.png){kind=logo}
Latest News
BICSc to Showcase Innovation at Manchester Cleaning Show
Experts from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) will be at the forefront of innovative live demonstrations, activities, and expert-led presentations at this year’s Manchester Cleaning Show.
The team of specialists from industry-leading BICSc will be sharing knowledge and highlighting the latest developments in the professional cleaning sector. The team will also lead multiple skills focused demonstrations at the cleaning and hygiene event, taking place on 18 – 19 February at Manchester Central.
It’s anticipated more than 2,500 attendees will be at the show which is focused on education, networking, demonstrations and showcasing the professional cleaning industry’s latest cutting-edge products.
Throughout the two-day event, BICSc will host dynamic demonstrations for audiences at the dedicated BICSc Demonstration Area, a new addition to the show this year. They will also welcome delegates to the Institute’s additional stand, B07, designed for in-depth conversations with their team.
The BICSc Demonstration Area will showcase a selection of skills available through BICSc training. These expert-led demonstrations will highlight key skills including the BICSc Licence to Practice, scrubber drying, and Rolled Skills 3, as well as covering the safe handling of bodily fluids and sharp objects, plus insights into the care of microfibre.
BICSc will be sharing extensive expertise and knowledge at the event as it champions cleaning operatives and continues to support individuals and organisations to raise standards and improve skills industry-wide.
BICSc Group Managing Director, Neil Spencer-Cook, will address delegates as a keynote speaker at the event. He said: “BICSc is delighted to be returning to the Manchester Cleaning Show where we will be showcasing our services and sharing industry-leading insights. Our team will highlight how expert-led training and acquiring key skills continues to have a positive impact on our cleaning communities. We are also excited to unveil our stand at the show, our largest ever exhibition stand to date.
“Founded over 60 years ago, we continue to strive to shine a spotlight on the vital role cleaning operatives play in all our day-to-day lives. As the largest independent, professional and educational membership organisation within the professional cleaning community, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to host our engaging, dynamic demonstrations throughout the event at the new BICSc Demonstration Area.”
During the show Neil will join fellow industry experts for a panel discussion entitled, A Modern Approach to Training, Education and Personnel Development for the Cleaning Sector. The panel will consider the current landscape for training and education at all levels of career development across the cleaning and hygiene sectors.
There will also be a discussion on steps being taken to create a structured approach to qualifications to ensure they are recognised as employees move between providers and roles, highlighting hybrid methods of training available to candidates today.
The healthcare sector will be the focus of an industry panel discussion which will include guest speaker Kelsey Hargreaves, BICSc Technical Manager. The panel will discuss the Current Landscape and Future Development Plans for Cleaning and FM in the Healthcare Sector. They will talk about current challenges and plans to further develop the service offering to ensure hospitals, and the wider healthcare sector, remain a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors.
Neil added: “Whether attendees are new to BICSc or already familiar with its work, the team will be happy to discuss how BICSc supports individuals and organisations in raising standards and improving skills across the sector. Visitors to our stand will also have the chance to take part in a competition to win a set of the new and highly-rated BICSc 5 pack of colour-coded training cloths!”
For more information visit https://www.bics.org.uk/
BICSc Celebrates Cleaning Conference Success
Business leaders from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) are celebrating the outstanding success of its industry-leading cleaning conference.
An esteemed line-up of guest speakers shared knowledge and industry insights at the BICSc Cleaning Conference, which ran alongside the Cleaning Excellence Conference and Awards. The conference, which took place during December, was BICSc most successful to date with record numbers of attendees.
Shining a spotlight on the most recent advancements, innovation and developments within the global professional cleaning community, keynote speakers and business leaders from a diverse section of the cleaning community addressed delegates at the conference and hosted engaging debates.
Highlights included discussions and presentations focused on robotics, the influence of social media, achieving net zero, and disinfectant resistance.
