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‘SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR’ Award Goes To Our Very Own Leiann Kemp

Leiann Metsa 2014In line with our ethos of delivering service, quality, value and reliability we believe training, whilst an investment in both time and money, is vital to any successful and thriving business and Futures Supplies encourage staff to regularly attend courses that are both meaningful and enjoyable.

With training success at our fingertips, we are delighted to announce that congratulations go to our very own Leiann Kemp, Customer Service Manager & PA to the MD, for being awarded the Katrin Academy 2013 – Scholar of the Year for the Katrin Training Academy programme beating over 70 other candidates who attended the programme.

The Katrin Academy, based at the head office premises of Metsa Tissue in Walton on Thames, is open to anyone selling washroom products or involved in Facilities Management and Contract Cleaning.  The Academy is designed to be about learning through practical example and Leiann excelled in the programme which will assist in her future working environments. Whilst there, she attended and took part in interactive sessions with presentations, videos and practical exercises.

Leiann joined Futures Supplies in 2006 as a general office assistant and has worked her way up the ladder due to her hard work and dedication.  As ‘Scholar of the Year’, Leiann’s prize will be a visit to the Metsa Tissue Mill in Finland next February.

 Jo Long MBICSc, Sales Manager AfH UK, Metsa Tissue Ltd said, “I just wanted to congratulate you officially. You did an amazing job to beat over 70 other candidates around the country, so from all of us at Metsa Tissue, A MASSIVE WELL DONE”

 

 

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Futures Supplies Give A ‘Personal Touch’ To A New Partner

In today’s turbulent times of fast and chaotic change, no force is more grounding and stabilising than a partnership with customers and Futures Supplies has always lead the way in managing and delivering exceptional business partnerships with its customers and is pleased to be working with Personal Touch Cleaning Services Ltd (PTCS), to deliver washroom and cleaning products across all of its contracts.

Personal Touch Cleaning Services Ltd, is a well-established family owned contract cleaning company offering services nationwidPersonal Touch 20131101e and, therefore, has the very same values and ethos as we do – a perfect fit for a partnership.

In a brand new venture for the company, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary in the cleaning industry, award winning Futures Supplies will be delivering an ‘online web shop’ to enable PTCS customers to order products simply and effectively to enhance the PTCS current offering to its customers.

Personal Touch Cleaning Services is committed to ensuring that all its customers receive the best possible service and its philosophy is to aim for the highest possible standards by providing a helpful, friendly and complete service to its clients. With this is in mind, PTCS has recognised that Futures Supplies is not only innovative but has vast experience in new technology and that we can add value throughout all areas of its business. We are currently assisting and developing systems and ways to help its ‘back office’ administration and operations through delivering budget control facilities and help PTCS reduce and control its costs long into the future.

Nicholas Duque, Commercial Manager at PTCS says, “It is a very important year for us so we really wanted to work with the best in the business. We have found that Futures Supplies demonstrate this time and time again with its experience in innovation and through building great partnerships that will benefit both our companies.”

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A Magnificent Milestone

imageDelighted to reach this huge milestone in such a competitive market place, Founder and Managing Director, David McLeod has continued to run Cresswell as an independent and privately owned business since the company opened its doors for the very first time, back in 1995.

To stand still in the cleaning business is to fail, and Cresswell constantly reassesses its operation in the light of new technology whilst also looking to incorporate new services into its portfolio to meet clients’ needs.

The company’s attention to detail and consistency in delivering the highest quality cleaning and facilities service is underpinned by a fully trained and motivated team that has seen many clients retained since the launch of the business – proof in itself of what a fantastic job it does.

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We have worked with the team at Cresswell for nearly two decades and remain constantly impressed, not only with the exceptional services it provides, but also with its honesty, integrity and core values and we would like to take this opportunity of wishing David and his team our heartfelt congratulations on this magnificent milestone.

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Have a Fabulous Fireworks Night Everyone…..

fireworks 2Here’s some interesting facts we thought you might like – Enjoy your evening and stay safe!

The earliest documentation of fireworks dates back to 7th century China. They were invented more than 2000 years ago in China and still remain the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world – 90% of all fireworks originate from here!!

The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486 and they were used to accompany many festivities, scare off evil spirits and promote prosperity.

The largest chocolate firework was measuring 3m high and 1.5m in diameter and containing 60kg of Swiss Cailler chocolates. The firework was released in Zurich on New Year’s Eve 2002.

The biggest occasion for fireworks in the UK is Guy Fawkes Night in celebration of the failing of the Gunpowder Plot on 5 November 1605, an attempt to kill King James I at the Houses of Parliament.

fireworksThe word for firework in Japanese, ‘hanabi’, which actually means “fire-flower”.

