The British Cleaning Council (BCC) is the authoritative voice of the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector, which is one of the UK’s biggest industries, worth £59bn and employing 1.47m people, according to the last reported figures.

Comprising 21 trade and membership associations, the BCC coordinates, campaigns on behalf of, and supports the entire sector.

The BCC championed the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship, which launched on 1 January 2024 and promises to be of huge importance for the sector.

The apprenticeship will enable industry businesses to use Apprenticeship Levy funds to invest in their staff, allowing employees to access a recognised work-related cleaning qualification.

As well as unlocking millions of pounds a year for staff training, the apprenticeship standard will help the sector and staff achieve greater recognition for their vital, skilled work, contributing to the nation's health and wealth.

Show attendees will be able to hear BCC Chair Cannings discuss the apprenticeship standard as part of the conference programme.

The BCC is also the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry and campaigns for the recommendations of the APPG’s report, Embedding Effective Hygiene for a Resilient UK, to be adopted by the Government.

The report’s recommendations, if implemented, would put cleaning and hygiene at the heart of the national agenda, making the nation much more resilient to current common infections and also much better prepared for future public health emergencies, like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members of the industry are being asked to download a pre-written letter below from https://britishcleaningcouncil.org/2023/02/06/download-letter-here OR BY SCANNING THE QR CODE ATTACHED and to email it to their local MP in support of the campaign.

The BCC works for greater recognition for staff and the sector through the We Clean, We Care campaign and co-produces the Cleaning Show, the UK’s premier industry trade show.

The BCC also produces an annual research report, a key industry document giving the most up-to-date, detailed and informative overview of the current condition of the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector.

In a separate talk as part of the Cleaning Show conference, Delia will launch the BCC’s 2024 research report and update the audience on major strands of the BCC’s work, such as the sector’s APPG, the campaign for recognition for the sector and its staff, and education and training issues.

In another discussion, a panel of experts including Delia will talk about the new NHS cleaning standards.

While you are at the show, why not visit the BCC stand to order a free copy of the research report and pick up a free We Clean, We Care badge? We hope to see you there.