Council up for top award

South Ayrshire Council's Facilities Management and Building Cleaning service has been selected as a finalist at the prestigious APSE Service Awards 2022. The team are up for an award in the Best Service Team of the Year category.

The achievement recognises the innovative changes that have been made to improve janitorial services. Key to this was the introduction of four peripatetic janitors, which has reduced the use of external contractors, and limits the movement of janitorial staff from their normal place of work to cover absence or emergencies.

This change in provision has made a huge impact, with the peripatetic staff far more able to respond to emergency situations such as floods; absence; or last-minute venue hire in schools.

The four janitors have access to electric cars, as well as other essential items such as tool kits, school crossing patroller PPE and electrostatic sprayers which have been invaluable for disinfecting schools, sheltered housing, and care homes during the pandemic.

The peripatetic janitors also carry out compliance checks, such as alarm testing.

Following the success of the janitors, Facilities Management is now sourcing funding to employ 12 peripatetic cleaners.

Councillor Bob Pollock, Economic Development Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: "Congratulations to Facilities Management on making it to the APSE finals. These awards are always hotly contested with over 300 submissions from across the UK this year, so this is a great achievement.

"We have received several enquiries from other Councils requesting a visit to South Ayrshire to learn about our peripatetic janitor team and the significant impact they have made.

"An award from APSE would be the icing on the cake."

Each year, the APSE Service Awards recognise the hard work of Councils and public-sector partners delivering frontline services across the United Kingdom.

The winners will be announced at the end of APSE's annual seminar 2022, which will take place in Swansea on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 September.