Over 130 guests applauded this week after a sell-out event at London’s iconic Shakespeare Globe Theatre raised a record-breaking £22,000 in cash and a further £10,000 in product donations to help The Hygiene Bank charity in its work to alleviate hygiene poverty. Event organiser and CEO of Cleanology, Dominic Ponniah, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of our industry this year. Now in its third year, this event has grown from strength to strength every year and this year we have been oversubscribed once again. It’s testimony to how the FM industry has rallied together for a cause as significant as hygiene poverty, and with the cost of living crisis only getting worse, there has never been a more important time to support the work of the Hygiene Bank. We are hugely grateful to everyone who got involved this year.” Ponniah added: “In October 2022, YouGov published Hygiene Poverty 2022, commissioned by The Hygiene Bank, the first comprehensive, national, mixed methodology research report into the scale and impact of hygiene poverty in the UK. Over 3.1 million adults in the UK are living in Hygiene Poverty and the research showed that hygiene products such as toothpaste, shampoo and laundry detergent are the first to be cut when budgets are tight”. Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, said: “The Hygiene Bank is deeply grateful to Dominic Ponniah and Cleanology and all the sponsors of this event for their fantastic generosity. Hygiene poverty is widespread, growing and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. Millions of people are struggling with its impact – the stigma, embarrassment, damage to mental and physical health it brings. It’s a hidden poverty that blights life chances and limits opportunity – so it’s critical that more companies and more individuals follow in Cleanology’s footsteps to join us as we work together to end hygiene poverty for good. Cleanology’s generosity and support will make a meaningful difference today and takes us a crucial step forward on that journey.” The event – held on 3 October in The Balcony Room at the Globe Theatre – was sponsored by six of the biggest names in the industry – Bridge Recruitment, Darwin Clayton, Futures Supplies, Liberty Hygiene, Evans Vanodine plc and The Cheeky Panda. The evening saw competitive bidding for auction and raffle prizes such as Tea at The Ritz, a Banksy print, dinner for six at trendy eatery Dishoom, a Chanel brooch, Spurs match tickets and a Fortnum & Mason luxury hamper. Guests at Cleanology’s annual fundraiser – who also enjoyed networking, drinks and canapés at the scenic venue next to the River Thames – included Chris Forbes, Founder of Cheeky Panda; Paul Evans, CEO of Carlisle Support Services; Phil Smith, Chair of the Hill Club; Nick Winstone, Founder of Biovate Hygienics; and Jordan Hurley, Founder of SOAP2O; as well as representatives from leading industy firms including Ark Pest Control, BigChange, CBRE, Cleenol Group, Greenspeed, Industrial Cleaning Equipment (ICE), Nilfisk, Planet Mark, Recorra, Robert Scott, Sitemark, Ucomply and WhiffAway. Nick Winstone, MD and Co-Founder of Biovate Hygienics, said: “It has been an honour to have been invited to Cleanology’s annual fundraiser for the Hygiene Bank, since the inception of the event three years ago and watch it grow and do more good every year. As a charity that aligns so well with our industry, Dominic Ponniah and Cleanology have done both the Hygiene Bank and the broader industry a service by highlighting the good work they are doing at a grassroots level.” In September 2021, Cleanology held its first charity event which raised over £14,000 for The Hygiene Bank, a national charity that alleviates poverty by providing hygiene products to those in need. Due to the enormous success of that event, the wide publicity generated, and the amount of money raised through the raffle and auction, an even bigger event was held at The Ivy in London in September 2022, raising over £20,000.

