Policy and research organisation the Business Services Association (BSA) has debuted the Responsible Cleaner Scheme (RCS). It is a demonstration by those companies ‘signing up’ that they value their employees and are dedicated to enhancing our industry’s professionalism.
‘The RCS is for companies working in the contract cleaning sector. RCS members have come together to protect and promote the welfare and development of their employees; to make sure their experience and capabilities are recognised and developed; and to promote the professionalisation of the industry itself,’ said a 27 January press release.
The BSA’s raison d’etre is to bring together all those who are interested in delivering efficient, flexible and cost-effective service and infrastructure projects across the private and public sectors.
The Association provides a forum for service providers to come together to discuss issues of common interest. Its members have a combined UK turnover of some 30 billion pounds sterling and a total UK workforce of 500,000 employees. Members employ some 2 million people globally and their worldwide turnover is about 80 billion pounds sterling.
To help achieve these goals RCS members have signed up to a series of commitments. The focus of the commitments is on valuing, recognising and rewarding the hard work and dedication of RCS members’ employees.
Sixteen companies have signed up to the RCS, representing more than 130,000 employees. They include Compass, ISS, Serco, Sodexo, OCS and Mitie.
BSA chief executive Mark Fox said: “This is a good commitment by BSA members involved in the cleaning industry. It represents the seriousness with which they take good practice and professional development. I am pleased that BSA members involved in cleaning have come together to initiate and develop the RCS through the BSA.”
Martyn Freeman, managing director of Mitie’s Facilities Management business and chairman of the BSA Cleaning Group, said: “This is a fantastic scheme. It is great that the industry has come together in this way, demonstrating that it values its employees and is dedicated to professionalising further the industry. I am really proud that businesses are working together to help achieve these goals and it is a sign of the direction in which the cleaning industry is heading.
“In large part, the commitments represent existing good practice – now set out clearly so that employees, clients and wider stakeholders can see the principles which RCS members will abide by. This is a great scheme for the industry and everyone involved in it.”