Delia Cannings Elected New British Cleaning Council Chair

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17 July 2023

The British Cleaning Council elected Delia Cannings as its new Chair at its AGM.

Delia has served as Deputy Chair of the British Cleaning Council (BCC) for the past two years, and will take over from Jim Melvin. A new Deputy Chair has also been elected, David Garcia, who is the current Vice President and Treasurer of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association.

“I have been honoured to observe some great leaders in the field, building bridges and striving for change. Combined with the advancement of cleaning technology, these things have inspired me and enabled the sharing of best practices across the industry by way of education and training.

–Delia Cannings

Chair, BCC

Second Ever Female Chair of The British Cleaning Council

Delia has worked in the cleaning and hygiene sector for 45 years and in fields including both the public and private sectors and the cleaning, health, hospitality, commercial, education and training sectors. She is the owner and Executive Director of Environmental Excellence Training & Development Ltd, which she founded. She is also the National Lead for Education and Training for BCC member The Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (ahcp) and Deputy Chair for the UK Housekeepers Association (UKHA), Midlands Committee.

Delia plans to continue with existing BCC priorities, as well as championing education and training in the sector and calling for the government to allow more Apprenticeship Levy funding paid by cleaning and hygiene businesses to instead be invested in industry initiatives.

She said: “I am truly humbled to be elected as the second ever Chair lady of the BCC. My passion for this industry began many years back. 

“I have been honoured to observe some great leaders in the field, building bridges and striving for change. Combined with the advancement of cleaning technology, these things have inspired me and enabled the sharing of best practices across the industry by way of education and training.

“We have work to do, that is for sure. Jim Melvin has left big shoes to fill, and I will give my heart and soul to solidifying the footprint already created in support of the work led by a great man and inspirational leader Jim Melvin.”   

Jim Melvin was elected Chair in 2021 and had a significant role All Party Parliamentary Group for the cleaning and hygiene industry. He also campaigned throughout the COVID-19 lockdown for cleaners to be recognised as key workers in the ‘We Clean, We Care’ campaign.

Jim said: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to be Chair of the British Cleaning Council and I genuinely hope that we have assisted the associate members and indeed the industry in some way.

“I now pass over to the new Chair Delia Cannings who has been of outstanding support to me and the BCC in general. Delia will be a hugely successful leader, with drive and passion aligning with her extensive experience.

“I will be happy to help where appropriate but in the meantime, I would like to thank all the friends and industry colleagues who have supported me over the past two years.”

Picture: from left to right: David Garcia, Delia Cannings and Jim Melvin. Image Credit: BCC

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 17 July 2023

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