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
Industry research and employment are key Cleaning Show topics
By David Garcia, Chair of the British Cleaning Council. (This column first appeared in Tomorrow’s Cleaning)
With just days left until the Cleaning Show in Manchester, I am looking forward with anticipation to the highlight of the year for our sector.
The UK’s premier cleaning and hygiene event for the Midlands and the North returns on Wednesday, February 18, hosting over 2,500 attendees for two days of product 
sourcing, demonstrations, education and networking.
The 2026 Manchester Cleaning Show will feature live product demonstrations, expert-led seminars and focused networking opportunities, alongside an exhibition floor presenting the latest products and sustainable solutions driving progress across the sector.
The strong programme and packed schedule reflect a growing industry appeal, with exhibitor demand for 2026 exceeding expectations and many major names confirmed as exhibitors and expert panellists.
I kick off the proceedings on Wednesday at 10.30am, when I open the show and also launch the BCC’s latest research report.
Our annual research report features key facts, figures and headlines about the cleaning, hygiene and waste industry. The 2026 research report is a key industry document and you can order a free copy by popping to the BCC show stand or emailing compsec@britishcleaningcouncil.org
Next in the conference programme is ‘Developing the cleaning industry workforce: apprenticeships and careers’ featuring the BCC’s Immediate Past Chair Delia Cannings, along with Lauren Kyle.
They will discuss the latest progress on the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship and explore how the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone is showcasing the many opportunities for training in the sector.
This session is a must for those interested in career development in the cleaning industry and employers and industry leaders committed to raising the bar through education and skills development.
The conference programme is always a highlight, featuring the industry’s most comprehensive platform for insight, innovation and future-focused discussion, bringing together sector leaders, innovators and operational experts to explore the issues shaping the future of cleaning, FM and the wider operational environment.
Speakers reflect the breadth and depth of expertise represented across the industry and they will take part in a series of expert-led seminars and panel discussions.
The rest of the programme covers other essential topics such as including digital transformation, environmental, social, and governance (ESG), large venue cleaning, healthcare and higher education cleaning, hotel housekeeping. Recruitment, careers and future talent are discussed in several sessions.
Other expert speakers Lisa Williams, National Chair of the UK Housekeepers’ Association (UKHA), Daniel Cross, Committee member of the Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA), Neil Spencer-Cook, Group MD of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), Paul Thrupp, Chair of the Independent Washroom Services Association (IWSA), Karen Pryor, National Chair of the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP), Janet Thompson, the Chair of the UK Housekeepers Association (UKHA), Yorkshire and NE region and Lorraine Larman of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (WCEC).
The exhibitors feature many major cleaning, hygiene and FM brands, including ourselves, BICSc and the CSSA.
With a reputation as the North’s essential cleaning and FM event, the show remains a fantastic platform to connect businesses with buyers and influencers from across the likes of hospitality, healthcare, large venues and education, as well as offering visitors brilliant insights into our industry.
Just to note, if you are travelling to the Manchester Cleaning Show, please be aware that Manchester Piccadilly Station has scheduled engineering works during this period.
There’s a detailed travel guide on the Cleaning Show website to give you complete confidence in planning your journey.
It covers driving, alternative train stations with direct connections, UK domestic flights straight to Manchester Airport and the Metrolink tram network across the city.
Find out more www.cleaningshow.co.uk/manchester.
I hope to see you at The Manchester Cleaning Show
By David Garcia, Chair of the British Cleaning Council. ( (This column first appeared in Cleaning and Maintenance)
If you are based in the cleaning, hygiene and FM industry in the North or Midlands and you haven’t signed up to the next edition of The Cleaning Show yet – why not?
Don’t miss the UK’s biggest and best event for the sector when it visits the Manchester Central Convention Complex on 18–19 February – it is free to attend, so register today.
The cleaning, hygiene and waste sector, which is worth almost £67bn nationally, is hugely important in the region – it employs over 361,000 people and supports over 24,700 businesses in the Midlands and North.
You’ll be able to find some of those businesses and individuals represented at the show and the majority of the over 2,000 attendees are expected to be regionally-based, so The Manchester Cleaning Show is going to make a huge impact in the regional industry.
Attractions include live product demonstrations, expert-led seminars and focused networking opportunities, alongside an exhibition floor presenting the latest products and sustainable solutions driving progress across the sector.
Many major names will take part as exhibitors and expert panellists and sectors including the likes of hospitality, healthcare, large venues and education are all featured.
I look forward to opening the show on Wednesday at 10.30am, where I will also unveil a key industry document, the BCC’s 2026 research report.
Our report is packed with information about the cleaning, hygiene and waste industry. Email compsec@britishcleaningcouncil.org for your free copy. Show attendees can visit the BCC stand to sign up for it.
Attendees shouldn’t miss the next item in the conference programme. ‘Developing the cleaning industry workforce: apprenticeships and careers’ features the BCC’s Immediate Past Chair Delia Cannings, along with Lauren Kyle.
They will discuss the latest progress on the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship and explore how the UK Cleaning Career Development Zone is showcasing the many opportunities for training in the sector.
The conference programme is always a highlight of the show, featuring industry leaders discussing major issues such as digital transformation, environmental, social, and governance (ESG), large venue cleaning, healthcare and higher education cleaning, hotel housekeeping. Recruitment, careers and future talent.
Among the expert speakers are Lisa Williams, National Chair of the UK Housekeepers’ Association (UKHA), Daniel Cross, Committee member of the Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA), Neil Spencer-Cook, Group MD of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), Paul Thrupp, Chair of the Independent Washroom Services Association (IWSA), Karen Pryor, National Chair of the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP), Janet Thompson, the Chair of the UK Housekeepers Association (UKHA), Yorkshire and NE region, and Lorraine Larman of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (WCEC). BICSc and the CSSA are also exhibiting.
I hope to see you at The Manchester Cleaning Show!
Just to note, if you are travelling to the Manchester Cleaning Show, please be aware that Manchester Piccadilly Station has scheduled engineering works during this period.
There’s a detailed travel guide on the Cleaning Show website to give you complete confidence in planning your journey.
It covers driving, alternative train stations with direct connections, UK domestic flights straight to Manchester Airport and the Metrolink tram network across the city.
See full conference programme here:
https://cleaningshow.co.uk/manchester/sessions
Find the guide here
wwwcleaningshow.co.uk/manchester/visiting/travel-information