A rocket can reach speeds of 150mph, however the shell can reach as high as 200 metres. A sparkler burns at a temperature over 15 times the boiling point of water. Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blowtorch. When your sparkler goes out, put it in a bucket of water!!

 

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We Mean Business!

We Mean Business2Join us, along with more than 80 business for the We Mean Business 2013 business exhibition event at Fairfield Halls in Croydon on Thursday 7th November.

With over 1,000 visitors expected, the inspirational free-to-attend event, now in its fifth year, will showcase all manner of businesses while a series of interesting business seminars will take place throughout the day.

This year’s action-packed day is being organised for the first time by Make Business Happen, a not-for-profit company established to support business and enterprise across London and the South East.

Ideally located in Croydon town centre, at the Fairfield Halls, there are excellent transport links via East Croydon and Gatwick, local bus and train links and there are also several car parks within a few minutes walk. This high-profile venue, attracts millions of visitors to Croydon every year and is a critically-acclaimed entertainment and cultural complex which hosts a diverse and exciting programme of exhibitions, musicals, plays and live events.

Come along for free, we would LOVE to see you, just book your place at www.wemeanbusinessexpo.co.uk

 

 

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The Best of the Best are Named at The Golden Service Awards 2013

Principle Cleaning GSA 2013The Golden Service Awards (GSA), organised in partnership with the Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA) are designed to recognise service excellence, provide a benchmark for quality and a means of identifying leaders in the cleaning industry.

The awards were handed out at a glittering awards ceremony at the Lancaster London hotel on Friday 1st November and the team at Futures Supplies was delighted to give a big shout out to the Principle Cleaning Team, who we have worked in partnership with for some 18 years on achieving not just one, but two prestigious Awards.

GSA 2013

Here’s the full list of this year’s worthy winners…………………………..

Best Cleaned Premises – Central and Local Government In-House Cleaning Teams – Bradford District Care Trust for the Airedale Centre for Mental Health

Best Cleaned Premises – Small Education Establishment –  VINCI Facilities for Sinfin Primary School, Derb

Best Cleaned Premises – Large Education Establishment –  MITIE for Liverpool Community College

Best Cleaned Premises – Public Service Buildings –  Eurest Services for the Northern Ireland Assembly

Best Cleaned Premises – Healthcare Establishment With Fewer Than 250 Beds – Derrycourt Cleaning Company for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, Dublin

Best Cleaned Premises – Healthcare Establishment With More Than 250 Beds –  Serco for the NHS Forth Valley Hospital, Larbert

 Best Cleaned Premises – External Pedestrian Areas and Street Furniture – Interserve FM for Paternoster Square, London

Best Cleaned Premises – Individual Retail Establishment –  Exclusive Contract Services for Sainsbury’s Superstore, Hayes

Best Cleaned Premises – Shopping Mall –  LCC Support Services for the Grand Arcade Shopping Centre, Cambridge

Best Cleaned Premises – Manufacturing –  OCS Group UK for Mercedes AMG – High Performance Powertrains, Brixworth

Best Cleaned Premises – Transport Terminal –  MITIE for Birmingham Airport

Best Cleaned Premises – Mode of Transport –  Dynamiq Cleaning for Go-Ahead (buses), London

Best Cleaned Premises – Hospitality –  OCS Group UK for the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham

Best Cleaned Premises – Office Areas Below 250,000 sq. ft. –  OCS Group UK for BUPA, Staines

C&M Best Cleaned Premises – Office Areas Above 250,000 sq. ft. – Principle Cleaning Services for the Lloyd’s Building, London

The Best Specialist Cleaning Company Award –  Eden Professional Cleaning Services for Lonza Biologics PLC, Slough

The CSSA’s Award for Excellence in a Small Cleaning Business – Enhance Office Cleaning

The Healthy Workplace Award – Sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Professional* – Julius Rutherfoord

The Diversey Environmental Awareness Award –  Turner Facilities Management for Newsprinters, Knowsley

The BICSc Industry Training Award –  Turner Facilities Management for Rugeley Power Station, Staffordshire

Service Delivery Innovation of the Year –  OCS Group UK for the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham and Cape Environmental Services for innovation in North Sea Offshore operations

The BCC Site Supervisor of the Year –  Angelica Martinez from Principle Cleaning Services for the Lloyd’s Building, London

The Kimberly-Clark Professional Cleaning Operative of the Year – Joanna Wajda from Derrycourt Cleaning Company for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, Dublin

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Centre Status As A BICSc Accredited Training Organisation

Chequers Training Centre 2013We are delighted that after much hard work that our partner Chequers Contract Services has achieved Centre Status as a BICSc Accredited Training Organisation.

