Spectrum and other Cleaning Products News

Don’t worry Be Happy!

February, 2011

2012 see’s the team at Spectrum re-launch their business and to represent this milestone, they have rewritten their Mission Statement.

Karen Betteridge, Assistant Director said “Spectrum is a happy place to work and we are happy people all dedicated to making our customers happy too! By recognising the need to do things a little differently and with renewed energy we hope to fulfil our customer’s needs with our superior products and services.”

Karen continued “The new mission statement captures our beliefs and core values and truly represents the way the business feels and operates. We are all so proud to work here alongside Jo and are totally focussed on assisting our customers daily with the hygiene challenges they face.”

Dashingly Brilliant Festive Fundraising!

December, 2011

On 11th December 2012 at 11am, Mark Mullin, our Business Support Manager and his 6 year old son Ben, undertook a fun run with a difference in aid of our local hospice, St Catherine's.

Mark and Ben, dressed in Santa suits and along with 268 others, made their way around the one and half mile Marine Drive in Scarborough for this very worthy cause.  It was a mass of Santa's and the festive spirit was apparent even though, as you can see by the photo, it was a little chilly!!

Laura and Sam for our office were there to cheer them on and Mark and Ben raised £82.00 for this very worthy cause.

Mark said "we really enjoyed taking part and Ben did really well to say he had a bad cold.  It was great to support the hospice because we supply them with our products so it was nice to be able to give something back.  I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored us"

 

Spectrum adopt Marley the Reindeer!

November, 2011

Marley, a Cairngorm Reindeer and part of the only herd of Reindeer free ranging in their own natural environment has been adopted by Spectrum Cleaning Solutions.
“Marley is a male Christmas Reindeer, trained to harness. He is very small but has a big character” says Hen one of Cairngorm’s Reindeer herders.

“We are very grateful to the team at Spectrum for adopting Marley and their support will help to ensure his future. Marley and the rest of the herd can be found free ranging in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland” she continued.

Karen Betteridge, assistant director at Spectrum said “whilst on holiday in September with my family I was lucky enough to visit the Reindeer herd and knew that everyone in the team at Spectrum would support the idea of adopting one. Spectrum is a small company with a big heart and is lucky to have a team with a caring, sharing attitude. We always pull together at Christmas time working like busy little elves selling and delivering crackers and other party accessories and felt it was apt to support a project that not only cares for the conservation of these beautiful animals but also the environment.”

Some of the Reindeer will visit Scarborough on the 4th December as part of the annual Santa and Reindeer parade and we will be there with our families to support them. If you are free maybe you could come too!

 

Spectrum help cut sick days by 7%

October, 2011

For each member of staff that pulls a sickie, there are probably ten more that are scared to take a day off.  So while there are ways of preventing sickness and identifying which staff members might be skiving, the last thing you want is genuinely sick staff in the office.  One employee riddled with a virus could soon see most of your workforce wiped out.  So what can you do?

It’s really important that sanitizers or alcohol based cleaning wipes are used on keyboards, telephones, door handles and other surfaces that come into contact with large numbers of staff.

Providing hand gel and encouraging its use is also advisable as long as it contains a minimum of 62% alcohol, but not more than 80%.  The gels alone won’t cut your sick days to zero, but given that colds and flu are the most common reasons you lose staff to sickness, they could be a cost effective way of dramatically reducing the spread of germs and bacteria.

 

Putting the “CARE” back into Cleaning and Hygiene Management

September, 2011

The team at Spectrum are highly delighted to win the cleaning and hygiene supplies contracts at two prestigious sites in Scarborough, Saint Catherine’s Hospice and Braeburn House Residential Home.

Jo Thompson, MD at Spectrum said of the Hospice “what a lovely place and we feel very proud to have successfully tendered for the opportunity to work with the facilities team to review & supply Hygiene and cleaning products in order to maintain the high standards already in place.  It’s great to play a proactive part in helping to reduce costs in the area of cleaning and hygiene as this obviously enables more money to be placed into the patient care pot which can only be good news!”

She continued, “I was so impressed when I visited Braeburn House. The Management and staff run a tight ship; however I felt that even greater things could be achieved by providing specific cleaning products for the team to do their jobs even better. Our product knowledge and cleaning and disinfection training allowed us to come up with a product portfolio, which will allow the staff to achieve even better, cleaning results at reduced costs! I am sure this will have a direct impact on patient care.”

Spectrum will be helping both organisations control spending by streamlining their product ranges, introducing systems which guarantee low in use costs, creating effective stock control systems and offering free certified training in COSHH, cleaning and hygiene science and products.

