A new phenomenon is set to shape the future landscape of our workplaces and add an important figure to the full-time working environment - daytime cleaning.
Key representatives from the cleaning industry will be discussing this at a House of Commons function, on Wednesday 2nd May, as well as the pros of this service among other hot topics including cleaning up Britain before the Olympics.
Steve Wright, Deputy Chairman of industry voice the British Cleaning Council (BCC) said: "Daytime cleaning in workplaces will really take off as it has in other countries. Cleaners provide an essential service to all industry and the need to have housekeeping staff at hand, while most employees are in the workplace during the day, is in increasing demand. Most importantly cleaners will be given visibility and recognition. They will become more a part of the team and not one of the fairies that magically transform an office, shop or retail outlet while no one else is there.
"If an employee works alongside the cleaners they will keep their environment tidier and their presence will encourage staff to take pride in their workplace and give them the respect they deserve for leaving the environment spick and span."
The BCC, a body which has helped to professionalise the cleaning industry, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Judith West, Chairman of the British Cleaning Council said:
"Cleaning has moved on leaps and bounds over the years. We are thankful for developments affecting our employees such as the introduction of the minimum wage, holiday pay and pension rights. So too have migrant workers helped to shape our industry and steer it forward. There are also more legislative and health and safety initiatives that have helped to influence it."
Cleaning training has become something of an industry must with bodies such as BCC member British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) rolling out courses in cleaning up to degree level. The industry has worked hard to transform the old image of Mrs Mop and demonstrate the new face of cleaning, in many cases young people who carve out a career for themselves by training as cleaners and going on to set up their own successful businesses to cope with such a high demand for good cleaning services.
Continued Steve: "Daytime cleaning will certainly help to attract more people to the industry. The problem that many employers have faced to date is enticing people to work in the long term due to part-time hours. Now that better employment packages are available to cleaning staff, companies can increase their workforce. Many cleaners can now feel valued because of employers rewarding them through better work conditions such as increased pay and training."
