14forty and LSS help keep attendees safe at COP26

FM provider 14forty, via its leisure arm LSS Facilities Management (both part of Compass Group UK & Ireland), was the cleaning contractor at COP26 – The UN Climate Change Conference 2021.

This year, the event took place at at Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus (SEC) with almost 40,000 delegates in attendance from nearly 200 countries including American President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Over the course of the 14-day event (31 October – 13 November), 14forty and LSS were responsible for all cleaning activities across the venue, which were critical for mitigating ongoing Covid-19 risks and keeping visitors safe and healthy.

As each delegate meeting finished, teams of specialist cleaners were mobilised to sanitise surfaces and clean the rooms before the next meeting, a big logistical task considering the numerous and varied meeting chambers.

14forty and LSS cleaned and sanitised touch points such as door handles, washrooms, windows and security trays. They were also responsible for the provision and replacement of consumables, such as hand sanitiser and toilet rolls.

As each day ended, another team of operatives descended on the venue to thoroughly clean and reset it overnight, ensuring it was ready for another day of negotiations.

Mauro Ortelli, MD at 14forty, said: “We worked closely with our colleagues in LSS, ensuring we jointly facilitated a smooth, seamless workflow at COP26. The importance of the event, not to mention the world leaders and VIP guests, meant that keeping it as clean and as Covid-secure as possible was essential. I am pleased to say that we delivered, so I’d like to say a big thank you to all of our dedicated, hardworking employees.”

Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said there was “no sign” of any significant spike in coronavirus cases associated with COP26.

Lee Moody, managing director of LSS, said: “We were already the cleaning contractor for the SEC and its sister venues, Hydro and Armadillo. So, we were delighted to win the additional three-month, one-million-pound contract for the additional temporary structures and negotiating rooms that housed COP26.

“We established cleaning methodologies, recruitment and retention processes, training, equipment, uniform and health and safety procedures to deliver a safe and hygienic event space at COP26 in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Our staff were magnificent and indeed we were mentioned in a thank you letter to the SEC from the Prime Minister, so truly amazing feedback!”