 

Cleaning up after you have cleaned

July, 2011

It's after they've been used that cleaning products have the biggest impact on the environment.

When you pull the plug, some ingredients are still active, still cleaning. If those ingredients reach the environment, they can cause a whole mass of damage.

All our Ecover range is developed to strict criteria, with the protection of water a key issue. Every ingredient as well as the final product is screened for the way they can effect the environment.

This includes measuring aquatic toxicity and calculating critical dilution volumes – which is the amount of water it takes to neutralise a dose of a product after it's used.

Some of the figures are amazing. Each dose of Ecover Toilet Cleaner, for instance, takes 400 times less water to neutralise than its nearest competitor.

Ecover Biological Washing Powder takes 2000 litres of water to neutralise per dose. This sounds like a lot but some others powders take 7000 litres!

So, if 5% of families in the UK switched to Ecover Washing Powder it would work out a saving of half a million Olympic swimming pools worth of water every year.

 

Spectrum Partner Customers to ensure high Scores on Doors!

June, 2011

With many local authorities already publicising food safety-rating results, potential customers will check your score out before deciding whether to book.

The Food Standards Agency has now introduced the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), encouraging local authorities to operate it in under the Brand Standard guidance. It is felt that that a national scheme is best for consumers and for businesses. FHRS ratings are being uploaded and can be viewed by the public at ratings.food.gov.uk. By June 2011 around 170 authorities should be publishing ratings (129 in England, all 22 in Wales, 17 out of 26 in Northern Ireland).

Managing Director, Jo Thompson said, “Spectrum Cleaning Solutions can undertake an independent audit as the start of a process of teamwork and record taking that is aimed at enabling you to proudly display your rating to your customers and the media.

She continued, “we have already helped many businesses achieve high scores on the doors ratings and helped our customers make savings not least by using less through controlling usage, improved quality, stock control, free hygiene management systems, help with COSHH compliance and free certified COSHH training."

 

Dragon Boat Racing

June, 2011

The 5th June 2011 sees a team from Spectrum take part in a local Dragon Boat Race, raising funds for Scarborough Hospital childrens ward and St Catherines Hospice. 

A dragon boat is a human-powered boat traditionally made of teak wood to various designs and sizes and is used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing which originated in China over 2000 years ago. 

Dragon boat racing is one of the fastest growing and most exciting water sports you can take part in and we wish our team all the very best!

 

May and June see's Spectrum continue with their charity fund raising!

May, 2011

Congratulations to Laura and Sam who completed the Race for Life on 8th May 2011 raising £110.00 for Cancer Research. 

Unfortunately the day was rather wet but it didn’t deter Laura and Sam who were in good spirits throughout the event. 

Well done to them both!

 

Scores on the doors!

April, 2011

Jo Thompson, MD of award winning, Scarborough based, Spectrum Cleaning Solutions, who supply Cleaning Products & Paper Disposables, says:
“Food businesses shouldn’t be afraid of 'Scores on the doors' but see it as a positive tool, to win even more customers. These are turbulent times financially and during difficult times businesses can easily try and cut back and make savings but at what cost?  Maybe instead of resorting to poor quality or shabby service business owners should look at the true value being offered!”

She continued “Spectrum can help businesses achieve high score on the door ratings and make savings not least by using less through controlling usage, improved quality, stock control, free hygiene management systems, help with COSHH compliance and free certified COSHH training”.

She concluded by saying “Appreciating the quality of service, reliability along with a product that is fit for purpose and delivered on time is surely what represents genuine value!”

 

Green and Clean go hand in hand!

April, 2011

Partnering with Ecover, Spectrum has provided Whiz Cleaning Leeds with a range of competitively priced and efficient environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Josh Stead, Managing Director of Whiz Cleaning, a company who supplies domestic and commercial contract cleaning services throughout West Yorkshire said “Using entirely environmentally friendly products within our business operation provides us with a significant unique selling point and I am looking forward to marketing my business on the strength of this”

Jo Thompson, Managing Director at Spectrum said “we feel proud to have been distributing Ecover‘s Business to Business cleaning range for about two years now. Ecover was founded in 1980 in Belgium and has been a trendsetter of environmentally friendly cleaning products. Ecover’s range is now marketed in more than 26 countries and is manufactured in Belgium in the world’s first ecological factory, which has a green roof extending over more than 6000m². That building was put into service in October 1992. It received extensive press attention at the time, and it draws more than a thousand visitors every year even now”.

