Cleaning Operative cleaning sinks in Newlyn Building

Committed to providing a safe, clean environment on campus

Last updated on 24 September 2021

Cleaning Services have published their new transitional Service Level Agreement. This transitional SLA has been established due to the requirements for enhanced cleaning of campus facilities and the continued uncertainties around transitional and future ways of work on campus. It sets out how Cleaning Services will continue to ensure that campus is a safe and clean environment conducive to learning and working. It is an output specification that can be readily adapted to service requirements if circumstances change over the coming months.  

All members of the University community will notice more frequent cleaning of high footfall areas such as main entrances, internal access routes and washroom facilities. The team will also focus on the sanitising of high touch point areas. This includes door handles, handrails and reception area fixtures and fittings. If you have any concerns about the frequency or quality of cleaning on campus, please let us know via email CleaningComments@leeds.ac.uk 

As well as the increased frequency and standard of cleaning on campus, personal responsibility is another key part of infection control. Cleaning Services are providing sanitising sprays and blue roll across campus so that staff and students can clean working areas before and after using them to reduce the spread of the virus. If you notice more sanitising products are needed in any areas, please advise us through the online ordering form.   

Alongside working on campus to keep it clean and safe throughout the pandemic, the team has put in place several initiatives over the last couple of years aimed at delivering a more professional service to campus. They have undertaken suitable training to ensure that they can provide the necessary standard of service and new cleaning products and equipment have been introduced to improve the standards of cleaning across campus, including sanitising spraying equipment.  

The new methods and products introduced have helped the team to work in a more sustainable manner. For example, the service has purchased new battery powered i-mops which use 75% less water and enable a reduction in the amount of cleaning chemicals used. They have also now moved to purchasing super-concentrate cleaning products enabling less plastic waste. Cleaning Services received the Blueprint Changemaker Award at the 2021 Sustainability Awards to recognise these developments. 

The service has introduced new uniforms for the team with a range of different options. This means that all team members can choose to wear something they feel comfortable in. The new uniforms demonstrate clearly to the rest of the campus community that the cleaning team are a well-trained and professional service. Finally, the team have also adopted new job titles to more accurately represent a modern and professional service:

  • Senior Supervisors are now Operations Managers
  • Cleaning Supervisors are now Operations Team Leaders
  • Charge Hands are now Assistant Team Leaders
  • Cleaners are now Cleaning Operatives