JR&Co named finalist at the 2026 IWFM Impact Awards

JR&Co has been named a finalist at the 2026 IWFM Impact Awards in the Workplace Experience: Non-office/Corporate Environment category.

Our submission, JR&Co & UGLE: Delivering an Exceptional Workplace Experience at Freemasons’ Hall, celebrates our partnership with the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and the work carried out every day to support one of London’s most distinctive and historic buildings.

The announcement follows our recent recognition as a finalist at the 2026 European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards, further highlighting the dedication of our people and our commitment to delivering responsible, high-quality services.

Recognition from the IWFM Impact Awards

Organised by the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management, the IWFM Impact Awards celebrate outstanding practice across the workplace and facilities management sector. The awards recognise the people, partnerships and initiatives making a measurable difference to organisations, their employees, visitors and wider communities.

Being selected as an IWFM Impact Awards 2026 finalist is therefore an important achievement for both JR&Co and UGLE. It provides independent recognition of a partnership built on trust, communication and a shared commitment to delivering an exceptional workplace experience.

Delivering an exceptional experience at Freemasons’ Hall

Freemasons’ Hall is far more than a conventional workplace. The iconic London landmark accommodates everyday business operations alongside ceremonies, tours, graduations, events and periods of exceptionally high visitor numbers.

Maintaining the presentation and performance of such a complex environment requires detailed planning, flexibility and a genuine understanding of the building and the people who use it.

Through close collaboration with UGLE, our team has developed an approach shaped around the particular demands of Freemasons’ Hall. This includes responding to changing activity across the building, protecting the standards expected within its historic surroundings and helping to create a welcoming, well-maintained environment for employees, members, guests and visitors.

At the heart of the partnership is a shared understanding that excellent workplace and facilities management is not simply about completing tasks. It is about recognising how every interaction and every detail contributes to the overall experience of a building.

A partnership built on undivided attention

This finalist recognition reflects the dedication of the JR&Co team at Freemasons’ Hall and the strong working relationship developed with UGLE.

Open communication, responsiveness and a detailed understanding of the site allow both organisations to work towards the same objective: delivering a consistently exceptional experience while respecting the unique character and operational needs of the building.

Although this IWFM Impact Awards recognition specifically celebrates our work with UGLE, the same principles guide every JR&Co client partnership. We take the time to understand each environment, build trusted relationships and provide services tailored to the people and places we support.

We would like to thank UGLE for their continued trust and collaboration, as well as every member of our team for the care, professionalism and undivided attention they bring to Freemasons’ Hall each day.

The winners of the 2026 IWFM Impact Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony on 8 October 2026 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London. We are proud to stand alongside the other finalists and look forward to celebrating the achievements of the workplace and facilities management profession.

JR&Co named finalist at the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2026

JR&Co has been named a finalist at the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2026 in the Sustainability – Best Practice: Service Provider category.

The recognition highlights our Sustainable Synergy approach and the collective impact of the decisions, improvements and everyday actions taking place across our business.

Recognition for sustainable cleaning best practice

The European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards are the only pan-European awards dedicated to recognising excellence across the professional cleaning and hygiene industry.

Now in their ninth year, the awards celebrate achievements in areas including sustainability, innovation, technology, leadership, training and people development. More than 50 finalists have been selected across 11 categories for 2026 by an independent panel of industry judges.

Being shortlisted in the Sustainability – Best Practice: Service Provider category recognises JR&Co’s commitment to embedding environmental and social responsibility throughout our operations and cleaning services.

Our Sustainable Synergy approach

At JR&Co, we believe meaningful progress does not come from one initiative alone. It is created when many different decisions and actions work together towards shared sustainability objectives.

We call this approach Sustainable Synergy.

From transitioning to a 100% electric fleet and introducing Paperless Site Files to strengthening responsible procurement, supporting community partnerships and achieving B Corp certification, each action contributes to a greater collective impact.

It is also about continually reviewing how we work, measuring our progress and identifying further opportunities to reduce our environmental impact while delivering responsible, high-quality cleaning services for our clients.