Group Managing Director of BICSc, Neil Spencer-Cook, said: "We were thrilled with the fantastic success of this year’s conference, which proved our most popular conference so far. It provided the perfect platform for industry experts from our sector to share their extensive knowledge and expertise throughout our conference programme of presentations.
“The topics addressed were varied, engaging and insightful, and we were delighted so many more delegates from the world of professional cleaning were able to join us throughout the event.”
The conference provided multiple networking opportunities and numerous seminars, as well as offering the opportunity for exhibitors to showcase services and the latest innovative products.
The BICSc team were on hand to engage with current and prospective members at the Institute’s stand in the exhibition hall.
A packed programme of presentations by guest speakers were hosted throughout the day, with conference highlights including the following talks:
- The Influence of Social Media on the Cleaning Industry with Vikki Morris, Environment & Sustainability Manager at Evans Vanodine
- The Future of Cleaning with Tibor Killi, Managing Director of Killis
- United by Standards: Elevating Safety and Efficacy in Cleaning Across the Industry with BICSc Technical Manager and Youth Ambassador for Youth Employment UK, Kelsey Hargreaves
- Empowering the Workplace: The Origin Secured Digital Cleaners Licence with Jamie Devlin, COO of Origin Secured
- Disinfectant Resistance and New Technologies with Fellow of BICSc, Dr Andrew Kemp
- Lessons Learnt with BICSc Commercial Director Denise Hanson
- Cleaning Up Carbon: How our industry can lead the Net Zero Transition with Alan Stenson, CEO, Neutral Carbon Zone
- The Chartered Practitioner Register presented by Denise Hanson of BICSc and Lorraine Larman, Deputy Master Environmental Cleaners.
Neil added: “We were delighted to showcase such an extensive range of prestigious speakers who hit upon many of the industry's hottest topics and concerns. We had superb audience interaction with all our guest speakers, keeping the audience engaged with the compelling content of the topics discussed.”
The Future of Cleaning Initiative: A Groundbreaking Collaboration
The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) and the Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA) have successfully completed a groundbreaking project aimed at exploring the future of cleaning. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the cleaning industry, reflecting a shared commitment to embracing innovation with confidence.
Driving Change Through Collaboration
In 2024, BICSc and CSSA embarked on this ambitious project to provide valuable insights through independent trials and scientific results. "This collaboration between the British Institute of Cleaning Science and the CSSA reflects a first for collaboration between industry associations and our shared commitment to help the cleaning sector embrace innovation with confidence. Together, we are futureproofing the industry through practical, evidence-based insight," said Paul Ashton, CSSA Chair.
Project Scope and Methodology
The project aimed to:
- Determine the productivity of different types of current machine ranges.
- Provide clarity on the changes to productivity brought about by robotics.
- Evidence the effect on the standard of cleaning achieved from the usage of these machines and chemicals.
- Determine whether the use of this equipment or chemical range made changes to air quality and pathogen count.
Suppliers were approached to assist in trialling different types of equipment, chemicals, and processes. The following suppliers participated in the project:
- Numatic
- Birkin
- Killis
- Diversey
- Karcher
- Orion Eco
The trials took place at the University of Surrey, with each manufacturer given six weeks to establish their equipment and/or chemicals. The BICSc Cleaning and Hygiene Audit App was used to assess changes in cleanliness.
Challenges and Key Findings
Despite the project's ambitious goals, several challenges impacted the results, including management changes, staff engagement, and external consultant recommendations. The cleaning inspection results were mixed, with no clear correlation from the starting point to the completion results. However, valuable insights were gained, such as the importance of engaging operatives in the process and the need for effective change management.
Quotes from Industry Leaders
"The trial has shown us that success lies not just in product performance but in the readiness of people and processes to adopt it," said Paul Ashton, CSSA Chairman. "Management of change is key to the success of the process. Where staff are not engaged in the process, the installation of new equipment or processes is doomed to failure," added Denise Hanson, Commercial Director, BICSc. “How we manage change needs to be the biggest consideration, whether it is technological, chemical, machinery, or even providing training. Without clear guidance, leadership and ongoing support, change will not be effective,” commented Neil Spencer-Cook, Group MD, BICSc.