A brewery apprentice from Cornwall is set to have his beer showcased in more than 800 pubs across the UK later this month. Joe Baker, 26, took up an apprenticeship at St Austell Brewery two years ago. As part of his apprenticeship, he designed his own beer – Average Joe! – a sweet, amber ale (4.5% ABV) which featured as part of the brewery’s Cask Club series around a year ago. But Average Joe! has had a more than average reception, having been selected to feature as one of 30 real ales in Wetherspoon’s 12-day autumn ale festival which starts on 11th October. Average Joe! Has floral and berry flavours, complemented by malty and caramel and biscuity tones. 140 barrels of the beer have been produced by Joe and the team ahead of the festival, making it his biggest brew to date at an early stage in his career. Joe, from Camborne, said: “I came up with the recipe design at the start of my apprenticeship. There was a beer we had on at the time which had the Bramling Cross hop in it which I enjoyed, so I thought I’d make a sweet, sessionable beer I’d like to drink. It came out on Cask Club and went down really well." “On finding out his beer will be sold in Wetherspoons up and down the country, Joe added: “I was really excited. When Average Joe! came out I was away so I didn’t get to have that much of it, so it’s nice to be able to have it again. My uni friends around Guildford will be able to try it as well." “I met up with some friends recently. We’ve all got jobs now but they were all talking about how I was brewing a beer and it was going to be going into Wetherspoons.”

GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s leading independent hire company, has earned recognition as one of the top Family Business Apprentice Employers in the UK. This prestigious honour, bestowed by Family Business United, underscores GAP's unwavering dedication to nurturing emerging talent and highlights its outstanding accomplishments in the field of apprenticeship programs. GAP's Remarkable Apprenticeship Milestones As of June 2023, GAP has onboarded an impressive 69 apprentices across the UK. Within the 2022/2023 year, 22 promising individuals embarked on their apprenticeship journeys with us, while an admirable 8 apprentices successfully completed their programs with flying colours, ready to embark on their next ventures within GAP Hire Solutions. A Dedication to Talent Cultivation Carly Scoular, Learning and Development Manager at GAP Hire Solutions, shared insights into the company's philosophy: "At GAP, we know that our company success is down to our people. For this reason, we are huge advocates of apprenticeships as this not only enhances our employee skill set but also provides an opportunity to join an award-winning organisation, with a guaranteed job once qualified." A Diverse Array of Apprenticeship Opportunities GAP Hire Solutions offers a diverse range of apprenticeships, including Plant Mechanic Level 3 and Customer Service Level 2. These programs empower apprentices to earn a salary while acquiring invaluable skills within their chosen sector. Through our partnerships with prestigious colleges and top-tier training providers across the UK, we ensure that our apprentices attain formal qualifications that elevate their career prospects within our organisation. Scoular emphasised GAP's ongoing commitment to fostering fresh talent, asserting, "We will continue to invest in Apprenticeships in the future as we truly recognise this is the best way of recruiting new talent with fresh ideas and the potential to be part of the GAP Family for many years to come."

A new community facility in Ferndown is hosting an open day on Friday October 6 – the recently rebuilt AE Jolliffe & Son funeral directors. It has undergone a huge programme of development at the site on the town’s main crossroads. It is part of Douch Family Funeral Directors, which has invested heavily in the rebuild to create a facility for the future. The site included a 1930s house and a collection of buildings erected in a piecemeal fashion. While the house remains, it has been extended to provide reception area, offices meeting rooms and five chapels of rest where families can visit their loved ones. Beyond that is a garden of remembrance which people can visit at any time for a moment of calmness and serenity. There is also now a purposefully designed ceremony room for funeral services. The space can be adapted for various other events, complimented by the adjoining function area. Buildings for the other parts of the business have been added along with parking spaces for visitors and for the business’s funeral fleet. During the open day – which is between 1pm and 5pm – refreshments will be available and there will be six community groups in attendance. Tours of the areas not usually open to the public will be available and outside will be parked a hearse, motorcycle hearse and limousine that visitors can explore. The workshop will also be open and visitors will be able to get some hands-on experience. Nick Douch, managing director of the family firm, said: “The upgrading of our Ferndown facility is part of a rolling programme to improve all our seven branches in Dorset. The site was large but had not been maximised to its full potential over the years. However, we were able to get permission to make a far better use of the land and we are very pleased to be able to invite the public to come along. “The new premises will enable people to have a funeral service and a wake in the same location, which is more cost effective and more practical. And we have installed technology so services can be broadcast to those who are unable to attend." “The space is also available for community events and for clubs and groups to take advantage of. While we retain the important traditions of our long-standing branches, we are always looking to the future.”

