The commercial cleaning sector faces a skills crisis. Attracting and retaining talent is a major challenge and at Calabash we overcome it by putting people first. Our staff are our greatest asset and deserve to be valued and fairly rewarded for their expertise. By putting social impact at the heart of our sustainability strategy we are helping people address the cost of living crisis whilst improving customer service, reducing operating costs and securing competitive advantage.
According to a report by the British Cleaning Council (BCC), the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector is still struggling to recover after the pandemic. The 2024 research found that the industry contributes nearly £59.8 billion to the economy and yet is dealing with the perfect storm of staff shortages and an ageing population.
Many businesses are still finding it very difficult replacing staff lost due to Brexit and the pandemic. Immigration rules changed in 2021 categorising cleaning staff as low skill workers which has exacerbated the problem. Given that only 9% of sector staff are under 25 whilst 27% are over 55, things do not bode well for the future.
Commercial cleaning businesses are competing to access an ever shrinking talent pool. In an industry that has a reputation for poor pay and conditions, this offers an opportunity to stand out from the crowd as an employer of choice for both new entrants and experienced staff.
At Calabash we take a “People First” approach and put our workforce at the centre of our sustainability strategy. We do not use zero hours contracts and in April 2023 we committed to paying The Real Living Wage to help ensure the salaries we pay can help people meet the real cost of living.
The UK Living Wage is currently set at £12, and the London Living Wage has recently risen to £13.15. We are proud to say that around 90% of our clients have agreed to pay the rate and we are already enjoying the benefits. Receiving a fair salary allows staff to meet their everyday needs, boosts morale and has had a major impact on our attraction and retention rates.
We celebrate the fact that we have a talented and diverse workforce which incorporates more than 20 nationalities. They are remunerated fairly for the work they do, and we have created a culture in which people feel valued. Calabash prioritises the welfare and wellbeing of staff within the commercial cleaning sector. We are committed to using low impact high performance cleaning products to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals and we use equipment and techniques that require minimum physical strain.
Whilst competitors struggle to fill vacancies, we have a waiting list of skilled people who want to work for Calabash. That not only helps us meet our operational requirements and reduce recruitment costs but means that our clients benefit from a team of motivated and experienced facilities management professionals. That is why we have a reputation for attention to detail and delivering exceptional results.
Positive social impact will remain a priority as we continue to drive our business forward through a commitment to the triple bottom line of people, profit and planet. Our latest sustainability strategy document will be published later in the year, and we are investigating further ways to embed best practice. Talk to our team today about how Calabash can support your business.
Company No: 02764589 | Registered address: The Coach House, Powell Rd, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, United Kingdom, IG9 5RD | VAT No. GB609134553
