Hughes Gardner Contract Cleaning and Support Services Limited

Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.

Auditing

Hughes | Gardner uses the latest IT technology for quality auditing of a clients premises, by using a computerised hand-held system for client specific checklists. This allows us to easily record cleaning and maintenance issues to show our clients, fresh up to date information. This is sent using mobile technology from a hand-held unit straight to our computers at head office. The information can be downloaded by the client from our website as soon as the audit has been done.

Company Registration

Hughes Gardner Cleaning & Support Services Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with the company number 1112998.

Company Registered/Trading Office

Hughes Gardner Cleaning & Support Services Limited
Castle House, Ardeley Bury, Ardeley
Stevenage, Herts. SG2 7AF

Tel. 01438 860466
Fax. 01438 860300

Email. enquiries@hughesgardner.com
Web. www.hughesgardner.com

Heath and Safety

Hughes | Gardner confirms its commitment to Health and Safety. Our Health and Safety Policy Statement outlines the general arrangements in force throughout the company for ensuring a safe and healthy working environment. It is made available to every employee, both permanent and temporary, and to those on contracts.

Hughes | Gardner’s Safety Officer holds a NEBOSH certificate in Occupational Health and Safety and works closely with our consultant Safetymen.

All our contracts undergo a full Health & Safety inspection and assessment, and a full report is prepared. The Key Account Managers fully train all our site staff on the findings of the assessment and constantly monitor their implementation. Regular reviews are carried out to ensure compliance and to identify any necessary alterations.

Help Desk Support and 24 Hour Emergency Response

All our clients will be supported by a Key Account Manager, local managers and supervisors, a mobile support group, and our Help Desk located at our main offices.

We operate a 24 hour emergency response service via our mobile support group. Staff attending are multi-skilled and trained to carry out risk assessments prior to commencing work.

Investors in People (IIP)

We are currently working toward's Investors in People and we have been issued with a Certificate of Commitment.

ISO 9001:2000

Hughes | Gardner has been accredited to ISO 9000 since 1974 and in January 2003 gained ISO 9001:2000. Our certificate number is GB06/69285.

ISO 14001:2004

Hughes | Gardner has been accredited to ISO 14001 since January 2003 and in April 2007 gained ISO 14001:2004. Our certificate number is GB07/72175

Monitoring Staff

We use the latest IT technology for tracking lone or remote workers at designated sites where our staff will be required to check in and out simply by dialing into our telephone network. The same system can be used to record staff attendances. Should any of our staff not check in and out we will be alerted so that prompt action can be taken?

Professional Affiliations

Corporate Members of The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), registration number 015696
Safecontractor Approved, certificate number N00025395
The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) approved (call 020 8545 3838 for verification)

Staff Training

Hughes | Gardner Cleaning and Support Services are corporate members of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc).

We hold a BICSc multi-site training license and have our own assessors to carry out on-site training.

Hughes | Gardner's Key Account Managers are British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) Assessors and trained in appraisals. They are also CLARE Approved Testers, Welcome Host trained, have NVQ's in Building Cleaning and Support Services and have attended COSHH, PPE, Manual Handling and Risk Assessment training courses.

We train staff to the institute’s nationally recognized training scheme to comply with the client specification, and any transferring or new staff will be assessed and retrained to ensure compliance.

Staff Turnover

Hughes | Gardner average staff turnover is 6%, on some client premises it’s as low as 2%.

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations Act 1981 (TUPE)

We have extensive experience in managing TUPE transfers and acknowledge our legal obligation to offer existing cleaning operatives employed at client premises the opportunity to continue their employment under our management.

VAT Number

The VAT registration number for Hughes Gardner Cleaning and Support Services Limited is 198144728.

What is the Britannia Safecontractor Scheme?

National Britannia's SAFEcontractor is a health & safety accreditation scheme for contractors. It simplifies the process of demonstrating to clients that our health & safety policies and procedures are in place.

The scheme assesses our health & safety arrangements. Clients recognise the scheme and accept our SAFEcontractor certificate as confirmation of competency.

Website: www.safecontractor.com

What is The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS)?

Over the years local authority health and safety and procurement professionals, with the support of the Health and Safety Executive, have developed the Contractor Health and Safety assessment scheme (CHAS). The scheme is available for use by any public and private sector organizations to use when short listing contractors, suppliers and consultants (companies) who apply to work for them. It provides information about the health and safety part of their application.

Website: www.chas.gov.uk

Who are The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS)?

The British Institute of Cleaning Science, which is headquartered in Northampton, is the largest independent, professional and educational body within the cleaning industry. Founded in 1961, its mission is ‘the raising of status and standards of the cleaning industry, through education’.

Hughes Gardner Cleaning and Support Services Limited are Corporate Members of The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc)

Website: www.bics.org.uk

Further information

For further information please browse our website, call 01438 860466 or use our online contact form.