July 2010

Contract hat-trick for Ocean

The Ocean Group will start work on three new cleaning contracts in August, it has been announced.

Ocean Contract Cleaning has agreed five-year contracts with Gloucestershire County Council and Colchester Borough Council in Essex. Gloucestershire County Council is a brand new client for the company, while the agreement with Colchester Borough Council is an extension of Ocean’s existing contract with the addition of new sites.

Ocean Contract Cleaning London has also been awarded a new three year contract with Tower Hamlets College in the north of the capital. The sixth form and adult education college was previously a client between 1987 and 2003. Lloyd Andres, Managing Director of Ocean Contract Cleaning London, said he was looking forward to working with the educational provider once again.

He said: “Tower Hamlets College is a thriving institution and we are delighted they have selected us for this contract.”

Ocean Contract Cleaning Managing Director Steve Berresford added: “This has been a very successful period for the Ocean Group. The award of these three contracts shows our ability to win new business, retain existing customers and re-establish previous partnerships.

I’m also thrilled for our staff as it because of their hard work that we were able to prepare these winning bids.”

Work is set to commence at all three sites on August 1.

Contract retained at thriving London college

Members of the Ocean team have expressed their delight at being re-awarded the contract to provide cleaning services to the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.

Ocean Contract Cleaning London has held the contract with the College since 2003 when it was known as the College of North East London (CoNEL). In 2009 CoNEL joined with Enfield College to create the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. It is now one of the largest providers of further education in the country.

The new three-year contract has been expanded to include cleaning of the College’s Enfield centre which will see 13 cleaning operatives transfer to Ocean.

A total of 53 Ocean cleaners currently work at the Tottenham Centre, cleaning a wide variety of areas including classrooms, exam halls, offices, libraries, dining areas and the College’s salon and gym facilities.

Site Manager Umaru Koroma said the success of his team was down to listening to the client and working to meet their needs

He said: “Because we know the customer we know their priorities. We know how to keep everything running smoothly.

“We are able to keep everything up to standard. That is the main thing that keeps us here as it makes the client very happy.

“We achieve that by knowing what the College wants, listening to their requests and responding immediately. Anything they need is finished before the end of the day.

“The cleaners have a very good attitude. They are very positive in their work.”

Senior Supervisor Lydia Adebiyi has worked at the College since 1986 and has seen many changes in her time there.

She said: “There have been a lot of developments. Everything has changed for the better since I started here. There are new buildings that have been put up recently to teach new subjects. All the classrooms used to be wooden floors. Now they’re all carpeted which is easier to clean and maintain.

“It is a very pleasant place to work. The students are well behaved and the staff are all very nice and very appreciative. We have a very good team here. If anyone is not able to come into work other people are able to cover just like that.”

Lloyd Andres, Managing Director of Ocean Contract Cleaning London, said: “We are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. Our Regional Manager Sandra Nunez has done an exceptional job in managing this contract for us and our Cleaning Operatives all deserve praise for the effort they put in every day.”

Pledging Help for Heroes

Ocean Contract Cleaning Ltd has helped one of its clients raise over £1,500 for charity.

The company sponsored Hertsmere Borough Council Building Surveyor Richard Whitelock as he and other members of the Council’s Legal and Democratic Services team took part in a sponsored walk for Help for Heroes – the charity that provides support to injured members of Britain’s armed forces.

Ocean pledged £170 to the cause, with an additional £40 being donated by Operations Manager Sharon Langley and Area Manager Anne Dymock.

The team from Hertsmere raised completed the 14km walk from Radlett to Hatfield in Hertfordshire on Saturday, June 5. The route took about four hours to complete. Council staff were joined by friends and relatives.

Richard Whitelock explained that Help for Heroes is the chosen charity of Hertsmere Borough Council’s Mayor Cllr Linda Silver.

He said: “It was quite tough, especially because of the heat. It was about four hours of actual walking.

“But it was a really lovely day and I thoroughly enjoyed it."

Sharon said: "It is a fantastic cause and Ocean, as well as myself and Anne, were more than happy to support it and add to the money raised."

Mayor Cllr Linda Silver said: "I am thrilled that staff supported my chosen charity in this way. I was delighted to be able to receive the cheque on behalf of Help the Heroes and thank everyone who took part. I know the money will be put to good use."

Top marks for Ocean's Health and Safety Manager

Ocean’s work sites are all set to become even safer after the company’s Health and Safety manager earned an important new qualification.

Maureen Threadgold, who is based at the company’s head office in Luton, successfully gained her National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health qualification after sitting two exams in March.

The qualification is certified by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) and is the most widely held safety-related qualification in the UK. It proves the holder is aware of main legal requirements for health and safety in the UK, is able to identify and control of workplace hazards and can apply this knowledge when it matters.

Maureen received her certificate confirming she had passed the exams on Saturday, June 12.

She said: “The envelope came first post and I didn’t open it until about 3pm. I was feeling the thickness of it to see if I could tell if the certificate was in there. When I opened it I just yelled out “Yes!”

“I’m really chuffed, but I’m glad the exams are over with.”

“I want to thank all my managers and the senior management team. They really gave me a lot of support.