IT firm signs up with award-winning refugee cleaning company

IT social enterprise L.E.A.D. IT Services has become the latest firm to take on the cleaning services of award-winning Upbeat Clean.

The firm, which provides technical support and procurement across the UK, has signed on the Kings Award winning social enterprise to provide cleaning services in its offices on Pride Park.

Upbeat Clean provides Living Wage employment to people who have come to the UK in search of refuge and asylum, through its parent charity Upbeat Communities.

A team of three from Upbeat Clean are now coming into the offices of L.E.A.D. IT Services, which donates thousands of pounds of its profits to schools in some of Derby’s most deprived areas every year.

The team are keeping L.E.A.D. IT’s offices spick and span, along with other businesses in the area.

L.E.A.D. IT Services managing director Lee Jepson, who is passionate about giving back to the Derby community through employing young apprentices plus a range of other initiatives including cooking meals at the YMCA, said working with Upbeat Clean was an obvious choice.

He said: “For me, this is about giving everybody opportunities. A company’s cleaning budget is its smallest but Upbeat Clean proves it can have the biggest impact on people’s lives.

When I heard the story behind Upbeat Clean, I felt it made absolute sense for us to work with them on our cleaning.

“We’re really happy with the service provided by our cleaning manager Zamira and her friendly team.”

L.E.A.D. IT Services is one of many Derby organisations which now employ Upbeat Clean, including Vaillant Live, Derby County Community Trust and Derby Museums.

Upbeat Clean managing director Michael Gladwell said: “We’re delighted to be providing our cleaning team to L.E.A.D. IT Services, an excellent social enterprise doing great things for the city of Derby.

“We couldn’t be happier that so many companies believe in the work we are trying to do here at Upbeat Clean, transforming lives and empowering people.

“I’ve long been an admirer of Lee and the work he is doing at L.E.A.D. IT Services, giving back to school children in the city in so many ways. It makes perfect sense for us to be working together.”