BCC member the ABCD has revealed details of this year’s Cleaning Team of the Year awards. Sponsored again by Denis Rawlins Ltd, a supplier partner of the ABCD, this year’s winners are:
Cleaning Team of the Year 2018:
Bolton
Highly Commended:
Middlesbrough – Levick Court
Doncaster – Hill Top Primary
The award’s judges said about Bolton’s entry: “Bolton have merged catering and cleaning services to create a joint facilities service rather than risk losing cleaning, a non-statutory service, considering new living wage investments and the need for savings and improvements.
“The outcome has seen processes used in catering, introduced into cleaning services, creating better communication and resources for the 240-direct staff that are often lone workers.
“Results are significant quality improvements in delivery, new contracts, more staff engagement, and a positive new culture. The team were found to be very positive, keen to learn and extremely up beat. It has been a massive task for all involved and they have the start of a very professional joint facilities team.”
Commenting on Middlesbrough’s Highly Commended entry the judges said:
“The small team at Levick Court clean a residential home with residents that can be demanding and difficult. The facility is impeccably clean, and the team have amazing rapport with the residents, often seeming to be in the role of carer as well as cleaning. This team go way beyond what would normally be expected.”
And with regards to Doncaster added:
“There is a great team at Hill Top Primary, led by Margaret who is loved by all. The school looks very clean and the team are often praised for their flexibility and their ability to return a very clean school even under the most trying conditions, an example being last summer when the builders where in for most of the holiday period, yet the school opened up, after the summer holiday, looking fresh and in perfect cleanliness. As well as all staff being BICS certified, Hill Top was first Local Authority team to be ISSA CIMS accredited.”
James White of Denis Rawlins Ltd, who carried out the judging visits, commented:
“As always this has been a humbling experience, I am always amazed by the people I meet and the stories they have to tell. Whilst there can only be one winner, all those recognised here are examples of the level of dedication and professionalism of ABCD members across the country. We should be proud of the work done by our members day in, day out, as they are, often unrecognised, the first line of defence for the health of our children.”
Elaine Bridge from the winning Bolton team said: “Our Cleaning Team at Bolton Council are thrilled with this award and we are celebrating and sharing our success. It is especially valuable to recognise success and achievement during the challenges of austerity and when we need to transform and re-engineer traditional services. It is a combined effort which starts with our 250 direct cleaners who are the real heroes. Thank you to ABCD.”
For more information about the ABCD visit www.abcdsp.org.uk