Jo continued, “I am sure Whiz Cleaning will be pleased with the performance of the Ecover range and the low in use costs that the concentrated solutions provide”.

 

Congratulations to Amanda and to Anth!

22 March, 2011

Amanda is pleased to announce the safe arrival of Lucy Jane, weighing in at 8 lbs 8oz on 10th February 2011.    

Amanda was pretty fed up towards the end as Lucy seemed quite comfortable in her mum’s tummy however, finally decided to enter the world 10 days later than planned and only one hour in labour!

For those of you who know Amanda, we are sure you will be delighted at the news!

We all really miss Amanda in the office but we obviously wish Amanda and Lucy Jane well.

 

---

 

In last months news you will have read about our Finance Director attempting to climb Kilimanjaro in aid of the Daisy Chain Charity.

Well, Anth managed it as one of the 10 who finished (there were 15 to start with but 5 dropped out due to various reasons during the climb)

He certainly looks like he needs to eat a few pies to pile on some pounds but other than that he has returned in great shape!

Apparently it was the worst weather in a decade so the conditions were pretty grim however it was all worth it in the end and he has raised over £4000 for this very worthy cause.  Well done.

Anthony climbs kilimanjaro to raise money for Daisy Chain

1 February, 2011

Spectrum Cleaning Solutions Finance Director, Anthony Finegan, is climbing 5895 meters’ up Kilimanjaro, the largest freestanding volcano in the world, to raise funds for the Daisy Chain Charity. 

Anth, who has been Finance Director at the Scarborough firm for just over two years said, “I'm doing it as my eldest son is affected by autism; specifically Aspergers syndrome. It means he has difficulties with social interaction, communication and imagination. We are only touched by autism, fortunately, and I'm supporting the charity as they provide respite care for families of children affected by autism - some of which are experiencing the more profound aspects of the condition.”

He continued “The Daisy Chain facility at Norton, in Stockton, is fantastic and the only way to do it justice is to visit.  The facility is the realisation of the founder’s late wife's dreams, they too have a son affected by autism and found support lacked the impact so desperately needed."

Anth is one of eighteen who are all raising funds for Daisy Chain, they are the second group; the first having climbed last February.

Anth concluded by saying “I am taking time off work and we are setting off at 4:30 on Feb 12th, arriving in Africa 9:30PM that day. After one night in a bed and breakfast, we are then trekking for 6 days up and then 2 days down. I return to the UK on 21st February mid afternoon.  Hopefully all my months of training will pay off and I will be able to do it!”

Jo Thompson, Managing Director at Spectrum Cleaning said “I really admire Anth for undertaking this challenge.  He will be walking through African towns, into the jungle and then up into below freezing temperatures, but what a fantastic thing to do for a very worthwhile cause”

You can help Anth raise more money by going on to the just giving website and making your pledge www.justgiving.co.uk/anthony-finegan

Spectrum Sponsor Top Awards

4 December, 2010

Tourism businesses from the East Coast of Yorkshire walked away with awards at a special ceremony this month.

Visitors to the region nominated the finalists ranging from best hotel to top tourist attraction.

The awards were set up to honour businesses along the Yorkshire coast and around 190 people attended a dinner and dance, which saw six out of 36 finalists, achieve top awards.

Spectrum were thrilled to support the occasion by sponsoring the “Hotel of the Year” category and were delighted to present awards to Palm Court Hotel and Raven Hall Hotel.

Pictured is, Karen Betteridge, Customer Services Manager presenting awards to Jay Clements, General Manager of the Palm Court Hotel who were overall winners and to Diane Uhalde, General Manager and Director, of the Raven Hall Hotel.

Karen Betteridge, Customer Services Manager said, we were really happy when Raven Hall was announced as a winner as we have worked in partnership with them for many years and know how much effort they put in to making their hotel a delightful, warm and welcoming place to stay.  In our opinion, they were very worthy winners and it was nice to recognise them in this way.

Hygiene Management Scheme - a Winner with Yorkshire Baker

1 November, 2010

Spectrum Cleaning Solutions are putting their efficient and effective Hygiene Management Support Scheme down as the reason why they have recently secured this important contract.
 
Stringent hygiene processes and procedures coupled with top performing products was high on the agenda of Gill Ridgard, MD at Yorkshire Baker, based near Malton, Yorkshire.

