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RCS join the organisation’s national certification scheme which already has over 700 members and the company will now be added to the Carbon Smart register which can be found at www.carbonsmart.co.uk

RCS Managing Director David Sambrook said: “We are delighted to receive the Carbon Smart Blue Certification.

“This further enhances our reputation within the cleaning industry as being a leader in sustainability and for our commitment to ‘green cleaning’.

“Being Carbon Smart means taking an intelligent and flexible approach to reducing our carbon footprint.

“The practical actions we have taken to actively reduce our environmental impact provides clear evidence of our commitment to customers, staff and suppliers in this important area.”

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The conversation took place between Jeff Conway, WJ King’s Group Sales Manager and Pauline Carrigan, the Deputy Chairman of Regular Cleaning Services and centred on the issues related to operating a fleet of vans.

Jeff Conway explained “The cost implications relating to operating a fleet of vans are significant and a solution was required. We took specialist advice and passed this to RCS.

“This allowed them to validate our information and consequently place an order for the 5 Ibiza Ecomotives.

“With its zero rated road tax and congestion charge exemption, the Ibiza Ecomotive is proving to be a big success. With the new Congestion Charge threshold to be implemented in 2013, an additional bonus will be that these vehicles with their low CO2 emissions are among a small number on the market that will be exempt.

“We are delighted that RCS chose WJ King and look forward to a long and mutually successful relationship with them.”

RCS Managing Director, David Sambrook said: “We have always supported a commercial vehicle fleet at the forefront of green technology, including dual fuel and petrol hybrids.

“With some vehicles coming up for renewal the company had been evaluating our options to secure the best balance between business practicality and responsible sustainability.” David continued, “the technology continues to move at a pace and the new SEAT Ibiza Ecomotives are right to the fore in this respect.

“Their highly efficient turbo diesel engines are helping us to use less fuel as they are delivering extremely high mpg figures. In addition, their low CO2 emissions are significantly contributing towards our continued drive to minimise our carbon footprint.”

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After extensive trials, last year RCS pioneered the use of Innu-Science’s “green cleaning” products and now offers its customers an effective cleaning regime which utilises a range of ‘green products’ which demonstrate very high levels of efficiency and which present no harm to operatives, office workers or the environment. In addition, by using site-based dilution centres and the company’s own bottling plant in Lewisham, RCS are actively recycling the spray bottles. This approach will potentially save 15,000 plastic bottles from going to landfill sites this year.

Green Energy

In keeping with the company’s nomination as ‘Best Green Business’, RCS are delighted to confirm that it has switched its electricity supply to the only company that provides power from 100% renewable sources. The Company are currently investing in the updating of its vehicle fleet and is halfway through changing to some of the most efficient and carbon friendly options available on the market today. This will mean that, by the end of the year, RCS’s entire commercial fleet will be operating in vehicles producing less than 100g/km of CO2.

Client Confidence

As part of its sustainability strategy, RCS has encouraged its clients to consider cleaning during office hours. This can save on lighting, improve trust and security, and raise the perception and satisfaction of the cleaning service with the office staff. The company are therefore delighted to have been offered a brand new three year contract with Guardian News and Media.

As part of this arrangement RCS were asked to convert the operation from part-time early morning cleaning to using solely full time employees who would be carrying out much of the cleaning during normal business hours. The Guardian is a recognised leader in sustainability and by opting for “day cleaning” has been able to welcome cleaning operatives earning full-time wages and gaining recognition as part of their own working team. This approach has also led to savings in the contract’s labour costs and reduced their out- of- hours energy requirements.

In addition to signing a new contract with the Guardian; RCS are also pleased to confirm that it has retained the contract for the UK’s Money Advice Service in Holborn after a competitive tender and has been offered a proposal for a two year extension on the company’s contract with Broadgate Estates for MidCity Place , the prestigious multi-tenanted office complex in Holborn.

Finally, RCS has also negotiated a brand new contract with RSA, based at Plantation Place. As part of the discussions RCS reached agreement on raising the staff wage rate to the LLW (London Living Wage) of £8.30.

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Last year a specially built seating area for the parents of the Charlton Upbeats was opened at the Training Ground and it is has been invaluable in terms of creating a bespoke area where the parents can meet and chat whilst their children are taking part in the various sports activities with their coaches from the Charlton Athletic Community Trust.

However, it was somewhat ‘bare’ and so, as patrons of Disability and Mental Health at CACT, the CSR committee at RCS decided that the company should undertake responsibility for arranging the planting of a range of flowers and plants.

Armed with a variety of gardening tools and with cuttings and plants donated by RCS staff plus a large supply of plants and flowers that were very generously donated by James Evans of the Ruxley Manor Garden Centre; Terry Carrigan, Maggie Robins and Gemma Taylor together with some of their friends and family members became RCS’s very own ‘Ground Force’ and set about transforming the seating area.

The transformation was amazing and the seating area garden now looks beautiful and very colourful. To personalise the garden RCS also held a Sunflower growing competition for The Upbeats, where the children planted a seed in a pot and RCS will hold a judging day in July to see who has the tallest sunflower.

Barry Simmons, Head of Disability and Mental Health at CACT, said: “The support we received from RCS was fantastic and I must thank James Evans and Tracey Rowland of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre for their tremendous generosity in donating so many wonderful plants and flowers for the Upbeats’ garden.

“The garden will now provide a relaxing and calming environment for the Upbeats and their siblings and parents. We can’t thank RCS enough for making the Upbeats’ garden project a reality.”

The Charlton Upbeats is a bespoke programme delivered by CACT for young people with Down’s Syndrome. The sessions are held on Saturdays at the Charlton Athletic Training Ground from 1.00pm – 2.30pm and revolve around football, although other activities are also delivered.

For further details about the Charlton Upbeats contact Terry Peart or Carl Krauhaus on 08717812095, or email terry.peart@cact.org.uk or carl.krauhaus@cact.org.uk.

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The South London Business Awards, in association with HSBC, is a prestigious awards programme that is open to any company located in one or more of the 12 London Boroughs South of the River Thames.

The Awards showcase and reward businesses ranging from one-man-bands to companies employing hundreds of people; from firms whose clients are drawn from the local community to those with international customers.

Fresh from their recognition at the Demelza Business Awards as the “Outstanding SME Supporter” RCS have been selected as finalists in the categories ‘Best Commitment to the Community’ and ‘Best Green Business’.

RCS Managing Director David Sambrook said: “We are extremely proud to be chosen as finalists for our work in the community and in sustainability.

“We are delighted that the lead we take in our industry sector with regard to sustainable solutions and our commitment to our local community has been recognised, once again, by the South London Business Awards judges.

“To be nominated for these prestigious awards for the second year in succession is a great achievement and an endorsement of the commitment shown by everyone at RCS to the company’s stated CSR ethos.”

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RCS have been prominent supporters of the Club for many years and we are also proud to be the Patrons of the Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s acclaimed Disability and Mental Health programme.

RCS officials were present at the Club’s last match of the season celebrations and saw them receive the champions’ trophy – with the RCS signage making a fitting back-drop to the proceedings!

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