The World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) is adopting a more aggressive marketing stance in order to position itself as the
leading promoter of the cleaning industry, globally. Recognising that to-date it has largely been an inward looking organisation, talking largely only to itself, the WFBSC believes it can be a ‘standard bearer’ for the service provider segment.
“We are a policy-driven body and increasingly will be involved in political action,” stated Andrew Large, London-based WFBSC executive vice president and CSSA chief executive.
Upbeat about the WFBSC’s future, he pointed to the positive initiatives that are taking place within the organisation.
They include the addition of new sponsors (including Karcher as a major sponsor); the highly professional approach being taken by Brazil in its hosting approach to the 2012 Congress; and the initial positive responses received from various high profile global bodies, quangos, and government organisations to WFBSC overtures.
“The WFBSC is now a serious business organisation,” emphasised Large.
“Our WFBSC Communique, delivered at this 2011 Congress, clearly sets out the Federation’s goals, and calls to action for the various industry participants,” he added.
The Curitiba (Brazil) 2012 WFBSC Congress will then report on progress made against those calls.
The Communique points out that, ‘Building service contractors are closely linked to sustainable development. It is a transverse sector that is linked to all other sectors; it is a trade that is largely dependent on human resources rather than capital and it is a trade that consumes energy and other resources and creates pollution. The global building service contractor agenda should reflect these realities.’
Protecting the planet, developing people and maximising profit are the themes through which the Communique was developed. Calls to action addressed to BSCs, Suppliers and Trade Associations comprise the Communique’s core.
Large said the WFBSC has already been active, working on behalf of all world cleaning industry parties, on the Global Harmonised System (for chemicals). The issue of ‘corrosiveness’ and its potentially very negative impacts on chemical manufacturers is being addressed by appropriate world government bodies.
“Problems experienced by our supplier partners will necessarily effect our end-user service provider members,” he said.