Jo Thompson, MD at Spectrum said, “we were really excited when we were approached by Gill at Yorkshire Baker and undertook a free hygiene audit to ascertain the companies current needs without forgetting to think about future considerations.
Together, we then determined the most cost effective solution to meet the requirements and I am pleased to say that Gill agreed to them and implementation has now taken place”

Spectrum recommended an auto dosed versatile Degreaser and Sanitiser, which cleans, degreases and sanitises 90% of the whole factory. The dosing units, which are provided by Spectrum on a free on loan basis, ensure that the chemicals cost just 19p for a trigger bottle of ready to use solution.
Jo continued, “Gills team have already commented on the fact that the product performance has made a huge difference to them and that the cleaning tasks are a lot less arduous!
Written test certification supports the fact that the sanitiser ensures that bacteria remain at safe levels and this is obviously a very important factor in all food production businesses.

The icing on the cake for Spectrum was being given the additional task of writing the cleaning methods and procedures and hygiene schedules to ensure that the standards are maintained. 

Jo concluded by adding, “this part of the job really does give us a tremendous amount of job satisfaction and proves we really are more than just box shifters.  We offer a very unique service to smaller businesses that really can’t afford to utilise the services of these big multinational companies who charge a fortune for this service”.

Bakery Chain uses their loaf and awards contract to Spectrum!

5 October, 2010

Friday 1st October 2010 saw Spectrum install the last of the chemical dosing pumps in all 30 Woodheads Bakery shops across the County and all outlets are now benefiting from using Spectrums range of cleaning and hygiene products.

Lynda Rowley, Retail Operations Manager at Woodheads Bakery said “Spectrum approached us at a time when we were looking to modernise our cleaning and hygiene practices. In partnership with this firm, we looked at many products in order to consider the different benefits each one would bring to our operation. Spectrum listened intently to our needs and requirements and suggested options for us to think about”.

Lynda continued, “we settled for a system that provides us with highly concentrated products to degrease and sanitise, dispensed through free dosing pumps that guarantee really low in use costs.  This was of paramount importance considering we have 30 shops”

Spectrum’s Managing Director Jo Thompson said, “the cleaning systems are easy for Woodheads staff to use and feedback from their frontline teams regarding the product performance is very positive”

Lynda concluded by saying “Spectrum have mobilised the account effortlessly, training our staff in COSHH and product use at the same time and we are fully confident that our outlets are being cleaned to reduce bacteria to safe levels in a very cost effective way.
Spectrum told us from the start that they were a company who enjoyed making a positive difference to businesses and so far they have certainly done this for Woodheads Bakery.”

The Complete Washroom Service from Spectrum

10 September, 2010

Did you know that Spectrum also offer a washroom service provision?

Nappy Bins and Feminine Hygiene Units are changed discreetly and reliably providing a worry free service.

We can provide a service frequency to suit your business and unlike our rivals, we do not tie you in to long-term contracts!

We don't charge for waste transfer notes and are prices are highly competitive.

Interested to find out more?

Ring us today on 01723 373509

Spectrum offer Solutions to help the O2 Clean Up!

26 July, 2010

The team at a local firm, Spectrum Cleaning Solutions, who supply cleaning and hygiene products to many businesses within the area, have much to celebrate this week.  They have just won a two-year contract to supply product to the O2 Arena!

Managing to beat off two other companies, Spectrum managed to win the deal to supply an environmentally friendly drain enzyme cleaner that will prevent blockages in sewer lines that may interfere with the proper operation of sewage treatment works into Thames Water.

Jo Thompson, Managing Director said, “Our product was placed on trial and after a period of time, the results were analysed and our product proved to be 20 times more effective than the current providers. Once the price was agreed, the incumbent facilities Management Company decided to use our services and benefit from reduced costs and more positive activity in the drains to combat potential issues.

Jo continued, “we were delighted to get this prestigious contract and we know that the product will make a big difference to the 47 eateries within the Arena.  They include companies such as Garfunkel’s, Pizza Express, Frankie and Benny’s and Nandos.   Removal of fats, oils and grease from wastewater is critically important to ensure that wastewater is disposed of efficiently and economically. 

“The product is environmentally friendly and expected to work out cost neutral to the Facilities Management Company as it negates the need for, expensive emergency call outs to blocked drains, and unnecessary grease traps and the costs associated with the upkeep of them.” 

Jo concluded, “Winning this tender was great for our team morale and also endorsed the fact that we really do supply exceptional products and the technical knowledge to assist with problem solving on behalf of our customers. We are not just box shifters but experts in cleaning and hygiene matters.   All the hard work over the years in developing our business and our knowledge is now starting to pay off”

Anyone wanting to know more about this environmentally friendly drain cleaning product should ring Spectrum Cleaning Solutions on 01723 373509