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ISSA EMEA Hosts Member Networking and Education Event in UK

ISSA recently held its Member Networking and Education Event 5 September 2017, hosted by member company Newell-Rubbermaid Commercial Products, in Fradley Park, Lichfield, England—the first ISSA event of its kind for the cleaning and hygiene industry in the UK.

Attended by delegates from cleaning and support services, suppliers, distributors, consultants and manufacturers, the event’s theme focused on the latest developments shaping commercial cleaning in the UK.  Guests were provided with impartial market insight about detergent chemical development and commercial property construction trends and plans. Delegates listened to the expert advice offered by two guest speakers; Peter Smallwood, of Smithers Apex; and Alan Willen, of Glenigan Ltd. ISSA Director of International Services Dianna Steinbach also provided an overview of current business resources and membership benefits UK members can access.

“Along with our new ISSA endorsed UK training programme, including our ‘Estimation Made Easy’ course and many resources we have available, events such as this are just one of the many benefits our members receive for being a part of the ISSA family,” said  Steinbach. “Our aspiration is to provide value to our members by offering them access to the latest knowledge and trends from local and global industry experts, along with the engagement of networking with fellow peers. Everyone is just one connection away from a new idea, a new decision, or a new business partnership and ISSA wants to nurture and facilitate that experience.”

Attending for Sodexo, Danny Ford, their cleaning support manager for service operations commented about the overview on building trends in the construction industry “Alan’s presentation on the areas of growth and how FM suppliers can use this information was fascinating.” Ford added “It was an interesting day and I found the speakers informative in their respective areas, Peter on changes to chemical compounds and Dianna on the wealth of resources beneficial to cleaning companies.”

Speaking on behalf of the Industrial Cleaning Machinery Manufacturers Association, their secretariat, Hazel Langley said “our manufacturers welcome and value the insight into the growth areas in UK construction sectors, the locations, format, and sizes of these properties in which their machinery will be deployed. It is also good to hear, impartially, from others outside of this industry whose work impacts on product design, such as chemical scientists.”

Paul Kelly, Newell-Rubbermaid Commercial Products’ commercial director and ISSA European Council Representative for the UK/I region, was instrumental in offering Rubbermaid’s corporate facility and staff support for the event. “Our team at Newell Brands were excited to work with ISSA to host the first Member Networking and eEducation event in the UK; I was struck by the level of networking and sharing of ideas that took place in such a short period of time at today’s event, the industry clearly has a thirst for easily transferable, usable information and ISSA is superbly placed to quench this with their growing resources,” said Kelly. 

ISSA European Council Chairman Michel de Bruin attended and congratulated the team on its debut UK event. “Our industry is full of specialists who are at the frontline in creating and maintaining hygienic places and keeping society healthy,” he reflected. “However, our industry is fragmented and exposed to attack; at a time when other industries pursue disruption we must join forces, connect, listen, and find a more powerful voice if we are to truly have strong influence to improve the image and longevity of the cleaning industry.  Such insights as those shared today lead to making strategic decisions and ultimately better profitability; for re-investment in techniques that future proof our industry.  We are a strong force under the ISSA and by coming together today we have got the ball rolling.”

“I would also like to thank Paul Kelly from Newell-Rubbermaid for making their facility available and supporting this new concept in our industry,” de Bruin added. “It just reinforces the need to come together as a community so everyone can benefit and the Association is playing a major part in making that happen.”

ISSA members are able to volunteer to host one of the three anticipated Member Networking and Education events each year. If your company would like to participate as a host or attendee, please contact ISSA Membership Coordinator Ricarda Schlegel, [email protected].

ISSA EMEA’s next Member Networking and Education Event will be hosted in the first quarter of 2018.