With the Government announcing the new apprenticeship and training program which finally recognizes cleaning and cleaners as a skilled profession, I can only remember a time when Cleaners kept the UK sanitised during one of the worst pandemics of our time.

I’ll take you back to March 2020. The UK shuts down, and businesses and schools close their doors. Hospital and Medical practices are over-run and understaffed. We obsessed over the news. The words “Social Distancing” and “PCR Testing” became part of your everyday language.

Each lockdown proved harder than the last, you missed your loved ones, the new arrivals you only met through Facetime, visiting your neighbour for a cuppa and a chat. When normality came back in September 2022, it was bittersweet. The threat of another lockdown kept us cautious. Remembering those who didn’t make it. And being thankful you did.

 

Not “Just a Cleaner”

Weeks turned into months. Months turned into years. We all believed that life would never be the same again. Key workers were doing all they could to keep essential services running. Everyone congratulated and supported the NHS staffand Teachers just to name a few. But there was another industry silently working behind the scenes. Our cleaners. They stepped up and put themselves at the forefront by supporting:

Businesses: They kept you safe while you went into the office, disinfecting touchpoints, desks, keyboards, and phones

Schools: For key workers, leaving their children wasn’t an option so our cleaners stepped in to keep your schools clean and sanitised to the highest standards to ensure the safety and well-being of our children

Hospitals: While we clapped for the NHS, we overlooked the cleaning staffworking tirelessly so you could feel safe at your hospital

Care Homes: For many, you had to leave your loved ones in the care of others. Our cleaners ensured their environment was kept clean and comfortable

Is there a New COVID Variant?

New COVID updates have brought these memories to the surface and allowed me to reflect on how grateful I am for our cleaning teams who kept you and me going. Our cleaners put themselves on the front line to keep your environment fresh and touch points sanitised. They carried the demand gracefully, putting in extra hours and adapting to new cleaning methods.

With the mention of a new COVID variant along with Winter and Autumn fast approaching, viruses and airborne germs are at their most prolific and we will be spending more time indoors. The newest COVID booster is being rolled out. You and I need to keep one step ahead this year.

Cleaners and Cleaning companies across the UK will be working hard to support their teams, again, offering much-needed help and support to keep your mind free from the worry of viruses spreading. You deserve a hygienic workspace or rest area to promote mental well-being and focus on what you do best.