From Clean Floors to Confident Workforces: The New Face of Workplace Hygiene 

As Head of Soft Facilities Management for Sodexo UK & Ireland, I’ve had the privilege of seeing first hand how cleaning has evolved from a traditional, manual task into a technology led, data informed and experience-centred profession. 

According to the British Cleaning Council (2024), the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector now contributes nearly £60 billion to the UK economy and employs around 1.49 million people—over five per cent of the total workforce. What was once viewed as a background service is now front of mind in how people judge workplaces - a key enabler of workplace experience, sustainability and operational excellence.  

"cleaning, hygiene and waste sector now contributes nearly £60 billion to the UK economy"

Meanwhile, the cleaning landscape in the UK has changed dramatically over the past few years. Advances in digital tools, smart machines and sustainable chemistry have reshaped how services are delivered, measured and valued.