AUDE publishes today its new ‘Cleaning Services Benchmarking Review’ report in which, with the support of our business partner LitmusFM, we look at the results of a recent survey of AUDE members that asked about their current cleaning service provision.

The survey and subsequent analysis has been carried out by LitmusFM and we are very grateful for their work. On behalf of AUDE, the project has been commissioned and led by our Strategic Facilities Management Group, chaired by Lucy Black (Assistant Director – Facilities and Student Accommodation at the University of Plymouth) and with the detailed guidance of Bryan Carroll (Director of Estates and Facilities at Southampton Solent University) – this meaningful and detailed involvement from AUDE members will give confidence to the association and is much appreciated.

Cleaning is a fundamental activity for estates and facilities teams. We remember back to the long days of the pandemic, where strong cleaning regimes made the difference to whether or not a facility could remain open. And in more regular times this remains a vital service, behind the scenes but all-important. Having confidence that such a service is running well is one thing. Examining it to ensure it delivers an excellent quality outcome at a competitive price is another. The very nature of a benchmarking report is to rapidly bring to light areas in which existing systems and contracts might stand out for either good or disappointing reasons. It is therefore in an investigative and open-minded spirit that we recommend the review to members.

The review brings to life a number of key issues, including the perennial insourcing vs outsourcing debate. But this work may act as the prompt you need to look at other issues - service reliability, problems with recruitment, contract types and more. We’d suggest to every AUDE member institution that a useful conversation and perhaps a fuller process could spring from this work.

Jane Harrison-White, AUDE Executive Director, said: “We all understand that no activity is off the table as we examine ideas that ensure financial sustainability. This review feels like extremely sensible underpinning work in that context. Looking at every contract, every system, every way of working, is just something we are all having to do right now as we make sure we get the best value for every pound spent.”

Speaking on behalf of the project team, Bryan Carroll said: “At a period where the financial sustainability of our universities is headline news it is essential that estates teams do their share by offering real detailed understanding and certainty over every cost item, including cleaning. The AUDE team is very grateful to all universities participating in the research in helping to create a body of evidence we can all now use to benchmark costs and approaches.”

On publishing the review, John Brownless - Chief Commercial Officer at LitmusFM - said: “University and college cleaning services play a vital role in enhancing the experiences of students, staff, and visitors on campus. They contribute to creating positive first impressions; as demonstrated during the pandemic, these services are often undervalued yet greatly appreciated.

“The sector is notable for its willingness to share best practices; however, this can lead to issues with comparability, as each institution is unique. Additionally, the time and investment required to conduct a benchmarking exercise that meets senior leadership's demands for demonstrating value can be substantial. Unfortunately, time is a limited resource for many institutions.

“This report identifies key trends, challenges, and innovations while comparing different service delivery models: in-house, outsourced, and blended approaches. With cost efficiency a high priority, using benchmarks is a proven method for assessing the effectiveness, cost, and quality of cleaning services. The survey also offers an opportunity to share intelligence with members and identify areas for further discussion.”