Rather than treating sustainability as a separate project, we aim to make it part of everyday decision-making across JR&Co. This allows improvements to become embedded throughout the business and supports lasting change across our operations.

A collective achievement

This European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards recognition belongs to everyone across JR&Co who helps bring our sustainability commitments to life.

A special acknowledgement goes to our Business Support Services Team, particularly Lauren Hanley, Business Support Services Director, and Vânia Borges, Quality, Sustainability & Environment Manager. Their leadership helps coordinate our sustainability activity, maintain momentum and ensure that our progress remains organised and measurable.

We are proud to be recognised alongside other leading organisations from across the European cleaning industry. The winners will be announced on 8 October 2026 at the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards ceremony at Pueblo Español in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

This recognition follows further industry success for JR&Co, which has also been named a finalist at the 2026 IWFM Impact Awards for its workplace experience partnership with UGLE at Freemasons’ Hall.

JR&Co has been recognised at the Recorra Recycling and Circularity Awards with two silver awards.

• Best Sustainability Engagement Programme
  
• Individual Waste Warrior of the Year, awarded to Lauren Hanley, our Business Support Services Director

That’s the headline. But it’s not really the point.

These awards recognise something more important: not just what we do internally, but the standards we bring to our clients’ sites every day.

Turning sustainability into practical results

Sustainability can often feel abstract. Targets, policies and reports.

But on site, it usually comes down to something simpler.

Are people doing the right thing, consistently, without having to think too hard about it?

That’s what we’ve been working on.

At our Head Office, we’ve built a system that makes waste easy to get right. More recycling streams, clearer set-ups, fewer chances to get it wrong. Then we back that up with practical engagement, things like waste sorting sessions, site visits, and hands-on activities that actually stick.

Nothing complicated. Just well thought through, and done properly.

Why clients feel the difference

The important part is that this doesn’t stay at Head Office.

It carries through to client sites:

• Clearer waste systems that reduce contamination
• Better segregation that improves recycling performance
• More engaged teams who understand what good looks like
• Practical ideas that clients can adopt with confidence

So clients don’t just get a cleaner space. They get a workplace that runs better, with less waste, fewer issues, and more consistency.

The role of leadership

Lauren’s award is really about that consistency.

Setting standards. Paying attention to detail. And making sure things actually happen, not just get talked about.

It’s also about bringing people with you. Because none of this works unless teams are engaged and understand why it matters.

That’s where the real change comes from.

What this says about how we work

There isn’t a grand programme sitting behind this. It’s more straightforward than that.

It’s about doing the small things properly. Every day. On every site.

• Putting the right systems in place.
• Keeping them simple.
• And making sure people care enough to follow them.

That’s what adds up over time.

What’s next

There’s still plenty to improve. There always is.

But the direction is clear: keep things practical and keep them consistent.

We’ll continue to refine our approach, work closely with our partners, and help our clients improve their own sustainability performance.

Because when that happens, the results take care of themselves.

Sustainability is no longer judged by policy statements alone. Organisations are increasingly expected to demonstrate measurable environmental performance across their entire supply chain. That includes cleaning.

For many businesses, cleaning services sit within Scope 3 emissions under “Purchased Goods and Services”. Yet few providers can evidence the environmental impact of the products used on site.

At JR&Co, we believe cleaning deserves the same rigour and transparency as any other operational function. That is why, across the majority of our client sites, we use 2Pure’s OdorBac Tec⁴ as our primary cleaning solution.

A multi-purpose solution designed for commercial environments

OdorBac Tec⁴, developed by 2Pure, is a patented multi-surface cleaning and disinfection solution designed specifically for commercial use.

It cleans, disinfects and eliminates odour in a single application. The formulation is effective against bacteria and enveloped viruses, making it suitable for routine hygiene across workplaces, educational settings and public environments.

Unlike many traditional industrial cleaning products, OdorBac Tec⁴ is non-hazardous, non-irritant and non-carcinogenic, and it does not require hazard warning symbols under EU CLP regulations. The formulation is readily biodegradable and designed to be safer for users and the environment when used responsibly.

