2004 director’s report the state of the nation’s loos
December 1st 2004 Another year, another 860 entries inspected in the ever popular Loo of the Year and Attendant of the Year Awards! Congratulations to all our entrants and, particularly, to all the dedicated cleaning staff and contractors who are striving hard to keep ‘away from home’ washroom facilities ‘fit for purpose’.
Our expanded team of Inspectors have been covering the length and breadth of the UK, since entries closed in August and we hope that the grading results will provide some encouragement to all who recognise the importance of creating the right impression on staff, customers and visitors.
Lasting improvements in washroom standards are not solely down to décor or design or functional equipment. It is the management and staff commitment to maintaining high standards, often against the fast flowing tide of toilet users, that enables many locations, in different categories, to stand out from the crowd.Remember, 3 Star and 4 Star grades are Awards and reflect adequate standards.We try to be fair in our allocations! Award winning loo management isn’t just about signing a service check board or topping up tissue dispensers, important though they both are. It is more about aiming to create that ‘WOW’ factor, through cleanliness sparkle, or added value products and services and a pleasant smelling environment. Smelly urinals are not usually the users’ fault, even if they’re the cause! They just need more daily cleaning and a periodic deep clean. Mops and buckets are key cleaning tools for any toilet area but the use of cleaning machines, large and small, in cubicles and washing areas, help cleaning staff make best use of their day to day inspection visits. One system supports the other.
Similarly, while small air fresheners help create a pleasant smelling environment, they shouldn’t be relied on to remove malodours caused by other factors.
Toilet users also have an important role to play, in helping keep toilets clean and visual, or even audio communication with toilet users, reminds them of their responsibilities.Users require managing as well as the facilities themselves.
We are involved in the schools toilet improvement programme BOG STANDARD which has had a good launch in England and Wales.
It is high time all school governing bodies and education authorities recognised the important link between daily liquid intake (water) and the reluctance of children to use dirty or ‘threatening’ school toilets.There are serious health and quality of (school) life implications in not providing adequate school toilets to a well managed standard.We hope to see an increasing number of schools participating in the Loo of the Year Awards in future years, having implemented the School Toilet Charter.You can find this on www.bog-standard.org.
There is only one Awards Presentation this year, covering all of the UK.This allows us to announce and present all our National Awards at one time and also enables representatives from all entries, not just National Winners, to come and enjoy the Awards ceremony together! To coincide with this one event we have introduced a number of UK Trophies covering the Best Individual Category entries, Best Public Toilet entries, Best Accessible toilet and Best Babychange facility, as well as a UK Corporate Provider Trophy for multiple (10 or more) entries.
These join the existing UK Attendant of the Year Trophy and the Overall Loo of the Year Awards Trophy.
Our Sponsors deserve much praise and recognition, as always, for helping us grow the Awards.The expenditure budget will be in excess of £150k this year and,while our inspection fees are largely covered by entry fees, the increasing number of entries each year requires additional sponsorship support from our existing and/or new Sponsors.
So, the more you can support our Sponsors, the happier they will be! Be rest assured, however,we do not note the name(s) of suppliers or service providers during our judging and the impartiality of the competition is our greatest strength! We would not wish to jeopardise this in any way.
May I record my personal gratitude to our team of Inspectors some new faces and some older ones! I’m proud to answer ‘I’m a Toilet Inspector’, when asked what I do largely because it has made me appreciate the vital role all those who look after toilets play, in keeping Britain going (no pun intended!).Too many people take for granted some of the basic necessities in life and that’s why these Awards are so important in the wider scheme of things.Toilet Inspectors wear their identity badge with pride! If you are interested in joining our unique inspection team, please get in touch.
Please note the date of the 2005 Loo of the Year Awards Presentation Tuesday 27th September in the magnificent Belfast City Hall, following a Grand Civic Reception hosted by The Lord Mayor and Belfast City Council.This will be a Gala Awards Dinner to coincide with the World Toilet Summit, being hosted for the first time in the West by The British Toilet Association.We want this important Conference to recognise the tremendous achievements by all ‘away from home’ toilet providers, suppliers and cleaning staff, as well as set out a future Agenda for standards around the world The Belfast Protocol! Make sure you enter the competition next year, to receive information about the Summit and the Gala Awards Dinner.
Although we have yet to convince the politicians that ‘away from home’ toilet standards deserve their support and involvement, there are signs that the Loo of the Year Awards, along with the BTA campaigning efforts, are beginning to have some effect.At the end of the day, it is the providers of ‘away from home’ toilets who have to be convinced of their importance and I urge everyone involved in washroom provision and product or service supply to keep up the good work, putting the sparkle back into Britain.Together,we will make, indeed, are making a difference.
RICHARD CHISNELL AWARDS DIRECTOR - NOVEMBER 2004 More articles from British Toilet Association: | 