Expert Insights
Professor Andrew Kemp, Head of the Scientific Advisory Board at BICSc, emphasised the importance of scientific rigour in the trials. "Our approach ensures that the findings are not only practical but also scientifically sound, providing a robust foundation for future innovations in the cleaning industry," said Professor Kemp. The study carried out by Professor Andrew Kemp concentrates only on the data provided by the two new technologies that were kept separate from the main study:
- Advanced Photocatalytic Oxidation (APO)
- Photocatalytic solution (PS)
The results of this study can be found here.
Looking Ahead
Both BICSc and CSSA are committed to driving innovation and professional standards in the cleaning industry. The CSSA is keen to expand its role in overseeing governance, innovation, and professional standards, while BICSc remains dedicated to protecting cleaning operatives with professional standards.
In an industry worth £60 billion and employing 1.5 million people, trade body partnerships like this are crucial for driving progression and producing ideas for future guidance. The CSSA is committed to developing guidance on managing technology transitions and welcomes engagement with manufacturers to share lessons learned and ideas for future guidance.
Winners Celebrate Success at BICSc Awards
Leading lights of the professional cleaning and hygiene industry celebrated their success as the winners of the BICSc Awards 2025 were announced at this year’s glittering ceremony.
The annual awards shine a spotlight on the global cleaning community toasting the achievements of individuals and teams, recognising their dedication in multiple roles within the industry.
The BICSc Awards are industry-leading and every year the Institute is inundated with nominations, with this year proving phenomenally popular receiving a record number of entries, which were up by 25%.
BICSc Group Managing Director, Neil Spencer-Cook, said: “The BICSc Awards 2025 were an outstanding success. It was fantastic to be able to celebrate the very best in the cleaning industry and honour the incredible individuals and teams who make a real difference every day.
“These awards are about recognising excellence but more than that, they’re about celebrating the people who make our industry what it is, the ones who go above and beyond, who innovate and who inspire.”
Neil was able to celebrate with fellow winners taking to the stage to receive their accolades after he was announced as the recipient of The David Bellamy Award for his decade of service to BICSc.
Neil added: “It was an absolute honour to receive this prestigious award in recognition of my 10 years of service with BICSc – it is a career highlight for me. I wanted to say a huge thank you for being awarded the accolade and also thank the great team who I work with at the Institute.”
At the prestigious ceremony host, BICSc Technical Manager, Kelsey Hargreaves announced the following awards and winners:
The David Bellamy Award – Neil Spencer-Cook
The Chairman's Award – Grieg Cave
The Eric Hill Award – Darrin McCartney
The BICSc International Award – Whitespot Facilities Management LLC
Innovation Award – Whitespot Facilities Management LLC
Environmental (ESG) Award – Julius Rutherfoord & Co
Corporate Member of the Year – Deeland Ltd t/a Service Master
Accredited Training Member of the Year – Clarion Housing
Assessor of the Year – Steven Goldie – HMP Addiewell
Accredited Trainer of the Year – Amaniampong Atakora – Goldsmiths University of London
Cleaning Operative of the Year – Barrington Spencer – Bidvest Noonan
Outstanding Candidate of the Year – Joshua Morel – Engie Solutions KSA
Lifetime Achievement Award – Johanna Galindo – King's College London
The awards proved to be another sellout success with an array of prizes won on the night in the chairman’s charity prize draw, which was in aid of Dementia UK. Guests celebrated in style at the black-tie event with a drinks reception, awards ceremony, and three course dinner followed by live entertainment.
Whittlebury Hall & Spa in Northamptonshire hosted the awards, which were preceded by a daytime exhibition featuring sponsors from the industry, who shared innovations and insights alongside the Industry Insights Conference, where expert keynote speakers sparked discussions with thought-provoking presentations.
For more information visit https://www.bics.org.uk/
.png)
