CrestClean has produced a set of four ‘Look After Your School’ posters which are distributed to our school customers.

We wanted to promote positive messages aimed at kids. The posters add a splash of colour… and a serious message to areas like school notice boards, toilet areas and close to handbasins. They are A3 size, printed in full colour on card, then laminated for protection.

CrestClean liaised with school principals to ensure the messages were on target and that the images would appeal to students. The feedback from schools receiving the posters has been overwhelmingly positive and appreciative.

We have had many additional orders from our school customers and we intend to continue to have these posters available on request for any of our school customers as they need them. Anyone who would like a set for display can order one by contacting service@crestclean.co.nz

Click here for more information about New Zealand’s best educated School Cleaners

Crestclean has sponsored the “News” section, which is one of the most  viewed parts of the website: see www.nzpf.ac.nz

As a company we are very happy to support the Principals’ Federation, says Crest’s managing director Grant McLauchlan. We think the Federation does a great job of supporting NZ principals, particularly in the tough political and economical climate we have had in recent years.

The Federation, which represents more than 2,300 principals from the education sector, was first established in 1982. It provides support and a professional voice for members throughout New Zealand, also information and professional resources, legal support and advice as well as a number of publications and a helpline.

CrestClean is proud to support the Federation as a Bronze Business Partner, since 2008.

Click here for more information about New Zealand’s best educated School Cleaners

New Zealand’s $1 billion commercial cleaning industry just took another step forward with CrestClean celebrating its 15 year anniversary by announcing ambitious growth plans in both New Zealand and Asia.

“Today I am announcing that CrestClean will be creating up to 150 fulltime skilled jobs over the next 18 months to add to our already strong New Zealand commercial cleaning business”, says Grant McLauchlan, Managing Director of Crest Commercial Cleaning.

CrestClean currently employs 1400 people across its New Zealand and Indian operations.

“This announcement is built on the increased demand for the company’s services from both public and private sector organisations” said Mr McLauchlan, adding that “growth projections for CrestClean give us further confidence in making this announcement”.

“The creation of 150 jobs is a significant vote of confidence in CrestClean’s service delivery and demonstrates that there are strong, successful and growing companies in New Zealand”.

“We started as a small Dunedin based company, and now 15 years later we cover New Zealand and have the support of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise in expanding our business in India and South East Asia,” said Mr McLauchlan.

CrestCleans’ success over these past 15 years comes down to the partnerships we have established; not only with our clients, but also due to the training and qualifications that CrestClean provides its personnel. Our commitment to industry leading  health and safety and  environmental protocols is proving attractive to business and government agencies in today’s competitive economic environment.

It’s hardly the favourite thing to do around the house, but outside of it, cleaning is big business. Just ask Grant McLauchlan of Dunedin business CrestClean.

McLauchlan and his business partner, Rene Mangnus, bought a small Dunedin cleaning company in 1996 with an annual turnover of $80,000. Rebranded CrestClean, it became the pilot operation in what is now an international commercial cleaning business with more than 300 franchises throughout New Zealand and India, and operating revenue of $25m.

The directors chose the commercial cleaning industry for its size and cash flow stability. At the time, the industry was also dominated by a large, foreign-owned corporate with high staff turnover, so the company saw the chance to establish a quality New Zealand brand. Successful overseas, but in its infancy here, the franchise model offered scalability without the liability of leasing business premises, says McLauchlan.

After two years in operation and the sale of five franchises, the business expanded to Christchurch and then Hamilton. In 2002, the board was expanded to include an experienced independent chairman, and capital was raised through an offer of shares under the Investment Opportunities Scheme at that time. The directors set about their vision of creating a respected New Zealand brand in the industry.

CrestClean now has 305 franchises, managed by 15 master franchisees in 17 regions. Training, health and safety, environmental compliance, security and customer care form the backbone of their business philosophy. CrestClean is the largest trainer registered with the commercial cleaning NZQA Industry Training Organisation and continuous upskilling of its personnel is crucial to success. CrestClean has also introduced its own range of environmentally responsible cleaning products.

A major component in its success has been its banking relationship with Bank of New Zealand, which began in 2002. “In the early years, the challenges were all about financing the business,” says McLauchlan. “Especially when we were growing quickly. You soon learn that finding the right banking partner and managing your balance sheet is very important.” BNZ has helped CrestClean meet various challenges by maintaining a good understanding of the business and how it operates. For the past six years, CrestClean has been working with BNZ Business Partner Alex Newdick who admires its directors’ endeavours.

“CrestClean is successful first and foremost due to the governance by its board of directors,” he says. “There’s a strong focus on quality, training and service, with great systems in place. They work hard to look after their franchisees.”

BNZ initially offered CrestClean an innovative facility called Debtor Finance. Now known as Invoice Financing, it lets customers immediately access up to 80 percent of the face value of approved invoices through Internet Banking for Business, helping businesses free up their cash flow.