The LEGO Group announced that it is expanding its factory in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, creating additional production capacity to continue to meet strong demand for LEGO® play experiences. Carsten Rasmussen, Chief Operating Officer at the LEGO Group said: “The LEGO Group has a strong history of operations in Nyíregyháza, celebrating 15 years of production this year. This investment is one of several strategic expansions in our supply chain network, setting us up for long-term growth so we may continue to delight more children and fans around the world.” The expansion will include additional packaging modules, warehousing areas, and miscellaneous facilities, which will add 30,000 m2 of built-up area to the current site and will increase the packaging capacity by nearly 30 percent. The Nyíregyháza factory currently employs 3,300 people, with an additional 300 team members expected to be added over the course of the expansion. Work on the expansion will begin this year and is expected to be completed in 2025. Chresten Bruun, General Manager of LEGO factory Nyíregyháza and Senior Vice President at the LEGO Group, said: “Nyíregyháza is a world class manufacturing facility with a highly skilled and motivated workforce. I am thrilled that through our investments, we can bring additional production volume and activity in the next couple years.” The factory expansions are designed to support the LEGO Group’s sustainability ambitions, including the company’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 37 percent by 2032*. The company built a solar plant at the factory site in 2021, which includes more than 9,000 solar panels, and plans to further increase the amount of energy on-site through rooftop solar panels on the new buildings. The Nyíregyháza factory is one of three of the LEGO Group’s factories which performs all aspects of the manufacturing and packaging of LEGO products, including moulding LEGO elements, element processing and decoration and packing LEGO boxes.

Yorkshire-based family automotive retailer JCT600 is donating a year’s supply of Chemo Ducks to both the Leeds and Sheffield Children’s Hospitals in partnership with The Give A Duck Foundation, a UK-wide children’s cancer charity. With dealerships in Leeds and Sheffield, JCT600 is supporting these local communities with a donation of 200 Chemo Ducks for children in Leeds and Sheffield Children’s Hospitals. Fitted with medical lines and ports to mirror those of the child, Chemo Ducks are used by play leaders during play therapy to prepare children for their treatment, whether it’s an appointment with their consultant, administering chemotherapy or taking blood samples. Chemo Ducks will also be on display at all 19 of JCT600’s dealerships in Leeds and Sheffield to raise awareness of the initiative and encourage customers to make a donation towards funding more ducks. To find out more, visit Charity & Community - JCT600 “We are proud to be playing our part in supporting this fantastic charity which is helping to improve the lives of children with cancer in Yorkshire,” comments Andy Bateman of JCT600. “It’s a really innovative scheme and we hope that many of our customers as well as businesses in the region and across the country will help the charity to meet its goal of providing a Chemo Duck to every child diagnosed with cancer in the UK.” Elaine Dunning of Give A Duck, adds: “It’s great news that a well-known and trusted brand like JCT600 is supporting The Give A Duck Foundation. The charity aims to help children feel they can take back some control at a time when they may feel they have very little, as well as removing some of the fear by seeing Chemo Duck experiencing the treatment the children will go through, and providing a relaxed way to have discussions about what will happen to them in hospital. Many thanks to the JCT600 team for their support, and also to Blue Light Babies and Fleet Factors for creating the bespoke JCT600 duck outfits.” The Give A Duck Foundation works with all 19 specialist childhood cancer centres in the UK and 34 shared care UK hospitals. By working with health care professionals about the many uses and roles Chemo Duck can play during treatment, Give A Duck can help make things a little easier at a really difficult time.