Its patented technology does not simply mask odours. It works by neutralising odour compounds at a molecular level while also inhibiting the growth of odour-causing microbes. This means surfaces are cleaned and sanitised rather than fragranced.

Because it performs effectively across most daily cleaning tasks, we use OdorBac Tec⁴ as our standard solution on the majority of client sites. This reduces the need for multiple aggressive chemical products and allows stronger specialist chemistry to be reserved only where genuinely required.

Independently verified carbon footprint

Environmental claims must be supported by evidence.

An independent Life Cycle Assessment confirms that OdorBac Tec⁴ has a cradle-to-grave carbon footprint of 0.0631 kg CO₂e per litre of concentrate, excluding the use phase. The assessment was carried out in accordance with GHG Protocol and ISO 14040 and 14044 standards.

This provides our clients with transparent, defensible data rather than general sustainability statements.

Carbon neutral and carbon negative credentials

The environmental commitment extends beyond measurement.

OdorBac Tec⁴ is certified carbon neutral when excluding the use phase, with verified Gold Standard offsetting applied. Additional carbon credits are then applied to account for emissions generated during the use phase itself, making the product carbon negative at the point of purchase.

This means the product not only offsets its lifecycle impact but goes further to create a net positive carbon position.

Circular economy principles in practice

Environmental responsibility is not limited to carbon.

All OdorBac Tec⁴ packaging is manufactured using 100 per cent recycled plastic. In addition, 2Pure’s LoopBox container reuse system enables containers to be returned, cleaned and reused, significantly reducing single-use plastic waste.

This closed-loop approach reduces embedded carbon, lowers plastic consumption and supports wider circular economy objectives.

Why this matters for your ESG goals

Cleaning is a visible part of your workplace environment and a measurable part of your environmental footprint.

Choosing a cleaning service built on independently verified carbon data, certified carbon neutrality, carbon negative credentials and circular packaging principles strengthens sustainability reporting and reduces reputational risk. It supports Scope 3 transparency and demonstrates responsible procurement decisions.

But these procurement decisions do not sit behind the scenes. They shape how your organisation is experienced by employees, visitors and stakeholders. As we explored in our article on The importance of a strong first impression, the way a workplace is presented influences how organisations are perceived. Today, that perception increasingly includes environmental responsibility. Cleanliness, hygiene and sustainability are interconnected.

For us, and consequently for the organisations we work with, this is not an isolated product decision. It forms part of the wider commitments set out in our latest Sustainability Report, where we outline how we are reducing impact across our operations and supply chain, and how we support clients in meeting their environmental, social and governance objectives.

Supporting your sustainability objectives

Sustainability is shaped by decisions made across your supply chain. Cleaning may represent one part of that picture, but it is visible, practical and symbolic of wider standards.

By selecting solutions such as OdorBac Tec⁴, we aim to support our clients’ environmental, social and governance goals with measurable data, responsible product selection and proportionate operational practice.

If you are working towards specific ESG targets, sustainability reporting milestones or procurement requirements, we would welcome a conversation about how your cleaning service can continue to support them.

2025 has been a year of meaningful recognition for JR&Co. Not because we chase awards for their own sake, but because they reflect the care, commitment and undivided attention our people bring to their work every day.

Across sustainability, environmental responsibility and service excellence, these awards recognise teams and projects that quietly raise standards across the business.

Recognised for sustainability leadership

One of the highlights of the year was our Business Support Services Team being named Team of the Year at the National Sustainability Awards. The award recognised the team’s sustained contribution to embedding sustainability into how JR&Co operates, from systems and reporting to everyday decision making.

We were also named winners of the Environmental (ESG) Award at the BICSc Awards. This recognised our responsible and ethical approach to cleaning, and our continued investment in people, processes and sustainable practices across the business.

