Hygiene services firm phs Group has launched an emergency-response cleaning service for organisations affected by coronavirus. Premises which have had a case of coronavirus can be deep cleaned and sanitised by the emergency taskforce from phs Interclean, the specialist cleaning division of phs Group. Reported cases will be treated with the utmost urgency and aimed to be cleaned within 24-48 hours of commission.

Washroom and hygiene services provider phs Group has launched a new range of environmentally-friendly period products to support organisations to tackle period inequality. phs has overhauled its product line-up following a surge in demand created by the period equality movement. After initiating a period equality campaign and winning new contracts to supply millions of period products across the UK, phs has expanded its product range both from existing partners as well as working with new suppliers such as Bloom and Nora and Mooncup to source new products. The new range, available from phs and its washroom consumables division phs Direct, includes plastic-free organic pads, non-applicator organic tampons and cardboard-applicator tampons as well as reusable pads and menstrual cups – all designed to reduce plastic waste and limit its environmental impact.

Award-winning facilities management company, Arcus, secures strategic investment from ESO Capital. As part of the transaction, Arcus will become independent from Sainsbury’s, while continuing to provide FM services for its longest-serving client. Majority shareowners Chris Green and Steve Willis continuing to lead the firm through its next phase of growth, alongside ESO Capital.

Andy Halsall replaces David McLoughlin as Managing Director for Utilities, while Craig McGilvray replaces Amanda Fisher as Managing Director of Facilities Management, Defence and Justice business. Andy Halsall replaces David McLoughlin as Managing Director for Utilities, while Craig McGilvray replaces Amanda Fisher as Managing Director of Facilities Management, Defence and Justice business. Andy Halsall is a former Business Improvement Director at Mitie who has extensive experience in large business improvement projects. Commenting on his appointment, he said: “I’m delighted to be joining Amey at a time when the business and wider sector are showing signs of enormous potential. I look forward to using my wealth of cross-sector experience to bring a fresh perspective and added strength to the utilities operations.”

From next week, every school and college and England can now order free period products, supplied by phs Direct, under a new scheme to create period equality. The scheme, fully funded by the Department for Education, makes period products freely available to more than 20,000 schools and colleges in England from Monday January 20, giving easy access to young people who need them.

Washroom services phs Group has announced a new partnership with Viridor which will divert customer waste from landfill into power generation. As part of LifeCycle, phs’ sustainable waste management strategy, the new multi-million pound, five-year national contract will see phs-managed non-recyclable waste transformed into energy at Viridor plants across the country.

Leading provider EMCOR UK has been awarded a multi-million pound hard facilities management (FM) contract by the University of Oxford, following a competitive tender process. Demonstrating growing momentum in the Higher Education sector, EMCOR UK will be responsible for the provision of hard FM services to medical research buildings of the University estate this currently covers thirty buildings, spanning 100,000 m2.

You may have spotted EDSK warns over ‘fake’ apprenticeships that the EDSK think tank has released a report warning millions is being spent on ‘fake’ apprenticeships as part of the apprenticeship levy. Please see the below comment from ABM UK giving a perspective from the FM industry. – will you be covering the news? An ABM spokesperson is also available for further comment/ interview today if it’s of interest.

Leading facilities management provider EMCOR UK has been awarded a five-year technical services contract with the science-led global healthcare company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The multi-million pound deal will cover six UK R&D facilities and became effective on 2nd December 2019. Throughout the successful multi-stage selection process, EMCOR UK demonstrated an industry leading approach to collaboration, technology and operational excellence. Central to this was a balanced and incentive driven commercial model that enables improvement in quality, innovation and technology throughout the duration of the contract.

Leading facilities management provider EMCOR UK has been awarded a four year extension to its total facilities management contract with one of the UK’s largest water companies, United Utilities. The new multi-million pound deal will cover various sites and be effective as of April 2020 and will last until the end of March 2024.