Insight from Paul Sweeney, event director for the Manchester Cleaning Show
The Manchester Cleaning Show, taking place 13-14 March this year, is set to be the biggest yet. With nearly 80 exhibitors signed up from across a variety of sectors, some prominent names exhibiting this year include Dettol Pro Solutions as the Official Hygiene Sponsor, making its second appearance in Manchester, along with BICs, Numatic, Team Software, and Killis.
We are also excited to welcome 46 first-time exhibitors to Manchester, contributing to a more diverse representation within the cleaning sector.
Increased cleaning concerns
Cleaning and hygiene have become an increasing priority in the past few years, with a noticeable shift in public concern towards cleaning and hygiene.
Recent studies have found that 91% of people are more aware of cleaning measures put in place in public spaces, while 60% of workers have taken on extra cleaning responsibilities since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Manchester Cleaning Show serves as a platform to raise awareness about the latest solutions available.
With nearly 80 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations, the Manchester show will give those in the cleaning and hygiene sectors a chance to meet the suppliers that can support them in achieving their goals and satisfying customer demand.
Sustainability
The emphasis on eco-friendly solutions and sustainability remains a prominent theme this year. Many exhibitors will be showcasing greener product options, tailored for those engaged in sustainability management.
A key challenge the industry faces is ‘greenwashing’, and this year’s show will enable attendees to engage with diverse sectors and inquire about their efforts to ensure eco-friendliness standards in their products.
Some of the products attendees can expect to see this year include entrance matting, eco-friendly sanitary products, window cleaning drones and robotics for cleaning at height.
The window cleaning sector will be well-represented, featuring several exhibitors from this sector, including the Federation of Window Cleaners.
Employment/skills shortage
Currently, recruitment is a topical subject due to major skills shortages. The cleaning, hygiene, and waste services have all grappled with critical staff shortages since 2020, according to the British Cleaning Council. Their latest survey revealed a staggering 225,000 vacancies in these areas alone. Attendees to the show can expect in-depth conservation surrounding this topic, especially focusing on the recently introduced Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship will enable industry businesses to invest in their staff, providing employees an opportunity to access a recognised work-related cleaning qualification.
The event will feature sessions hosted by the CHSA and BICSc Charlotte Parr, Director at Portfolio (Churchill Group) will share insights about what ESG can and should be doing for your frontline team. While Angie Morrish, Director at Stamp Out Slavery, will be speaking about Ethical Employment Practices for the Cleaning & FM Sectors.
