Expanding contracting horizons
February 27th 2008

In 2008 the CSSA enters its fifth decade in the best position to advance its members interests for many years. 2007 brought financial security and an increase in membership that makes the association even more representative of its sector. The CSSA will build on this in 2008 to significantly improve its benefits to members.

The CSSA stands for a high quality and professional cleaning sector and all of our activities are directed towards that goal. We campaign in Government for a business environment that enables cleaning businesses to flourish and removed unnecessary obstacles to trade. The CSSA delivers a variety of services to members to improve their performance as businesses and we ceaselessly promote the industry to the wider community as the professional service that it is.

The CSSA in 2008

2008 will be an especially important year for the CSSA, as we will be launching a number of key initiatives to improve the contract cleaning sector and the way in which it is perceived.

Our most important initiative will be the introduction of quality management certification for CSSA members. Participating firms will be able to show that their businesses have been certified by an accredited third party to be operating at a high standard. This will be a major step forwards for the contract cleaning industry in differentiating itself as a professional sector and will spotlight good practice to clients, public authorities and stakeholders in general.

To reinforce the drive for quality, the CSSA will be holding a much larger number of networking and education seminars in 2008.This will ensure that all CSSA members have the opportunity to obtain the latest information about issues of key importance such as health and safety, employment law and sustainability.

The CSSA will continue to lobby Government in 2008 for a better business environment for the cleaning sector.We have had successes over the last year in both health and safety and National Minimum Wage discussions and we will continue to focus on these areas in 2008. Moreover, the CSSA will bring a renewed focus to the outsourcing of cleaning in the healthcare sector. It is high time that the contract cleaning industry fought back against the casual prejudice that affects the sector. Contract cleaning has brought many benefits to the NHS and in 2008 the CSSA will ensure that these benefits are brought to the fore.

The Government is not the only stakeholder in the cleaning industry, and the CSSA already works closely with a number of media outlets to ensure that the views of the industry are well heard. In 2008 we will strive to broaden the reach of the industry’s views into the mainstream media.Articles have already appeared in the Observer and BBC online, and the drive to spread good news about the contract cleaning sector will continue.

2008 will also be a year of events for the CSSA.In June we will have our annual lunch, this year at the Park Lane Hotel.This is always a spectacular gathering and we look forward to seeing many members and friends together. In October, the cleaning industry conference will be held in the UK and also the World Federation of Building Service Contractors biennial Congress in Buenos Aires. Both of these events offer the CSSA the opportunity to lead the development of the cleaning sector nationally and globally, and we look forwards to participating in them to the greatest extent possible.