ESS Wins Contract Cleaning Award at Cleaning Excellence Awards

ESS, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has won the Contract Cleaning Award at this year’s Cleaning Excellence Awards. Held at the CBS Arena in Coventry, the event celebrates standards of excellence throughout the professional cleaning and hygiene sector.

The Contract Cleaning category recognises outstanding services that demonstrate quality, efficiency and innovation. It acknowledges companies who set the benchmark for professional cleaning, through tailored solutions that meet the highest standards of hygiene, customer satisfaction and sustainability, enhancing operations and contributing to healthier environments.

ESS cleans over 1.1 billion square metres annually for clients in the Defence, Energy, Government and Infrastructure sectors. It delivers daily, periodic and deep cleaning in accommodation, clinical, office, industrial, manufacturing and laboratory settings, as well as providing window, high level, kitchen, hazardous, infection control and forensic cleans.

The company’s services are highly specialised to meet the varied challenges of the complex locations it operates in, covering secure contracts, 24/7 requirements, state-of-the-art to listed buildings, high footfall facilities and sector-specific HSE requirements.

The successful submission incorporated industry-leading practices including:

• Integration of robotic cleaners, working alongside ESS’s frontline colleagues to enhance safety, quality, efficiency, workplace experience and sustainability.
• Investment in ergonomic equipment to make tasks safer and easier for teams.
• Development of a bespoke cleaning trolley to meet the needs of the business and enhance safety, usability and efficiency.
• Introduction of chemical free cleaning to cut chemical exposure, decrease packaging waste and reduce the need to store hazardous substances.
• A structured approach to employee training for new and existing team members, with a demonstrable commitment to supporting career progression.

The nomination included multiple examples of positive feedback received from clients, highlighting consistent, high-quality service delivery, the positive, can-do attitude of teams and the valuable support provided in extenuating circumstances such as flooding.

The award was accepted by members of ESS’s facilities management leadership team accompanied by frontline colleagues.

Jack Ridge, General Manager for ESS, commented:

“I can’t put into words what it meant to see the excitement on my team’s faces when they found out they were part of this process. Moments like that remind me why we do what we do. Opportunities like this don’t just showcase our work, they strengthen our passion and our pride. Thank you to everyone who believed in us, supported us, and gave us the chance to represent ESS – I’m beyond proud of my FM team, and of every FM team out there giving their all every day.”

Yvonne Taylor, Head of Cleaning & Associated Services for Compass One, added:

“Focusing on the fundamental elements of our cleaning offer ensures we deliver great results for our clients and our teams. I’m delighted that ESS has been recognised in a category that assesses performance in such a wide variety of areas, from health, safety and regulatory compliance to service quality, innovation, sustainability and people development. Winning this award is a testament to our people who recognise that excellence comes from getting the basics right every day.”