Is the cleaning industry doing enough to encourage diversity at the top, relating to the success of female managers/directors in cleaning, and can we do more?

Annual media lists, detailing the ‘top 10’ in a variety of spheres, nearly always provoke furious debate – but they can also provide inspiration, too. Woman’s Hour, one of Radio Four’s flagship programmes, named their ‘Power List 2013’ earlier this year, and it contained some of the highest achieving women in the world. A whole host of amazing females, including digital entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox, Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, and singer Adele, provided much to admire and aspire to.

Karren Brady, well-known for her success in the ‘man’s world’ of football, and currently on our screens as part of Lord Sugar’s Apprentice team, also made the list. However, in a recent blog on her website she said: “I look forward to the day when it will be unnecessary to discuss the role of women in business.”

I think she is suggesting that gender should not be an issue, and that women are just as capable as men of holding high-level positions in any business sector – and this includes cleaning. My team are privileged to work with a large number of female clients who are fulfilling senior roles in cleaning and FM, and achieving incredible results for their companies. They are not afraid to take tough decisions, are adept at motivating their workforces and are inspiring and professional. But this also applies to our male clients too!

Standards of training, achievement and innovation are rising rapidly in our sector and to ensure that it continues on a upward trajectory we need to attract, develop and retain the best people for the job – whether male or female.  An equal balance is what’s required, and I am confident that the cleaning industry is on its way to achieving this. 2013 saw a woman installed as Master of The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners after all! Perhaps this is a sign of things to come …

Published in Tomorrow’s Cleaning – August 2013