Find it Clean, Keep it Clean! – Council Facilities staff win national award.

Our Council already knew the great achievements of our Facilities Team, but we are very proud to announce that the team was recognised on the national stage by winning the highly acclaimed award of “Outstanding Contribution to Cleaning” at the ASSIST Conference last night. This is a fantastic achievement as this category is open to all the 32 Scottish Local Authorities.

Our dedicated team of facilities staff who have gone above and beyond to keep our schools, community facilities and workplaces clean and as germ-free as possible both before and during the pandemic. In some cases, our services in schools and key buildings would not have been able to continue as they did if it wasn’t for our amazing staff going above and beyond over the past 30 months. To be recognised at national level just re-affirms the dedication and commitment of our staff, including our janitorial and catering teams who all multi tasked to ensure our cleaning service was always delivered, and our Solutions Centre team who played a key part in many aspects of our success.

The health and safety of customers, school pupils, staff and our communities are paramount to this Council, and particularly so during the pandemic, and cleanliness continues to be a priority to ensure we keep everyone protected. Flexibility has been important in unprecedented times as the pandemic evolved, and the Team’s ‘Find it clean, keep it clean’ model proved to be forward thinking and efficient in difficult times.

The project was developed with a view to providing a customer focussed cleaning service. By remodelling cleaning processes and developing a joined-up approach between Cleaners and Facilities Assistants in schools and mobile teams, we created a multi-skilled and highly visible workforce able to respond to COVID cleaning requests, which varied greatly and according to need and COVID restrictions. Promotion of the ‘Find it clean, keep it clean’ motto is ensuring other staff are aware of their contribution to this new approach and support the Team ethos, recognised at the national awards.

Lorna Meahan, Director Economy and Resources, said: “This national award is thoroughly well deserved and overdue recognition of a truly fantastic team. The Council has always understood and supported the contribution of the Facilities Team and their efforts in keeping us all safe during the pandemic, working in our schools and essential buildings. It is wonderful to see their achievements recognised at a national level. Congratulations.”