Nick Thompson, Chair, Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) will share insight into the value of membership, independent inspection and how it drives continual improvement across CHSA Accreditation Schemes, helping members reduce the risk of non-compliance.

Nick will describe how the CHSA Accreditation Scheme requirements relate to ethical audits and labelling to ensure compliance.

Paul Ashton, Chairman of the Cleaning & Support Services Association, will explore why stronger use of data is becoming increasingly important to the professionalism, competitiveness and credibility of the sector.

From demonstrating value to clients and protecting margins, through to workforce performance, ESG, compliance and procurement, the businesses that understand what to measure, how to use that information will increasingly have an advantage.

Paul will consider where the cleaning sector is today, where expectations are heading, and what needs to change if the industry is to become more evidence-led, transparent and confident in demonstrating the value it delivers.

The session will challenge businesses to consider a simple question: are we measuring what really matters, or simply what we have always measured?

As always, Paul welcomes your feedback.

The cleaning industry is entering a period of unprecedented transformation. Robotics, artificial intelligence, smart technologies, sustainability requirements, data-driven management, and changing workforce expectations are reshaping how cleaning services are delivered. Industry studies indicate increasing adoption of automation, smart cleaning technologies, sustainability initiatives, and enhanced professional development programmes across the sector.

However, experience from BICSc's Future of Cleaning Initiative demonstrated that successful change is not determined by technology alone. The greatest factors influencing success are engagement, change management, skills development, leadership, and workforce training.

This presentation explores how training must evolve if cleaning organisations are to remain productive, professional and future-ready.

In this forward-looking talk, Lorraine Larman, Managing Director at Safety Solutions, explores the changing face of the UK cleaning industry and the opportunities that lie ahead.

From robotics, automation software and AI to the evolving role of the cleaning professional, Lorraine will consider how technology is set to transform the way we work - while emphasising that people will remain at the heart of a successful and sustainable industry.

The session will also challenge perceptions and bias surrounding the
cleaning profession, highlighting the vital contribution of cleaning operatives and the need to recognise the skills, expertise and professionalism they bring to our workplaces every day.

Pest management is evolving. Climate change, global trade, and urbanisation are introducing new pest species and increasing the complexity of infestations. New technologies and regulations make it essential for professionals to stay informed. Embracing change in pest management not only protects public health and property, but also promotes professionalism and trust across the sector.

Cleaning is too often seen as a last resort career choice rather than a first one.

Kevin Meighan, Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, sets out why that perception is wholly inaccurate, and what a genuine career pathway in the sector can look like, from entry level through to leadership and professional recognition.

He'll cover WCEC's collaboration with BICSc and other industry bodies to raise standards and awareness, the route to Chartership as formal recognition of professional expertise, and the WCEC's new Breaking Barriers Bursary, which supports young people from cleaning families into higher education. He'll also set out the wider case for livery membership: the networks, mentoring and standing it offers to those helping to shape the industry's future.

Odour control has traditionally relied on masking unpleasant smells with increasingly powerful fragrances. But what if we could eliminate the odour itself?

In this talk, James Law, Director of 2Pure Products, introduces a new approach to commercial air care that tackles malodours at a molecular level. Drawing on 15 years of laboratory and field research, James explains how new patented technology captures odour molecules within microdroplets and uses specially formulated odour-destructive reagents to alter their molecular structure - effectively transforming the compound so that it is no longer an odour.

How knowledge transfer, new career pathways, and human / machine teamwork will future-proof the cleaning industry.

In this session Daniel Cross addresses the notion that cleaning robots are not the biggest threat to jobs, or that they will replace people, but that experienced people will leave the industry before we have transferred their knowledge and inspired the next generation to take their place.

Recently promoted to European Marketing Manager for Robotics at Tennant, Daniel will address the topic that autonomous cleaning machines aren't the greatest threat to employment, nor are they set to replace workers. The real danger lies in losing seasoned professionals before we've captured their institutional knowledge and inspired a new generation to step up. He’ll highlight the need for intentional knowledge transfer and workforce development so technology enhances, rather than removes, human expertise.

With rising disposal costs, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), traditional rigid plastic containers are becoming an increasingly expensive choice.

This session explores how switching to UN-approved Bag-in-Box packaging delivers measurable environmental, operational and financial benefits.

Using up to 90% less plastic, maximising transport efficiency by up to 4:1 and enabling 99.9% product evacuation, Bag-in-Box reduces waste, cuts carbon emissions and lowers total cost of ownership.

Discover how flexible dosing and dispensing solutions can be tailored to different applications, improving safety, accuracy and efficiency while helping cleaning businesses achieve their sustainability goals without compromising performance.

The cleaning and facilities sector is evolving rapidly, shaped by advances in robotics, AI, and digital technologies, alongside increasing regulatory and environmental expectations. As these changes accelerate, the challenge for the industry is not just to keep up - but to stay ahead.

This panel will explore what it means to future-proof cleaning, from adopting next-generation technologies to preparing for evolving regulations and shifting client demands. Central to this conversation is the role of people - particularly how the industry attracts, develops, and retains the next generation of talent, ensuring they are equipped with the skills needed for a more digital, data-driven, and technology-enabled future.

Crucially, the session will challenge the industry’s traditionally reactive approach - asking how organisations can become more proactive, anticipating change rather than responding to it. By combining innovation, investment in people, and forward-thinking strategies, the panel will highlight how the sector can build a more resilient, adaptable, and future-ready model for cleaning.