Julius Rutherfoord & Co, one of London’s largest independent cleaning companies, has successfully retained one of its most prestigious contracts, through a competitive tender process. The contract, awarded by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), underlines the company's exceptional commitment to excellence and service. JR&Co embarked on its partnership with the UGLE, which is the governing body of Freemasonry, in September 2016. The Premier Grand Lodge was founded in London in 1717 and became the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813. With a global membership of 175,000 and over 7,000 Lodges, UGLE occupies a unique place of influence. Its headquarters is at Freemasons’ Hall, a stunning Grade II* listed Art Deco building that proudly stands on Great Queen Street in Covent Garden, London. JR&Co’s contract retention will see them continue to provide cleaning and washroom services to the Covent Garden hot spot. The renewal was awarded due to the company’s ability to deliver and excel at customer service; its proactive cleaning approach and the flexibility it demonstrates in its day-to-day service offering. Richard Jewitt, Director of Building Services at UGLE, said: "We are very pleased that JR&Co has been reappointed as our contract cleaner. Over the last seven years, its on-site team has consistently delivered very high standards day in, day out for us, and has looked after our unique building, so it is always clean and always looking great." Managing Director, Chris Jarvis, comments on the news: “The extension of this contract is testament to the hard work of our dedicated people. At JR&Co, we believe that our business success is based on the service delivered by our expert teams, which is why we pay such great attention to making sure that they are rewarded and recognised." “Client satisfaction means a lot to us at JR&Co. We have built a market-leading reputation off the back of getting to know our clients, their businesses, and their needs. There is no greater endorsement from a client than a contract extension, as it demonstrates the value they place on us as a part of their own team.”

A hospitality professional from Ambleside has landed his first role as a head chef, having started his career as a kitchen assistant just five years ago. 31-year-old Matt Jones is the new chef in charge of the kitchen team at Blue Smoke at Low Wood Bay in Windermere. He joined English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues in 2018 and rapidly worked his way up the catering team in a variety of different roles including chef de partie and junior sous chef. Before joining the hotel group, Matt had worked in security and hospitality before deciding that it was the latter in which he wanted to forge a career. He saw the job advertised at Low Wood Bay and decided to take the plunge. Matt developed an affinity for helping to run the kitchen and was fascinated by the restaurant’s double wood-fired grill, sensing the opportunity to get more and more involved in traditional cooking techniques over hot embers and innovative flavours in meats, fish and vegetables. With a combination of in-house training and mentoring from senior chefs and managers at the hotel group, Matt took on greater responsibilities and worked his way up the kitchen hierarchy. Matt says: "Blue Smoke is a great place to work, especially as I have a real taste for the type of barbecue and wood smoked steak and meat dishes we serve here. It suits me right down to the ground." “When I joined the team here, I wanted to do well, but the main reason for my progression is really down to a strong team working environment, with plenty of development support and, importantly, a real sense of fun." Mark Needham from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues adds: "It's been great to follow Matt's progress since he joined the food and beverage team at Low Wood Bay five years ago. “He's always been willing to take on new challenges and be proactive within the team and that approach naturally lends itself to leadership roles. When the head chef position became vacant, it was an obvious choice to promote Matt into the role."

