand up and support the cleaning Industry APPG headed up by the British Cleaning Council (BCC). Our key priorities include recognition for key worker status, health and wellbeing and raising standards in the industry.

We are heading for disaster if a limited pool of agency staff, many without training, is sent into hotels and hospitals to fill gaps and replace leavers who provided an effective cleaning service.

The British Cleaning Council releases wide-ranging research on all aspects of the cleaning, hygiene, and waste sector. The latest report shows the wide ranging and varying effects of the pandemic and lockdowns on various parts of the country. It also testifies to the change in public attitudes following the pandemic which has put cleaning and hygiene at the top of agendas.

For a free, electronic version of the BCC 2021 research report please visit the BCC stand at the Cleaning Show at the Excel in London from 2 to 4 November.

Finally, can you believe Christmas is around the corner? Let me wish you all a very peaceful festive season and may 2022 bring much happiness to you and your families