The British Cleaning Council and members write monthly columns for both Cleaning and Maintenance and Tomorrow’s Cleaning. You can read recent columns below.
To read the columns as they originally appeared, please visit https://cleaningmag.com/columnists and https://www.tomorrowscleaning.com/back-issues
Bringing the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector together
By David Garcia, Chair, British Cleaning Council (BCC)
I’m delighted and honoured to become Chair of the BCC, following on from my colleague and friend Delia Cannings.
Having been Deputy Chair of the BCC since 2023, I became Chair last month after my predecessor’s two-year term of office ended. 
I applaud Delia for her fabulous job as Chair. I’ll be doing my best to fill her big boots and add to the recognition and awareness of the sector and the BCC, which has grown immensely during her leadership.
Among her numerous achievements during her time in office include launching the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone and finally clinching approval for the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship.
On behalf of the sector, I profoundly thank Delia for her work as Chair. I am delighted to say that our Immediate Past Chair Delia has kindly agreed to continue to lead on the education and training strand of our work, which will be an immense help.
I should also take the opportunity to thank another past Chair, Jim Melvin, who has been doing sterling work leading the BCC’s lobbying campaign, which has seen real and encouraging progress in recent months. I look forward to Jim hopefully continuing to lead on this vital initiative.
The BCC has a fine history of effective and decisive Chairs over many years and I very much look forward to accepting the challenge in that respect.
Allow me to introduce myself. I have been in the industry for over 50 years. I was the founder and former Chairman/MD of Polaris (Plastics), one of the UK’s leading providers of refuse sacks, bin liners and ancillary products to the away from home market.
I have also been an active member of one of the largest BCC members, the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) and I am currently Treasurer and Vice-President of the CHSA. I have held these positions for many years following a three-year stint as Chair.
I am proud to be the driving force behind the CHSA’s hugely successful undergraduate bursary scheme and I am also responsible for the annual gala ball, a hugely popular event at which association members generously raise significant funds for charity.
An important theme which I will be prioritising during my tenure is unity.
In my opinion, it is essential that BCC members and the industry as a whole pull together.
Our industry is one of the biggest in the UK, worth nearly £66.9bn a year to the country’s economy and one which employs 1.49 million people. Staff have a vital role keeping others safe, healthy and well.
Yet, despite the progress made recently, our sector and staff still do not enjoy the recognition and respect we deserve.
We in the sector can undoubtedly make our voice heard louder if we stand united. We are stronger together and must demonstrate that.
Within the BCC, I am convinced our members can do better at helping each other out and using each other’s strength to our mutual advantage. An early intention of mine is to speak to every BCC member to discuss how we can work together for the betterment of the industry and the BCC.
It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the great contribution our Company Secretary Simon Hollingbery and our PR guru Jason Grimsley continue to make and I very much look forward to working closely with them.
All it leaves me to do is to reiterate how delighted and pleased I am to take over the ‘hot seat’ and that I will do everything I can to justify the faith my colleagues have shown in me.