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The Guardian has reported that ‘Employers in the UK are facing the worst staff shortages since the late 1990s, amid the rush to reopen from lockdown and a significant drop in overseas workers owing to COVID and Brexit.’ It has become a growing trend to raise the alarm about labour shortages, particularly when it comes to hiring new cleaning and security staff.
We have compiled 5 actionable tips to help your business deal with these staff shortages:
1. Retention
To ensure your business doesn’t suffer from staff loss, you need to provide incentives. This helps retain your current cleaning and security teams. Offer competitive salaries, meaningful benefits, and flexible working hours. Showing appreciation and gratitude to your employees builds loyalty and trust. A simple ‘thank you’ can go a long way in boosting motivation.
If you’re hiring new staff, offering higher wages than competitors can help you stand out and attract top talent.
2. Professional Help
You don’t always need to hire an in-house cleaning or security team. Sometimes it is more beneficial to consider a professional office cleaning service or a trusted security company. Professional services bring their own safety equipment, are trained to high industry standards, and often offer more flexibility—including working outside of standard hours or on short notice.
This frees up your time to focus on your business priorities while ensuring the job is done to a high standard.
3. Identify Your Needs
Before hiring any service, review your business operations. Understand your cleaning and security needs thoroughly and list them clearly when discussing with a potential provider. This clarity allows the provider to focus on your priorities and helps you manage expectations.
Ask yourself questions like:
- Do you need on-site personnel 24/7, or only during specific hours?
- Can certain tasks like decluttering be handled internally to reduce cleaning time?
- What areas require daily cleaning versus weekly?
For example, if your business is moving out or changing tenants frequently, consider an end of tenancy cleaning service to ensure a high standard of cleanliness during transitions.
4. Compare All Options
If you’re already using a cleaning or security provider, don’t assume it’s your best option. Regularly compare different services based on pricing, availability, and service quality. Collect multiple quotes, review their service details, and compare them against your budget and expectations.
This process ensures that you are getting the best value and quality for your investment.
5. Ask Questions
When evaluating providers, always ask questions. Be open-minded and flexible during your search. Ask if they have served businesses similar to yours and whether they have client testimonials available.
Example questions to ask a cleaning company:
- How much do you charge?
- Is insurance included?
- What products do you use? (Are they eco-friendly?)
- What services are included?
- What training do you provide?
Example questions to ask a security company:
- Are you insured?
- Have you worked in this area before?
- How do you train/monitor your guards?
- Do you arm your guards?
Reputable service providers will be transparent and confident in their answers. Compare those answers and their pricing to choose the most reliable option.
Final Words
Even though businesses are struggling to find appropriate staff and services, decisions should not be rushed. By following these tips, businesses will be in a much better position to find and retain the right cleaning and security professionals. Taking the time to compare services and set clear expectations will ultimately save you both time and money.
