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Getting ready for Spring

We often have a clearout and thorough clean at home to welcome in the new season – offices could do with the same. Whilst several of our clients ask us to come in and do a blitz clean; working alongside window and carpet cleaners to welcome in the Spring – this post is not about this. It is more about you and your team preparing and getting the office ready for the spring; and if appropriate, to prepare for your blitz clean.

It might simply be a matter of assigning a series of projects across the business or if things have got a bit out of hand – a team afternoon/ weekend event to have a good clear out! A few ideas to get you started include:

Firstly, a simple mantra for everyone to look at their own space : KEEP FIX RECYCLE DUMP
In the Kitchen clear out ALL the cupboards especially those tea stained or chipped mugs; plus any old crockery. Then clear out and clean the Fridge making sure you then agree the schedule/ rules for clearing it out regularly.
This is also an opportunity for an office refresh – to get more organised and maybe send someone off to IKEA to buy a few items to cheer up your space – pictures, plants, crockery or even new storage. Or maybe a new set of mugs with team names or your logo on?
Also take a look at what people are storing under their desks and in corridors/ office corners – is everything needed? Can they be stored elsewhere?
Empty out Marketing and Stationery cupboards/ rooms – remove all out of date literature/ stationery/ promotional items. Recycle what you can. Ask people to return items / stores from their desk drawers that they are not using. Make sure it is well organised when you put it back and reflect on what you can learn for future purchasing based on what you find.
Ask for out of date/ broken kit – check all your tech stuff / specialist equipment/ furniture – if it is broken, can it be fixed/ reused? – if yes, get it done. Then look at what you might recycle and off to the tip with the rest.

If you are really brave you could also suggest everyone does a digital spring clean too – to clear out the debris in their inbox and online world.

When you are finished – all you need to do is give us a call to start that blitz clean to the office space, carpets and windows – to put a spring in everyone’s step!

Then someone can go out and buy the daffodils and chocolate biscuits!

Getting your cleaning brief right

Getting the right brief – is the foundation for getting the specification right and getting the service you need for your business. So what do you need to cover and what should you be asking – to help you get the right provider for you?

Start with the Scope – what do you need doing?

Walk through the space to review your total space identifying by room any special areas (customer spaces, confidentiality etc.) or specialist cleans needed?
Discuss how often and how many people are needed with the provider?
What needs doing every time and how should other tasks be scheduled?
What is standard in the scope and what are the extras?
Determine if you want office or out of hours service? If out of hours consider access to premises and any security considerations e.g. personnel checks, alarms and key holding.
Do you have any employees with specific allergies or sensitivities?
What is your budget for providing this office service?

Then the providers Specification – what are they offering you?

What is their reputation locally and are they comfortable with you talking to existing customers?
Will they walk through the premises with you and discuss the scope room by room?
Can they arrange additional services like deep cleans, carpet cleaning, window cleaning and other specialist cleans?
Ask them to outline the materials and methods that would be used in each area? What do you have to pay for and how is it costed?
Can they provide other consumables and flowers? What are the costs involved?
Check their credentials in terms of insurances, health and safety and environmental policies?
Is their a manual specifically for your site? Can you see an example?
How and how often is the service reviewed?
How easy is it to get hold of someone if a specific issue arises?
How do they recruit, check, train and treat their team?
Check out whether dedicated people will be assigned to your business so you get to know each other? Will you get a chance to meet them?
Are the people local – also what about no shows, sickness and holiday cover?
If people are being transferred – how do they undertake TUPE transfer making it work for all those involved?
Do they have a business ethos and values that align with your own business?
Does the written quotation meet your needs and clearly show you what you are getting?
Do you want to work with this company – what is your gut telling you?

Cleaning is not complicated but professional office cleaning is a business service that needs to be done properly by the right people. It is different to domestic cleaning requiring the right skill-set and mindset because it is all about your business and the environment you work in. At Hathaway Cleaning Services the above is our starting point so we know we have all the bases covered for you – with a professional service – focused on your business and its needs – at an affordable price.

The positive impact of flowers in the office

Spring brings an abundance of bright and cheerful flowers. The daffodil is a great example for this – a simple sign that spring is coming.

Whenever I go into an office space where there are flowers – it seems to lift the spirits and add something to the environment. In these budget conscious times, it is an investment in your environment, just like a bowl of fruit – but it does not need to cost the earth. Such small touches that say something about your business – for some businesses it is appropriate to work with local florists to match your brand but for many this seems over the top. At Hathaway Cleaning Services we can provide a simple weekly bouquet service – that keeps your flowers fresh.

When working with clients on flower options we tend to suggest in reception and meeting areas initially – well away from your IT systems! And choosing the right ones – well back to that Design Director who had a thing about biscuits – the mantra was one type and simply one colour and that seems a pretty good guide to us. An easy yet stylish option – is a bunch of single colour Tesco or Asda roses for £5 – that will last a week. No garage forecourt flowers – please!

What do yours say about you?

I never thought much about it until I worked with a Design Company where the Design Director stipulated exactly what biscuit was to be served at client meetings. It had to be Dark Chocolate Choco Liebnitz biscuits! Chosen because they were no ordinary biscuit – slightly indulgent – a cut above the rest – high quality – the message was clear – it was a brand statement. Such attention to detail may seem over the top for many companies – however such little details all add up to create the right overall impression – and impressions matter in business. That is why when we design the cleaning service we provide for you – we make sure we cover those little details – especially for customer facing areas- because everything needs to add up to create the right impression.

Finally what do the biscuits you serve your customers at meetings say about you and your brand? Are you a posh chocolate, plain digestive, variety selection, hobnob, jammy dodger, custard cream, kit kat or ….?