Kelsey Hargreaves, Assistant Technical Specialist at BICSc, reports.
In March of this year, I had the pleasure to present and exhibit at the London Cleaning Show. This year was a special one for me for many different reasons. I was able to see all the advancements within the cleaning sector, I was given an amazing opportunity to share my views with colleagues across the industry and, for the first time, I got to see just how many connections I had made within it. What a difference a year had made.
At the last London Cleaning Show, I remember standing aghast as I watched a singing robot glide past me while vacuuming the floor as it went. I remember walking around making notes on all the different brands I was seeing and researching avidly when I got home. I think we all remember what our first cleaning show/exhibition was like. All that new information, walking into a big hall filled with products we had never dreamed of existing and hearing the names of associations, institutes and memberships that had never been introduced to us before.
For many of us reading this magazine, and attending these shows, we understand the changing developments, and we are familiar with the different associations in which we can support and be involved. But what about the colleagues we have that aren’t at these shows or reading this magazine?
At BICSc, we constantly push that we should drive change in practice through the cleaning operatives and supervisors; this way we ensure the main workforce of the industry is kept adept of changes and have the opportunity to have their say. Surely, we should be doing the same thing with the rest of the industry knowledge?
When I worked in my previous roles before BICSc, I had no idea of the associations that I could join, associations that could help me with my professional development and put me in touch with a larger network of industry figures. What was the reason for that?
- Was the marketing of these products/associations/institutes directed to me at a lower level?
- Are directors/managers aware of which associations and institutes are relevant to them, and what each can help with?
- Are we guilty, as an industry, in thinking that people who are not involved in procurement processes simply do not care about what is out there?
In an idyllic world, cleaning operatives, supervisors, team leaders, officers, managers, and directors would all have the same opportunities to attend events, try products and attend meetings of different associations. In a more realistic world, we should give the option of these opportunities, or share the knowledge that we have with each other. We talk about being a skilled industry filled with incredible insight and knowledge, let's share the access we have to this knowledge with every person in the industry.
Let’s promote not only corporate membership but personal memberships to institutes, associations, and organisations with every member of our team!
Let’s share access to magazines, newsletters, journals, and webinars!
Let’s ensure that everyone that works in our industry has the tools that they need for professional development.
Remember, the more we share, the more we have.
www.bics.org.uk
About the contributor
Kelsey Hargreaves
Assistant Technical Specialist
BICSc