The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have changed how we live and work. For the Facilities Management industry, managing buildings and ensuring the safety and security of their occupants is fundamentally at the core of what we do, but how our services are delivered continues to develop.
The cleaning sector was thrust into the limelight as a result of the earthquake the pandemic wrought on the country, but has come out of the pandemic with renewed strength and optimism.
Through advances in technology, and shifting attitudes that continue to unfold, at the Tudor Group we have responded to this changing environment with approaches that see the company continue to thrive.
Responding swiftly to change
“Although the pandemic period was difficult for everyone,” says Managing Director Fabien Caqueret, “we’ve come out of it flourishing because we responded to those challenges fast.
“We diversified our operations, meaning we weren’t reliant on premises that were closed during the lockdown. We adjusted swiftly to how people now view cleaning after the onslaught of Covid.”
Before the onset of the pandemic, office directors and staff mainly wanted their desks and personal spaces cleaned – this continues. But in the post-Covid era, more attention to common “touch points” like door handles, light fixtures, and shared business appliances are now expected.
The emphasis is changing from dedicated desks to communal zones – staff rooms, meeting halls, toilets and utility rooms. While vacuuming and dusting were the mainstays of traditional office maintenance, sanitisation and precise, relevant handling of certain spaces are set to emerge as the new standards.
Investment in technology
One of the ways of meeting these new standards could be through the increased use of technology.
The move to hybrid working and the unpredictable nature of building occupancy has accelerated the trend towards smart buildings, analytics and data that was already being seen pre-pandemic.
The concept of the ‘Uberisation’ of FM, of technologies that allow an ‘on-demand’ service, in theory ticks a lot of boxes. Moving from a planned to reactive service offers building owners flexibility and choice; but would also involve more time and effort in the briefing and assessment of each supplier, to ensure they have the relevant experience and expertise for the job.
Robotics such as self-driving floor scrubbers are increasing in popularity, as a reliable way to meet enhanced cleaning protocols, but also as a way of adding value through improved productivity – freeing up staff to spend time on more strategic priorities.
Cobotics, or the collaboration between robots and cleaning operatives, are machines operated by humans which act as a support for repetitive and time-consuming jobs, or heavy-duty tasks such as large-scale vacuuming.
But of course, any technology is usually only as effective as the people that are using it…
The power of people
Despite the recruitment challenges faced by many sectors as a result of covid and Brexit, at the Tudor Group we have continued to attract, recruit, and train our teams to ensure we are in a position to adjust to shifting demands.
We have restructured how we deploy operatives in line with changes in when people expect cleaning to be done. Fabien Caqueret says his workforce has responded to this shifting landscape with its characteristic enthusiasm:
“The men and women who do the cleaning have been proactive and professional in adapting to new ways of doing business. Often, a company will want the presence of cleaners during the day, when it used to be done in the evening.
“We’ve recruited new people who have been made most welcome and taught really well by existing employees. We continue to support our workforce in responding to how cleaning practices have changed.”
It should go without saying that all employees deserve to be paid fairly, and we are proud to be an accredited employer of, and advocate for, the Real Living Wage. As a Living Wage Recognised Service Provider, we can promote the importance of affording every worker the right to earn a wage which meets their everyday needs.
The planet always matters
But whatever the changes to working practices and the use of technology, Caqueret is adamant that the environment is a significant issue that all companies must confront.
“The Tudor Group is constantly engaged in a mission to try and prevent the exploitation of natural resources and to preserve earth’s essential ecosystems. If we don’t have a habitable planet, how does anything else matter?
“We need a clean, green environment, and I don’t know any serious business that doesn’t have the environment at the core of its ethos.”
FM is a key player in helping to deliver zero-carbon solutions in the built environment, with an important role in measuring and reducing emissions. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) introduced the concept of categorising emissions into Scope 1, 2 and 3, to help define whether a company is directly responsible for the emissions it produces, or if it is causing them indirectly via their supply chain.
The Tudor Group’s own ESG objectives are constantly being reviewed to ensure they’re in line with the forefront of business. We are keen to invest in electric vehicles and increase our recycling whilst continuing to dispose of chemical waste correctly.
“We’re committed to implementing a green cleaning programme, which includes the use of renewable, sustainable, environmentally safe products, produced to ISO 9001 standards and ISO 14001 environmental certification, and accredited to Carbon PAS2060 for carbon neutrality,” says Fabien Caqueret, “these products contain fewer or no harmful chemicals, and are often super-concentrated so that any packaging waste is minimised.”
“We want to collaborate with clients in order to make continuous improvements; our environmental policies are open to change, and curiosity is vital. Through being efficient in our own working practices, we can help our clients reduce their own impact.”
Our continued success in the future will come through positive growth and a hard-earned reputation for high ethical, environmental, and technological standards.
Our expert cleaning professionals comply with the rigorous standards established by the worldwide cleaning industry association, ISSA, and the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc).
For more information on our services, contact us on 0161 789 3550 or via sales@tudorcc.com.
