As October 2026 draws to a close, several developments are shaping the UK cleaning sector: a new voluntary wage benchmark, fresh public sector procurement routes, evidence of the industry’s economic scale and an important trade event now on the calendar. Together, they offer useful context for contractors, facilities managers, procurement teams and anyone responsible for cleaning operations.
This roundup focuses on what has changed and what those changes could mean in practice. It is not a forecast of policy. Rather, it looks at current industry news and the practical questions it raises for budgets, contracts, supplier planning and workforce management.
The real Living Wage rises for 2026
On 15 October, the Living Wage Foundation announced new real Living Wage rates of £14.10 an hour across the UK and £15.45 an hour in London. The UK rate has increased by 4.8 per cent, while the London rate has increased by 4.4 per cent. The Foundation says accredited employers must implement the new rates by 1 May 2027 and notify staff within one month of the announcement.
The real Living Wage is a voluntary rate calculated with reference to living costs. It is distinct from the statutory National Living Wage, which is £12.71 an hour from April 2026. The difference matters for cleaning employers and buyers: the voluntary benchmark is significantly higher than the legal minimum, and accreditation creates a commitment that employers need to plan for.
For an in house cleaning team, the immediate task is to assess the impact on payroll and associated employment costs. For a contractor, the calculation also needs to account for the number of staff affected, hours worked, shift patterns and any related changes to pay structures. A rise in hourly pay can also affect differentials between roles, including supervisors and specialist operatives, if employers want to maintain a clear progression structure.
The announcement has particular relevance to outsourced cleaning. The Foundation’s implementation guidance recognises that accredited clients may need to phase changes in as contracts are renewed. That makes renewal conversations important: buyers and providers should identify when rates need to change, how those changes will be costed and whether contract terms provide a workable mechanism for adjusting prices.
A useful discussion starts with a transparent view of the service rather than a single headline figure. Buyers can review hours, site coverage, task frequencies and performance requirements alongside pay assumptions. Contractors can explain the cost of meeting the agreed service standard while paying the required rates. Neither side benefits from leaving this conversation until a renewal is already under pressure.
The Living Wage Foundation’s announcement of the new rates sets out the headline figures. The practical point for cleaning businesses and clients is to make the impact visible early enough to plan for it.
A £72 billion industry, with a substantial workforce
The British Cleaning Council’s 2026 Research Report puts the value of the UK cleaning, hygiene and waste industry at nearly £72 billion. It reports more than 1,012,400 direct employees and estimates around 1.51 million people are involved when related roles in other industries are included. That broader total represents about five per cent of the UK workforce.
These figures are useful when explaining the scale of an industry that can be overlooked in wider economic discussion. Cleaning and hygiene services support workplaces, healthcare, hospitality, education, retail and public spaces. The report also gives buyers and contractors a shared evidence base when discussing staffing, service quality and investment.
Turnover is spread across several connected areas. Facilities management accounts for 45.8 per cent, waste and resource management 26.3 per cent, cleaning activities 18.1 per cent and landscape services 9.8 per cent. This split helps explain why broad sector figures should be read with care: cleaning is a major part of the industry, but the total includes much more than contract cleaning alone.
The report also provides a more detailed view of the workforce. Women make up 56 per cent of the industry workforce. Part time work is especially common in cleaning activities, where about 67 per cent of workers are part time. This is not the figure for every part of the wider cleaning, hygiene and waste industry, where working patterns vary between sub sectors.
For employers, the findings give a useful prompt to examine recruitment, retention, training and the way shifts are organised. For buyers, they underline that delivery depends on a large and varied workforce, not simply on equipment or product selection. A service specification that recognises site demands and the realities of staffing is more likely to support consistent delivery.
The research is also relevant to supply planning. Cleaning teams rely on dependable access to chemicals, paper products, washroom items and equipment. A sound supply process helps avoid unnecessary disruption and makes it easier to maintain consistent methods across different sites. For anyone reviewing trade cleaning supplies or professional cleaning products, the BCC report provides useful context for understanding the size and variety of the market.
The full BCC Research Report 2026 includes figures on turnover, employment, workforce characteristics, pay, skills and subsectors. It should be treated as an industry overview rather than a substitute for local workforce or contract data.
SBFM acquisition and new framework appointments
Another notable development is SBFM’s first acquisition. The company bought the business and assets of commercial cleaning provider Ecosense after Ecosense entered administration. The deal took effect from 1 July 2026, transferred client contracts to SBFM and safeguarded about 1,200 roles. According to the reporting, services continued without disruption.
The transaction illustrates how consolidation can affect the soft facilities management market. Acquisitions may preserve jobs and maintain service continuity, while bringing contracts, teams and operating systems into a larger organisation. For clients, a change of ownership is a reason to confirm practical arrangements: who is responsible for day to day contact, how teams will be supported, and whether reporting, escalation and service standards remain clear.
