BCC Research Report

Established in 1982, the British Cleaning Council (BCC), with over twenty trade and membership associations represents a wide range of groups within the UK’s cleaning, hygiene, and waste management industries, including contract cleaning, housekeeping, training providers as well as manufacturers.

The BBC undertakes annual research into the industry and has recently released its 2021 report.  Here are some of the key findings.

• The cleaning industry considered as a whole, including those in with cleaning and hygiene occupations in other industries, currently employs around 5% of the UK workforce (some 1.45 million people), and ranks among the top ten sector employers in the UK.
  
  
• In addition, economic data for 2018, shows that the industry contributed almost £56 billion to the economy. This was a growth of 30% on the 2013 figure, comfortably over twice the rate of UK economic growth in the same period.
  
  
• Since then, and not unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in mixed fortunes for different segments of the industry. Particularly hard hit has been facilities management which has seen a fall in activity of around 13% in the year to February 2021, following the first of successive lockdowns beginning in March 2020. In contrast, manufacturers of soap and cleaning products have seen consistent growth.
  
  
• Finally, on a positive note, as evidenced by various surveys, there has been growing recognition of the important role of cleaning and hygiene staff in keeping public spaces and the workplace ‘safe’. The presence of cleaning activity and cleaning staff is regarded as vital for regaining public confidence to return to work as well as re-visit public venues, retail and the like.

A full copy of the BCC report can be downloaded here