The state of the nation’s loos
February 27th 2008 Richard Chisnell, Director of the British Toilet Association and Loo of the Year Awards,provides an update on the growing success and effect of the nation’s favourite annual competition.
2007 marked the twentieth Anniversary since the Loo of the Year Awards were first introduced – a significant milestone. Nearly 1500 separate entries were received last year across our expanded range of 57 different entry categories – 33 per cent up on last year.
A clear indication that ‘away from home’ toilet standards are rising is confirmed by the fact that a total of 488, or 33 per cent of entries were awarded our top 5 Star grading,a further 604,or 41 per cent,a creditable 4 Star grading and 264, or 18 per cent our first rung 3 Star grading. Congratulations to all providers and particularly their dedicated cleaning staff for keeping their toilets ‘fit for purpose’ – often despite of difficult user challenges!
There are positive signs that Government is taking our campaign to raise standards seriously and a set of guidance notes on public toilet provision are being distributed to Local Authorities in the next few months.
There is also the prospect of Government support for an official ‘away from home’ toilet grading or flag scheme – based on the Loo of the Year Awards.This is good news, not just for the Awards but also for everyone involved in cleaning and managing these vitally important facilities.
The Awards now reflect the needs of a modern, twenty first century society with categories for family friendly and child/adult changing facilities, alongside the more common babychange and accessible facilities.Education and healthcare categories have also been expanded to cover the wide variety of potential entrants, along with retail, hospitality, leisure and transport categories.
Many corporate providers now recognise the value of an annual, independent audit of their customer or visitor toilet facilities. The Loo of the Year Awards not only provide wider public recognition for their efforts but also enable their cleaning staff to share the pride.
Our associated Attendant of the Year Awards are designed for cleaning staff to be valued as much as any other employees. After all,it is the cleaning staff who create and maintain that vital first impression of any building or place.They are the front line ambassadors. They can make the difference between a return visit or spending their pennies elsewhere.
We couldn’t run this annual competition without the generosity of our Sponsors. Our Headline Sponsor last year was Dyson Airblade with additional funding provided by Initial Washroom Solutions,Armitage Shanks and The British Cleaning Council.
We also received sponsorship support once again from the four national tourism bodies – Enjoy England,Visit Wales,Visit Scotland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.Tourism and toilets are natural bedfellows and we very much appreciate their continuing support for the campaign to raise standards.
Our official Awards Supporter scheme gathered momentum last year and we thank Clos-o-mat, Blyth Valley Toilets, Danfo (UK), Help the Aged, Hydro Nova Europe, Interpublic Urban Systems, Robinson Cleaning, Save-a-Flush and Totally Different for their much valued support.We hope for many more Supporters this year.
Our team of dedicated Inspectors deserve praise for coping with increasing numbers of entries, not to mention increasing traffic congestion and user volumes at busy entry locations. It is very satisfying to see so many entrants carrying out recommended improvements from the previous year but it requires our inspections to be ever more vigilant and thorough! All our Inspectors take their work very seriously. It’s a good way to see the country and meet lots of nice people on the way.
Nominations are already coming in for the 2008 Loo of the Year Awards and we are well into preparations for this year’s Awards scheme. The Awards are very much a partnership between loo providers, sponsors and supporters with our small team of inspectors and organisers acting as the catalytic converter! It’s a unique branding association for potential sponsors, since it covers every part of the UK and every member of society.
It also lasts for most of each year for publicity generation! Thank you, to everyone involved, for your valuable contribution to our quality of life throughout the UK. Together we have achieved much over the last twenty years – I hope we can all achieve even greater things in future years. More articles from British Toilet Association: | 
