Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 23rd July 2026 Issue no. 1220
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SOAPBOX: Industry consolidation... but also a huge opportunity for SMEs
by Phil Smith, founder & managing director, Indigo IFM; senior warden Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners; Living Wage Champion 2025; founder/chair The Hill Club
"I've read the articles with great interest and the proposed acquisition of Mitie by OCS is undoubtedly one of the biggest moments our industry has witnessed in many years.
Should the deal complete, we'll see the creation of an FM organisation with revenues in excess of £8 billion - a remarkable achievement and a reflection of the continuing evolution of our sector. Congratulations to everyone involved.
But whilst many will focus on the scale of the transaction, I believe there is another story worth talking about.
Every major merger creates opportunity.
There are thousands of organisations across the UK - particularly SMEs - that value relationships every bit as much as procurement. They want accessibility, accountability and genuine partnership. They want to know that when they call their service provider, they matter.
For many of those businesses, the question won't be: "Who is the biggest?". It will be "Who will care the most?"
I've long believed that many SME clients would rather be a Top-5 client to an exceptional independent FM provider than one of many thousands of clients within an £8 billion portfolio.
Size brings capability, investment and reach. But agility, responsiveness and personal service remain powerful competitive advantages.
The UK's SME FM community is full of outstanding businesses delivering exceptional outcomes every single day. Businesses where decisions are made quickly, leaders remain visible, and clients are genuinely known rather than simply managed.
As our industry continues to consolidate at the top, I believe we're entering a golden period for ambitious, values-led independent providers who can demonstrate quality, consistency and exceptional customer experience.
The future of facilities management doesn't belong exclusively to the biggest organisations.
It belongs to those who build the strongest relationships."
23rd July 2026