SBFM has also been named as an approved supplier on the Government Commercial Agency’s RM6378 Facilities Management and Security Services framework, for Lots 3a and 3b. These cover soft facilities management contracts with average annual values up to £2 million and above £2 million respectively. Churchill has also been appointed to Lot 3, which covers soft facilities management services including cleaning, front of house, waste management, ground maintenance, hygiene and safety.
RM6378 began on 19 August 2026 and is due to run until 18 August 2029. The framework gives eligible public sector buyers a route to procure a range of services, including cleaning, waste, maintenance, landscaping and security. It is an open framework under the Procurement Act 2023, with multiple lots and routes to award contracts. Buyers should confirm the current lot structure and supplier list in the official agreement documents before planning a procurement, because framework details can be updated during the life of the agreement.
For public sector procurement teams, the appointments broaden the pool of suppliers available through this route. They do not remove the need to assess a specific service requirement, contract value, location, quality measures or the buyer’s procurement process. The Government Commercial Agency provides details of the agreement, its scope and how buyers can use it on the RM6378 framework page.
The supplier appointments and acquisition also point to a wider change: contractors are balancing scale with continuity and consistent delivery. In practice, buyers should look beyond a supplier’s size and ask how it will manage mobilisation, workforce communication, service reporting and any transition between providers. These considerations apply whether a contract is awarded through a framework or another procurement route.
Further details are available in the reporting on SBFM’s Ecosense acquisition, SBFM’s framework appointment and Churchill’s appointment to the framework.
The Cleaning Show returns in March 2027
The Cleaning Show will take place at ExCeL London from 16 to 18 March 2027. It is co produced by the British Cleaning Council and Quartz Business Media, bringing together suppliers, buyers and operational leaders from across cleaning and hygiene.
The event is a useful date for contractors, facilities managers and procurement teams to add to their planning calendars. Its announced themes include sustainability, ESG, net zero, workforce management, training and skills. The programme will be developed in partnership with BICSc, with educational content focused on cleaning science, technical competence, qualifications and workforce development.
Confirmed exhibitors include Kärcher, Nilfisk, Numatic, SEBO, Freudenberg, WEPA, Essity, Kimberly Clark Professional, SC Johnson and Bunzl. The wider exhibition is expected to include machinery, chemicals, consumables, washroom hygiene, software, robotics and facilities services.
For buyers, the value of attending is the opportunity to compare options in person and discuss how products or systems might suit a particular operation. Live demonstrations can help teams understand equipment and processes before committing budget or changing established routines. Sessions on workforce management and sustainability may also be useful for managers reviewing how cleaning services are delivered and measured.
A focused visit is more productive than trying to see everything. Visitors may want to list current operational priorities, identify relevant suppliers and set aside time for conference sessions that match their organisation’s needs. For a contractor, that could mean looking at ways to improve productivity or training. For an in house team, it could mean comparing consumables or equipment and considering how to maintain reliable supply.
Event information and updates are available on The Cleaning Show London website. The British Cleaning Council’s announcement for the 2027 event confirms the dates, location, conference themes and current exhibitor announcements.
What the latest developments mean for buyers
Taken together, the October news highlights three practical priorities for cleaning operations.
First, wage assumptions need active review. Contractors and clients with real Living Wage commitments should use contract renewal planning to establish how the new rates will be implemented and funded. Early discussion supports more realistic budgets and reduces the risk of cost questions emerging late in the process.
Second, procurement and supplier changes make continuity a central concern. The SBFM and Ecosense transaction shows how an acquisition can transfer contracts and protect jobs, while the RM6378 appointments give public sector buyers new supplier options. Clear communication, accountable contract management and well defined service measures remain important during any change.
Third, the BCC data reinforces the scale and complexity of the sector. A workforce of more than one million direct employees, with varied working patterns and a broad range of subsectors, needs practical support through training, effective supervision and reliable access to supplies. Buying professional cleaning products or janitorial supplies is only one part of this picture, but consistent procurement can help teams follow established cleaning routines and keep essential items available.
For households as well as businesses, the same general principle applies: choose products and routines suited to the surfaces, tasks and frequency of cleaning involved. Commercial grade supplies can be appropriate for demanding everyday use, but they should always be selected and used in line with product instructions and the needs of the space.
The months ahead will bring further contract renewals, procurement decisions and preparations for the 2027 show. Keeping up with the facts now gives cleaning contractors, facilities managers, trade buyers and household users a stronger basis for planning dependable services and informed purchasing decisions.
Sources and further reading
- Living Wage Foundation: new real Living Wage rates
- British Cleaning Council: The Cleaning Show 2027 announcement
- British Cleaning Council Research Report 2026
- FMJ: SBFM completes its first acquisition
- FMJ: SBFM named an approved supplier on the GCA framework
- Churchill: appointment to the GCA framework
- Government Commercial Agency: RM6378 framework details
- The Cleaning Show London