The opening of its onsite Training Academy sees the realisation of the dream of the Chequers board of directors, who passionately believe that to provide the best service, they should provide the best people and the best training. “We place high importance in developing our staff.  Six months ago, we had a dusty old warehouse, now we have a new future to offer our staff and better standards to our customers.” said Kate Ward, Sales Director.

cHEQUERS

Award winning, Chequers Contract Services is now some 26 years along the road of providing an exceptional cleaning experience. It prides itself on being a family run business and believe these family values and its people are at the heart of their success.

Delivering fully trained, hardworking, reliable cleaning professionals, the Training Academy was officially opened by Justin Calver MBICSc, of BICSc. The Academy is equipped with all manner of cleaning challenges for operatives to overcome, under the close guidance of qualified BICSc assessors.

All staff will be trained in the Mandatory Units to become Licensed BICSc Practitioners and will receive a bespoke selection of training from over 85 specialist modules all which will add up to a nationally recognised qualification.

Congratulations to all the team at Chequers from us all at Futures Supplies for making it happen!

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The Cream Of The Crop In Facilities Management – The BIFM Awards 2013

BIFM Amy 141013Since 2001, the BIFM Awards have recognised the very best individuals, teams and projects across Facilities Management. The Awards present a fantastic opportunity for winners to be recognised for everything they bring to the FM profession.

Futures Supplies has long supported excellence and innovation in facilities management and Mandie and Amy were delighted to attend, along with 1,300 guests at The Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair last night to see the winners crowned!

Dedicated to recognising and celebrating excellence in facilities management, this year saw the BIFM bestow 12 awards, with categories ranging from impact on organisation and workplace to excellence in product development.

This year’s awards with headline sponsor Mace were hosted by Gyles Brandreth, former MP and government Whip.

All the team at Futures Supplies would like to extend their congratulations to all the winners:-

BIFM Awards LOGO 2013

Excellence in Customer Service
> Chiswick Park, Enjoy Work

Excellence in Product Development
> GSH Group’s Energy Monitoring Application (EMAP)
> Highly Commended: Excel, DeskQUERY™

FM Excellence in a Major Project
> COMET Advisory, Tri – Borough Transforming TFM
> Highly Commended: BAE Systems, The Bowland Centre

FM Service Provider of the Year
> GRITIT
> Highly Commended: Palmaris Services, i Data – Integrated Business Solutions

Facilities Manager of the Year
> Deborah Rowland, Cabinet Office
> Highly Commended: David Scott, Sodexo

Impact on Organisation & Workplace
> Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd, Britvic at Breakspear Park
> Highly Commended: Google Ireland, Google EMEA HQ Dublin

In-House Team of the Year
> Edge Hill University, Facilities Management 

Innovation in the Use of Technolology and Systems
> iSite, The HUB
> Highly Commended: Middlesex University, New Ways of Working – a Digital Journey

Learning & Career Development
> MITIE Client Services 
> Highly Commended: Initial Facilities, Nurturing Talent – The Initial Way

Profound Impact on the Industry Over the Last Five Years 
> Anne Lennox-Martin

Sustainability & Environmental Impact
> Cofely & Peel Media Group, MediaCityUK
> Highly Commended: Edinburgh Napier University, Environmental Management System Implementation

Judges Special Recognition Award
> Kajima Community

Lifetime Achievement
> Frank Duffy

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Wash Your Hands, Its Global Handwashing Day!!

Established in 2001, Global Handwashing Day was originally created for children and schools. Each year on October 15th over 200 million people are involved in celebrations in over 100 countries around the world.

GHDResearch shows that children living in households exposed to hand washing promotion and soap had half the diarrhoea rates of children living in control neighbourhoods. Because hand washing can prevent the transmission of a variety of pathogens, it may be more effective than any single vaccine. Promoted on a wide enough scale, hand washing with soap can be thought of as a “do-it-yourself” vaccine.

Ingraining the habit of hand washing could save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention. Hand washing with soap is the most effective & inexpensive way to prevent diarrhoea & acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths.

Join us in supporting Global Handwashing Day today.

http://globalhandwashing.org/ghw-day

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Another Successful Apprenticeship Position Results in Full Time Employment

In August 2012, Tricia Carr joined Futures Supplies on an apprenticeship as a ‘Sales Support Assistant’. We are delighted to announce that through her hard work, commitment and dedication, Tricia will successfully completes her Business and Administration apprenticeship at the end of September, gaining an NVQ in business and administration.

TrishTricia has become a valued member of the team, responsible for customer order processing, liaising with customers and prospective customers, maintaining the company’s ACT database and supporting the sales team in their roles. As a result of her commitment and hard work she has been offered, and accepted, a permanent position with the company from October 2013 and we look forward to her continued success.

Delighted with the prospect of full time employment, Tricia says, “I am grateful to everyone at Future Supplies for taking the time to help me and I will continue to work hard as I like working with the team at Futures Supplies and the customers very much.’’