CrestClean was the first of its clients to benefit from the product, and McLauchlan says BNZ’s support of CrestClean in 2002 was a major contributing factor that allowed him to continue to implement his business plan.

“We were struggling to finance growth and the other trading banks demanded bricks and mortar as security. We had a strong business and considered our cash flows sufficient collateral. BNZ’s Debtor Finance facility was exactly what we were after.

It supported our growth through to November 2005 when we transitioned to mainstream banking facilities again.”

BNZ continues to provide working capital and banking facilities to help CrestClean achieve its goals. Relationship banking is another component of its offering, with a diverse range of presenters on offer, including BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

A significant development for CrestClean has been recent offshore expansion. A successful master franchise owner returned home to New Delhi and asked about a country licence for India. CrestClean India has been trading for 30 months with current revenue of $NZ1.5m. Strong growth is
forecast for the operation thanks to accounts with Indian government agencies, schools and medical services.

“BNZ is an innovative bank and we are very happy customers. Picking up on our offshore expansion plans, they’ve already indicated the availability of resources to help us access Asian markets,” says McLauchlan. “Having the flexibility and support of the BNZ means we can get back to growing the business rather than worrying about the timing of our cash flows.”

Those plans for growth include a five-year goal to more than double the size of the business. “Our strategic vision is to become New Zealand’s most successful and recognised commercial cleaning company,” says McLauchlan.

“Internationally, CrestClean will expand the business model into other Indian cities, and target the sale of country licences to Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Philippines and Indonesia.”

The BNZ Bank has honored Crest with an exclusive invite to the VIP banquet and cocktail function. Our Managing Director Grant McLauchlan will be seated at the head table with Sir Richard Branson himself.

Crest was chosen, along with only a select few others, for our innovation, and for sharing the same entrepreneurial spirit and determination to stand above the crowd as Sir Richard.

Read more about the event here: www.bransonauckland.co.nz

Public Health Warning: The onslaught of handshaking politicians.

15 October marked Global Handwashing Day (GHD). Crest Commercial Cleaning would like to remind the public that with the onslaught of politicians making their way around campaigning, it is essential to wash your hands after meeting your local politician to prevent the spread of noxious diseases.

“Here in New Zealand we can joke about simple things like the importance of washing your hands with soap before eating, but the reality is in many parts of the world washing your hands with soap saves lives”, says Grant McLauchlan, Managing Director of Crest Commercial Cleaning.

“Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent a range of diseases and infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year”.

Crest strongly believes in the development of education and training in the area of commercial cleaning that promote healthy and sustainable work environments.

Questions and Answers

What is Global Handwashing Day (GHD)?

Global Handwashing Day (GHD) was created by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing in 2008 to:

• Foster and support a global culture of handwashing with soap.
• Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in every country.
• Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.

Each year, over 200 million people are involved in celebrations in over 100 countries around the world. Global Handwashing is endorsed by a wide array of governments, international institutions, civil society organisations, NGOs, private companies, and individuals.

Why Handwashing with Soap?

Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths. Yet, despite its lifesaving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and difficult to promote.

Why the focus on Childern?

Global Handwashing Day focuses on children because not only do they suffer disproportionately from diarrheal and respiratory diseases and deaths, but research shows that children – the segment of society so often the most energetic, enthusiastic, and open to new ideas – can also be powerful agents for changing behaviors like handwashing with soap in their communities.

In the two months since the Department of Labour’s Partners in Action Pledge has been launched, 141 organisations, businesses and individuals have signed up – pledging to do their bit to improve health and safety.

The Partners in Action Pledge was launched alongside the Construction Sector Action Plan by the Minister of Labour in May.

“New Zealand’s work toll is unacceptably high and the Pledge is an acknowledgement of the collaborative approach needed to make a real difference to the number of workers dying or being seriously injured,” says Lesley Haines, Deputy Chief Executive, Labour Group.

“Together with government, employers, workers, industry groups, unions and health and safety professionals, we are in a stronger position to take action to keep New Zealanders safe at work,” Ms Haines says.

The Pledge sits under the Department’s National Action Agenda which focuses on reducing serious injury and fatalities in the five sectors where the most harm is occurring – construction, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and forestry.

People willing to do their part to reduce the work toll can become Partners in Action with the Department of Labour. By signing the Pledge they agree to:

play an active role within their area of work to improve health and safety outcomes at work
contribute to and support the National Action Agenda, the Sector Action Plans and the Occupation Health Action Plan
work towards achieving zero harm in New Zealand workplaces.

“We are thrilled to see so many people signed up to the Pledge in the first two months – a strong signal that health and safety is at the forefront of business planning and development,” says Ms Haines.

“Signatories range from Mainzeal and Fulton Hogan to Ravensdown, Sky City and Ballance. We would strongly encourage everyone to sign the Pledge, whether you’re an employee, union, or a large or small employer – everyone can help to make a difference to the work toll.”

More information can be found here: http://www.dol.govt.nz/whss/pledge.asp

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