A family charter, also known as a family constitution or family governance document, is a formal written agreement or set of principles that outlines the values, goals, and rules governing a family's affairs and relationships. It often addresses matters such as wealth management, inheritance, decision-making processes, conflict resolution, and the roles and responsibilities of family members within a family-owned business or a wealthy family. A family charter helps promote transparency, communication, and the long-term stability of a family's assets and relationships. So what are some of the key components that are often included in a family charter? A family charter typically includes key components to establish a framework for family governance and facilitate effective communication and decision-making among family members. These components often include: 1. Mission and Values : A statement of the family's core values, mission, and long-term goals, which serve as a foundation for all family activities and decisions. 2. Ownership and Governance Structure : Details on how the family's assets, including businesses and investments, are owned and managed. This may involve defining the roles and responsibilities of family members and governing bodies. 3. Succession Planning : Guidelines for the transfer of leadership and ownership within family businesses or other assets, including criteria for selecting successors and a timeline for transitions. 4. Wealth Management : Strategies for managing and preserving the family's wealth, investment policies, and guidelines for spending, saving, and charitable giving. 5. Communication and Conflict Resolution : Protocols for open and effective communication among family members, as well as procedures for resolving conflicts and disagreements. 6. Education and Development : Plans for educating and developing family members, especially the next generation, to ensure they are equipped to manage family assets and responsibilities. 7. Decision-Making Processes : Procedures for making decisions that affect the family, the business, or the assets, including how votes are cast and how disagreements are resolved. 8. Governance Bodies : The establishment of family councils, boards, or committees responsible for overseeing various aspects of family affairs and assets. 9. Financial Transparency : Guidelines for sharing financial information with family members, ensuring transparency and accountability. 10. Family Employment Policies : If applicable, policies regarding family members' involvement in the family business, including qualifications, job roles, and compensation. 11. Dispute Resolution : Procedures for handling disputes and disagreements among family members, potentially including mediation or arbitration processes. 12. Continual Review and Updates : A commitment to regularly review and update the family charter to adapt to changing circumstances, family dynamics, and goals. Each family charter can be tailored to the specific needs and dynamics of the family, but these components are common elements that help structure family governance and maintain family unity over generations. In many cases the creation of a family charter is a journey for the family with honest and open conversations needed to drive the creation of a set of rules that everyone has bought into. For many, the process is more important than the document itself.

Works have commenced on the University of Edinburgh’s Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI) which will see the creation of new research spaces to address major disease challenges. Robertson Construction Central East is delivering the alteration and refurbishment works. Located next to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, the five-storey research institute is undergoing refurbishments to its ground, first and second floors in order to create new upgraded research spaces to meet home office licence requirements and to accommodate relocating research groups. The QMRI is made up of three strategic research centres: Cardiovascular Science, Inflammation Research and Reproductive Health, each addressing major disease challenges. The recently commenced works comprise a state-of-the-art electrophysiology research support space, relocation of the existing mass spectrometry facility and improvements to the laboratories. QMRI will also benefit from finishes to the interior alongside building services involving lift, mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations. Additionally, specialist installations of medical gases will take place to serve the newly refurbished research facility when works are complete in winter 2024. Works are being carried out in a live environment with the building’s café, laboratories, teaching spaces and offices still in use. David Cairns, managing director, Robertson Construction Central East, said: “The Queen’s Medical Research Institute refurbishment project holds immense significance not only for the university but also for the advancement of medical research and healthcare on a global scale. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that this bespoke facility meets the highest standards, providing researchers with the cutting-edge spaces they need to make ground-breaking discoveries." "We are excited to continue our strong relationship with the university as we undertake our 14th project for them. Having previously delivered the remodelling of the QMRI’s ‘clinical imaging facilities’, we understand how important these new facilities are for current and future users. By repurposing existing buildings, the university is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability." Professor Stuart Forbes, Dean of Research at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, said: “Over the past few years, QMRI has established itself as a world-class clinical research facility, developing solutions to major disease challenges. These refurbishments will bring great benefits to the work our researchers carry out and ensure that the University of Edinburgh remains a leading innovator in healthcare.” The QMRI project was procured through the CCS Construction Works and Associated Services (CWAS) Framework and Robertson Construction Central East was appointed following a two-stage process.

