A leading figure in the cleaning and hygiene industry has been awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Buckingham Palace.
Kim Phillips is a Director at the British Cleaning Council (BCC), the National Chairperson of BCC member the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service organisations (ABCD), and Head of Catering and Facilities Services at Rotherham Council. She was recognised in the New Year’s Honours list in January for public service after supporting communities within the borough of Rotherham, including during the COVID-19 crisis.
HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, awarded the MBE to Kim Phillips, whose family joined her at the palace for the investiture ceremony on Wednesday, 11 October.
Kim said: “The whole day was a wonderful experience, and being able to share it with my family was a bonus now the pandemic restrictions have been lifted.
“When presenting the MBE, HRH The Princess Royal referred to my years of experience which must have helped if any staff were concerned during the pandemic. I discussed how positive messages, constantly updating instructions, and leading by example helped with building confidence for cleaning operatives working during, and with, COVID.
“I am honoured to receive this award on behalf of all of the frontline staff who work to keep everyone safe on a daily basis.”
With colleagues at Rotherham Council, Kim Phillips set up a COVID-19 Lateral Flow Test Centre in the borough, and she also shared her expertise on cleaning and hygiene in national webinars throughout the pandemic. Kim also helped prepare meals for children during school holidays, helping to pack 3000 school hampers for Easter with help from her family.
At Rotherham Council, Kim Phillips is responsible for the cleaning of schools, community and civic buildings, as well as school catering, crossing patrols, and caretaking services. She was elected National Chairperson of the ABCD, which comprises managers of building cleaning services employed by local councils, four years ago and became a BCC Director in June 2020.