Shortlisted for positive climate action

Our work on Sustainable Synergy was shortlisted at the IWFM Impact Awards in the Positive Climate Action category. The project brings together waste reduction, smarter resource use and practical collaboration, showing how focused change can deliver real environmental impact.

Gold recognition for innovation and waste management

At the Green Apple Awards, JR&Co received two Gold Awards. These recognised excellence in innovation and waste management, and reinforced the value of taking a long-term, joined-up approach to sustainability rather than chasing quick wins.

Looking ahead to 2026

The year closed with further recognition as JR&Co was named a finalist at the Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards. We were shortlisted in two categories, Sustainability Leadership and Going the Extra Mile, with the awards taking place in 2026.

What this recognition means to us

These awards matter because they reflect the work happening behind the scenes. Thoughtful planning. Consistent standards. Teams who care about doing things properly, even when no one is watching.

They also reinforce something we have always believed. When you support people properly and give them the space to focus, better outcomes follow.

We are proud of the recognition. Even more proud of the people behind it.

Thank Your Cleaner Day gave us the chance to pause and say something simple and important: thank you.

Every day, JR&Co cleaners give their undivided attention to spaces most people move through as part of their routine. Offices, schools, cultural buildings and busy public places. Work done carefully, consistently and with real pride.

For us, this day reflects something we believe all year round. Cleaning done well depends on people feeling seen, supported and respected. When cleaners are valued, they do better work. And when they do better work, everyone benefits.

The video we shared captures a few moments of recognition. Nothing flashy. Just genuine thanks, shared face to face. Because appreciation does not need dressing up. It just needs to be meant.

To all our cleaners, thank you for your skill, your commitment and the undivided attention you bring to your work every day. We see it. And we are proud of it.

The temptation can be to view Health & Safety as a simple compliance exercise—a tick-box activity to satisfy the regulator. At our organisation, we see things differently. We believe that an uncompromising safety culture isn’t a cost overhead; it’s a fundamental pillar of operational excellence. 

At JR&Co, we champion “the power of undivided attention.” When our teams apply this level of focused commitment to their surroundings, quality naturally follows. This focus is the foundation of our culture and a reflection of the stringent operational discipline we apply to every task. Our Operations Director, Caroline Hutchins, recently distilled this philosophy into a simple, powerful reminder for our teams: “Don’t walk past.”

From Compliance to Commitment 

When discussing the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, most people know it places responsibility on the employer. What is often missed, however, is that the employee also shares responsibility for a safe environment. The legislation is designed to protect everyone—we all want to go home safe and sound, and we expect the same for our teams.
This is why we treat risk assessments and method statements not just as legal requirements, but as living documents. They are there to ensure that our teams, whether on a client’s site or in a corporate office, return home safely. It’s not about relying on regulations and checkbox exercises; it’s a proactive discipline. This commitment, centred around the individual’s dedication to self and team, is what truly elevates our service delivery. 

The most common incidents—the simple slips, trips, and falls—demonstrate that it is often the small details that carry the greatest risk. The habit of vigilance prevents these issues long before they become an accident. 

The Power of Reporting: A Continuous Improvement Engine 

Our “Don’t walk past” mandate is essentially a commitment to undivided attention and continuous improvement. We instruct every employee, from front-line staff to head office personnel, to report any potential hazard, no matter how trivial it seems. 

Why is this vigilance so crucial for our clients? 

When an organisation views every reported near-miss or minor hazard as a valuable data point, it transforms safety into an analytical, predictive tool: 

• Mitigation and Learning: Every report feeds into our central learning system, helping us see trends and patterns across sites, preventing minor issues from escalating into significant incidents. 

• Minimising Disruption: Accidents cause downtime, damage assets, and lead to service interruption. By enforcing proactive reporting, we reduce costly downtime, ensuring we remain a reliable and consistent partner to your business.  

• Operational Efficiency: A safer working environment means reduced sickness and less time spent on complex post-incident paperwork. This boosts our teams’ overall productivity and focus, meaning a more efficient and better service delivery for you. 