Airedale General Hospital in West Yorkshire is undergoing phased maintenance and refurbishment works to improve patient services and assure a safe environment for both patients and staff. The works, which are being carried out in a live hospital environment, commenced in January and are being delivered by Robertson Construction Yorkshire and East Midlands (YEM) for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. Works comprise of car park improvements; refurbishments to wards and clinic areas; and structural reinforcement. The structural works will see the strengthening and maintenance of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) panels. A total of 22 wards are to be either refurbished or maintained, with Robertson having nearly completed work on three wards which have been fully refurbished, whilst crucial services have been temporarily relocated within the hospital to mitigate disturbance. Airedale has been added to the New Hospital Programme – the government’s commitment to building 40 new hospitals by 2030. Cheshire’s Leighton Hospital, which is currently having its structural works and refurbishment delivered by Robertson Construction North West, is also included in the New Hospital Programme. Jonathan Sizer, managing director, Robertson Construction YEM, said: “As the chosen delivery partner for these important works, we have liaised closely with the Trust to deliver the works in phases to minimise disruption and put patient safety at the forefront." “Robertson Construction has worked in partnership with the NHS for almost 50 years, so understands the need to continually improve the patient and staff experience with better quality environments. The works that we are undertaking will provide a safer environment and supports Airedale Hospital in providing its essential services to the local community." “As part of our commitment to the communities where we work, we have also supported the surrounding community through the employment of local people on site, procuring our supply chain locally where possible, and providing 140 weeks’ worth of apprenticeships.” Richard Burgin, RAAC Estates project manager at AGH Solutions, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust’s estates and facilities subsidiary, said: “The programme of work being carried out at Airedale is very complex, with multiple areas of the hospital undergoing structural support work simultaneously." “We have welcomed the clear and pragmatic approach Robertson bring to this work, helping us to minimise disruption to crucial patient services.” Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is awarding project phases to Robertson Construction YEM through its Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).

A Glasgow charity whose pioneering project to rehome displaced people has been running for over 20 years is being given £10,000 by one of the city’s leading employers. Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is giving the donation to Positive Action in Housing, who have given shelter to thousands of people through their Room for Refugees Hosting Network since its launch in 2002. Now in its second year, AVCT is the charitable arm of the family-owned Allied Vehicles in Possilpark, a European leader in the manufacture of adaptive vehicles for wheelchair users and drivers. The company employs around 600 people, mostly at Possilpark in the north of Glasgow, where it has been based for 30 years. A staff committee meets monthly to decide on donations along with Allied owner Gerry Faccenna. PAIH expanded their network last year to include people fleeing the war in Ukraine. They now have more than 2,000 people on their books, have 500 families in households in Scotland and England, and are looking for sponsors for others. However, the initiative costs around £60,000 a year, and AVCT’s donation will help sustain it and make a difference to many more homeless and destitute families and individuals. Describing the gift as “fantastic”, Robina Qureshi, the charity’s CEO, said: “What it means is that more people can be hosted safely and in a mutually rewarding way so that we can do the hosting assessments and the meetings … But also, we need more hosts as well, from anywhere in Scotland, for people who are from an asylum-seeking background or who are from Ukraine. “There’s immense amount of overcrowding going on and people are being put into hotels in really bad conditions, like basements with no windows. It’s not a five-star hotel, it really isn’t." “The people that get the money for it get five-star money, which is the Mears Group. This will really support us, but we’re really desperately seeking more hosts to come forward, to give us a bigger pool of people to work with from anywhere in Scotland.” David Facenna, Allied Corporate Culture Director, said the AVCT committee had no hesitation in voting to give PAIH half of their monthly budget: “We recently doubled the amount we give to charity to £240,000 a year and, despite the huge demand we all felt it was the right decision to give them this money." “I have seen PAIH’s work first hand and they do a brilliant job under very trying circumstances for such a broad range of people and we’ll be looking at how we can support them in the future as well.” PAIH senior fundraising officer, Áine Beattie, added: “Because of your humbling and generous support, we will be able to build on and increase the capacity of the life-changing support the Room for Refugees Hosting Network provides." “These donations will enable us to continue our multi-faceted approach towards hosting, helping our clients regularise their legal status in a sheltered environment … and make a lasting impact on the lives of many more vulnerable people seeking support.”