Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

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CSSA relaunch: "A wonderful evening"

Last evening all the current Cleaning & Support Services Association members gathered with 21 non-member, cleaning & facilities management industry affiliates such as the Living Wage Foundation, Summit Skills, Citizens UK, the British Cleaning Council, the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association, the British Institute of Cleaning science, the trade press and their guests, at a party celebrating the official relaunch of the CSSA. It was said to be "a wonderful evening," with "everyone enjoying themselves".

Prior to the more social side of the evening, attendees were treated to a presentation on the background of the new CSSA and its progress.

(Ed: If you'd like a full update on what led to the relaunch, key 'CSSA' into the search bar just under the Header on this page and read the most recent items, which are at the bottom of the list).

Chairman Douglas Cooke, in his address, said that membership has grown rapidly since the idea of a relaunch was first mooted back in February of this year, by five CSSA 'veterans'. In April, a Board was formed to include four representatives from new Association members and this was completed last month. It now includes two female Corporate Representative Members - as well as contractors & suppliers.

A new fee structure is now in place to make membership more affordable to businesses of all sizes; different groups, each headed by a chairman with a total of 30 individuals, have been set up to handle areas of importance to members (such as Innovation & Technology, Marketing, Health & Safety, Immigration, Training & Apprenticeships - The New Levy) and importantly, a clear and concise purpose has been outlined:

"To Guide, Support and Accredit our Members to Promote Best Practice for all users and providers of Cleaning and Support Services".

Doug also announced that on 16th June 2017, the CSSA's 50th Anniversary will be celebrated with a CSSA & Cleaning Industry Luncheon at London's Savoy Hotel (Ed: just like the old days then!). With some 300 guests anticipated and 120 tickets already sold, anyone planning to attend should contact the CSSA very soon to avoid missing out.

A new CSSA initiative that was also announced is the Cleaning Awards programme, details of which can be found at:
 cssa-uk.co.uk/awards2017.

Entries can be submitted from 14th November 2016 and submissions close on 24th January 2017, so you don't have long.

"If you want to impress your customers... showcase your business... get some great publicity.... want to be the best... want to celebrate our great industry then you need to enter," quipped Doug, who went on to say of the CSSA itself:

"The CSSA is a trade association for the cleaning & support services industry - it has always been here and has adapted to the industry of today and tomorrow.

"The Association dates back to 1966 and has been at the forefront of the industry over the last 50 years, stimulating change in government legislation and promoting good practice for the benefit of our members and users of our members' services.

"The cleaning industry contributes £8bn to the UK economy each year. This justifiably merits it to be recognised and represented by those that want to uphold the objective of safeguarding the reputation and standing of the cleaning industry.

"To achieve this objective, the CSSA has set out its purpose to guide, support and accredit our members to promote best practice for all users and providers of cleaning and support services.

"Within the CSSA Directorate and Executive Groups, we have some of the most experienced and brightest forward-looking minds in the industry. With combined experience spanning hundreds of years the Association is primed and ready to work with and for its members for the next 50 years.

"Come and join us."

Bob Vincent, LCC Support Services, is delighted with the support the CSSA offers its contractors. He said: "We were experiencing serious issues with the unions on one of our largest customer sites. The experience, guidance and support of the CSSA was invaluable. I felt so indebted to the CSSA that I joined the Board so I could help others."

Fellow CSSA member John Doyle, Mayflower Washroom Solutions, added: "Delivering great service for good value is so reliant on great partnerships in the supply chain. The co-operation between the end service provider and people like us is so close, you might believe that we are all part of the same team. We want to work with the right companies and believe in what the CSSA are trying to achieve."

John Findlater said: "Customers can take comfort that they are dealing with a credible and reputable business when they see the CSSA logo. Imagine the day that you start seeing testimonials like this... 'When looking for a new contract cleaning service provider we now stipulate that they must be CSSA accredited. The NEW accreditation of the CSSA ticks so many boxes for us in terms of making sure we are dealing with credible and professional businesses'.

"The CSSA has a wider purpose, reaching outside of its membership to include the customer and consumers in general. Membership is targeted to cleaning contractors and suppliers to the industry; however the audience for our message and purpose is much broader.

"The CSSA is here for you, for the industry that we all trust and believe in. So are you a leader with a vision for a better industry for everyone, or will you just sit back and work in isolation, unprepared to commit to the future?

"Together we can change things for the better, so make the call and join us on our mission:

'A smarter industry for our customers'!"

Ed: anyone joining the CSSA who pays the 2017 membership fee (from as little as £500) before 31st October 2016, will be enrolled into the CSSA immediately, giving you two months' free membership - i.e. 14 months membership for the price of 12. This deal comes with a guarantee... If you are sceptical about joining, call the CSSA and tell them what your expectations are. If you join and and your expections have not been met by 31st December, then you will be offered a 'no quibble' refund your membership.

T: 03335 670436
Email: [email protected]
W: facebook.com/cssaorguk
Twitter: @CSSAUK

13th October 2016