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Invite to the first British Cleaning Conference

Posted by admin (Forum Admin), 28 July 2003
Promoted by BICS (British Institute of Cleaning Science) this event on Thursday 25th September 2003 at the Moat House Hotel Stratford is aimed at managers who have a responsibility for, or an involvement in, any section of the cleaning industry.
It will have a number of guest speakers and will focus on the following areas:
In these early years of the 21st century, the British cleaning industry, in all sectors, is facing a rising tide of problems.

• Legislation – with Minimum Wage, TUPE, Part Time Worker’s Rights etc., every week adds to the raft of ever more complex legislation making demands on employers and their managers.

• Recruitment and retention – the labour pool appears to be shrinking by the day with cleaning service providers in some sectors reporting “churn” rates in excess of 100% and all reporting recruitment problems. Constant staff shortages not only have a major impact on standards but a demoralising effect on management and staff.

• Health and Safety – a recent National Audit Office report pointed to serious H & S problems within the NHS with a 24% rise in recorded accidents in the 2001/2002 year. 48% of serious injuries were reported as resulting from slips trips and falls, a problem that is not confined to the Health Sector but affects all sectors. Health and Safety is now a major issue for the entire industry.

• Litigation – the increasing readiness of the general public, aided by legal specialists, to go to law over the slightest slip trip or fall not only ties up management time and increases costs but leads on to the massive increases in premiums for:

• Employers Liability Insurance – increases that are seeing many smaller companies being forced out of business, with many window-cleaning providers being faced with a refusal to provide cover at all.

• Basic skills – A recent survey by the Cleaning Industry National Training Organisation (CINTO) concluded that as many as 64% of all cleaners had problems with literacy and numeracy. The lack of these skills presents a considerable obstacle to the most basic of training, especially in Health and Safety.

For more information and booking details see: www.britcleanconf.co.uk


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