The Co-op's managers, always looking to improve value, get better cleaning of 18 headquarters buildings, at lower cost...guided by i-Clean Systems
Over two-and-a-half million members have a say in the running of Co-operative businesses, which
serve 10 million customers a week in over 4,000 branches and through online shopping, achieving
annual sales of over £9 billion. Sometimes, though, only on-the-spot managers can see new ways
of upholding the group's reputation for the ethical creation of value - and that is what happened
when the cleaning of the headquarters buildings was put under scrutiny.
"We wanted to review soft services provision - the cleaning of office interiors and all windows, washroom
services and the maintenance of indoor & outdoor plants, for example - to our major occupancies in
Manchester," explains Ray Lyons, the Co-operative Group's facilities operations manager.
"That meant us considering the supply of services to 18 headquarters buildings, covering an area
close to 93,000 sq m and housing 9,500 staff. We needed expertise regarding the cleaning, which
had an annual budget of some £1.3 million.
"i-Clean Systems helped us to evaluate our requirements
for a speci cation for the tendering process," Mr Lyons
continues. "We were guided in specifying management
control mechanisms, also, for our use when the new
cleaning contract went ahead. Without the constant
support of the very knowledgeable consultant assigned to
us, it would have been a daunting process!"
Using the tendering management module of the i-Clean
Cleaning Management System, the consultant showed
how standards could be improved by cleaning taking place
throughout the week, and according to demand (linked to
occupancy levels). The changes should bring an uplift in staff morale, also, he advised/
"We achieved some good savings as well!" Mr Lyons
concludes.
The Co-operative Group's businesses, which employ 87,000,
include food sales, with over 2,500 refurbished stores and
supermarkets around the UK;the Co-op isthe only retailer
to sell food grown on its own farms, and it is the biggest
supporter of Fairtrade, with over 200 lines.
In banking, it has over 90 branches, and it is the only UK
high street bank with a clear ethical policy based on the
views of its customers. 'smile' is part of the Co-operative
Bank: it was the UK's fi rstfull internet bank when launched in 1999. The Group provides travel,
pharmacy, legal, insurance and funeral services, also, and has an on-line shop.
Since its introduction in August 2005,the i-Clean Cleaning Management System has attracted interest
from a variety of organisations in the commercial, manufacturing,service and public sectors.
T: 01684 580680
E:
efficiency@i-clean.info
W:
www.i-clean.info