Consistency Over Complacency 

A genuinely effective safety culture is revealed in the actions taken when no one is looking. This requires an intrinsic sense of duty and a consistent approach to systems. 

We emphasise that safety is rooted in system consistency. Consider the humble wet floor sign: it’s effective only if it’s put out immediately when needed, and crucially, taken away the moment the hazard is gone. If signs are left out permanently, they become visual noise—people stop paying attention, and the system fails. Ultimately, safety signs and manuals don’t prevent accidents; safe people and robust systems do. 

By embedding this proactive, non-negotiable culture of “Don’t walk past,” we ensure that our personnel are constantly vigilant and responsible. This dedicated approach to Health & Safety is one of the most reliable indicators that we treat your business, your assets, and your people with the proper care. Safe people are disciplined people, and disciplined people deliver a higher quality of service. 

In a recent article for FM Business Daily, Caroline Hutchins (Operations Director) shared vital insights on why the wellbeing of cleaning teams must be fundamental to service quality.

It’s easy to talk about high standards, but consistently delivering them comes down to one thing: people. Caroline argues compellingly that when you put your frontline cleaning team first, the positive impact ripples through the entire service chain, strengthening consistency and boosting client trust.

Why ‘People-First’ is a Business Strategy

For us, cleaner wellbeing isn’t just a corporate social responsibility initiative; it’s the foundation of a reliable, high-quality operation.
As the article explores, investing in our teams through genuine recognition, support, and a sense of community is crucial for long-term retention and service excellence. Our Director highlights how initiatives—from our annual Summer Party to the JR&Co Stars Awards—create a culture where every person matters, and this appreciation shines through in the work they deliver.

Ultimately, we believe that when our teams feel valued and empowered, they can approach their work with focus and pride. That’s what high standards truly look like.

Read the Full Feature

We encourage all our clients and partners to read the full article to gain deeper insight into how we are embedding cleaner wellbeing into the heart of our operations.

Read “Putting People First: Why Cleaners’ Wellbeing Must Be at the Heart of FM”, on the FM Business Daily website here: Read the full article in FM Business Daily

At JR&Co, we know that genuine progress doesn’t happen by accident. It begins with attention — the kind that doesn’t drift, doesn’t cut corners, and doesn’t settle for good enough.

This year’s Sustainability Report reflects what happens when you give something your full focus. It captures a year of deliberate action and long-term thinking across emissions, waste, energy and social value.

As our Managing Director Chris Jarvis puts it, “Sustainability isn’t a destination we’ll one day arrive at. It’s a practice.” And at JR&Co, it’s a practice we’ve embedded into how we lead, how we work, and how we serve.

Highlights from the 2024 reporting year include:

• Achieving 95% electric fleet (100% achieved in April 2025)
• Remaining carbon neutral for the third year running
• A 44% reduction in total waste
• B Corp certification and a renewed commitment to net zero
• Continued investment in renewable energy and closed-loop systems
• Fair pay, structured development and recognition programmes for our people
• Ongoing support for The Felix Project and other community initiatives

These results matter but so does the intent behind them. Every figure in this report stems from a choice to do better. To act, not just promise. To focus, not defer.

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but more than that, we’re proud of the standard we now hold ourselves to.

📖 Read the full report ⤵️

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that JR&Co has won the highly coveted Environmental (ESG) Award at the annual British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) Awards!

The BICSc Awards recognise excellence, professionalism, and innovation across the cleaning industry, and we are immensely proud to have taken home the trophy for the our holistic approach to responsible cleaning.

The recognition by BICSc validates our continuous efforts to raise standards and deliver exceptional service and is a just reward for the dedication and commitment of every person at JR&Co.

Lauren Hanley, Business Support Services Director and ESG Champion said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It reflects the hard work and forward thinking that my team and I try to instil throughout the business. Thank you to Vânia Borges, our QSE Manager for her brilliant work, without her none of this would be possible.”

We extend our sincere thanks to our clients, partners, to BICSc and, most importantly, our phenomenal staff. This win belongs to all of you. Here’s to continuing to lead the way in responsible cleaning!