Ethical cleaning firm claims King’s Award first

Ethical cleaning firm Upbeat Clean is celebrating after becoming the first in Derbyshire to win what is considered to be the rarest King’s Award for Enterprise honour.

Upbeat Clean, which in 2023 was named Marketing Derby’s Rising Star, has landed the Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility accolade.

It is one of four Derbyshire-based King’s Award winners. In addition, Cosy Direct, which began life in Derby but is now based on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, scooped the King’s Award for International Trade.

Upbeat Clean provides cleaning services to local firms by employing refugee women in Derby, giving them the opportunity to help them rebuild their lives, support their families, get training and contribute to society.

Managing director Michael Gladwell said: “Our team are delighted to be recognised by the King for combining excellent cleaning with life-changing employment.

“We knew before we started that there was huge potential in partnering with refugee women who have fled horrific situations with their children, giving them an opportunity not only to work, but to realise their full potential and take on management and leadership roles.

“They’ve done that amazingly, thanks to the incredible support from over 40 Derby companies who are using their budgets to get excellent cleaning and change lives.”

The King’s Awards are recognised as the highest honour which can be bestowed upon a British company.

There are four different King’s Awards  – Excellence in Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.

Upbeat Clean’s Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility award recognises organisations which operate programmes designed to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds in improving their job skills and their chances of finding work.

Upbeat Clean was founded as a social enterprise by city charity Upbeat Communities in 2020, as part of its work helping refugees and asylum seekers to settle and rebuild their lives in the UK.

It provides meaningful employment refugee women who live in the city after having fled war or persecution, giving them the chance to earn money for themselves and their families and access training.

In recent years it has increased its remit to make a positive impact on the cleaning sector, having taken on people who were already working in the industry but were not being given their full employment entitlements, including annual leave and pension contributions.

It currently employs 40 staff, and its clients include Derby Museums, Derby County Community Trust, QUAD and Getinge, with more high-profile customers waiting in the wings.

The new contracts mean the company expects to employ 60 people by the end of the year, including the creation of management and operational roles for its current staff to step into.

Michael has ambitious plans to grow the company further and to help him achieve his ambitions, last year Upbeat Clean employed a new general manager, Paul Gray.

He said: “My last role was at Getinge and I was responsible for giving Upbeat Clean the contract to clean their premises in Indurent Park, because I realised it would be a good thing to be involved in.

“Now that I’m working for the company itself, I’m proud of the work we do. The King’s Award is extremely well-deserved for all the hard work the team do and the way they are changing people’s lives.”

Cosy Direct is a previous winner, having won the Sustainable development award – when the scheme was known as the Queen’s Awards – in 2022.

Its latest International Trade award recognises the firm’s export success.

Over the past four years it has grown its export activity by 2,000%, including hiring multilingual export staff, opening a trading office in mainland Europe and expanding its operations via a joint enterprise across Canada and the US.

Managing director David Hook said: “Our whole team have worked so hard to reform Cosy’s process and quality to get us export fit

“With a brand-new team and offices and staff in the Netherlands, it’s one of our four stellar growth divisions. To be lucky enough to win two King’s Awards as we approach our 15th year is simply brilliant and we’re all over the moon.”

Elizabeth Fothergill, Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, said: “I am thrilled that yet again the brilliant achievements of Derbyshire companies have been recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise, the highest and most prestigious award for any UK company.

“They all make a remarkable impact across our county, enhancing the economy and providing sustainable skilled jobs, but each company also makes a difference to its community while keeping manufacturing rooted in the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

“They are all truly exceptional and inspiring organisations – and I am delighted that Upbeat Clean has become the first company in Derbyshire to be recognised for Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility. Many congratulations.”

Marvin Cooke, chair of the Derbyshire King’s Award for Enterprise panel, said: “The King’s Awards are widely recognised as the most prestigious business accolades and among the most challenging to attain, with an exceptionally competitive application process.

“That five of our companies have been successful is a truly remarkable achievement.

“Derbyshire is rightly seen as a county of innovation and excellence and these awards are a shining example of the incredible business talent that we have on our doorstep. Huge congratulations to all of them.”

More Derbyshire firms are being encouraged to put themselves forwards for the King’s Awards.

To find out more visit https://www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise.