Open letter
2nd June 2025
An Open Letter to:
The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister
The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Prime Minister
The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business & Trade
Dear Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary,
We are writing as employers in the UK facilities management (FM) sector — a vital part of the economy that supports hospitals, schools, transport systems, offices, local authorities and critical national infrastructure - to raise serious concerns about key elements of the Labour Government’s proposed Employment Rights Bill.
Facilities management is a major UK industry, contributing over £60 billion annually to the UK economy and employing more than 1.4 million people across a wide range of roles, including cleaning, security, maintenance, catering and front-of-house services. In comparison, the UK fashion industry is worth around £21 billion annually. Our sector ensures that buildings and essential services function safely, efficiently and sustainably. We are proud to provide steady employment to hundreds of thousands of people — many in entry-level, flexible, or part-time positions that serve as gateways into the workforce.
We share your ambition for a fairer, more secure labour market and welcome many of the proposals within the Employment Rights Bill — including measures to improve enforcement of existing rights, tackle exploitative practices and ensuring fair treatment for agency workers are all positive and commendable measures. These are values that many of us already uphold in our businesses, and we welcome efforts to level the playing field for employers who act in good faith.
However, we are deeply concerned that some of the bill’s provisions will have serious unintended consequences that could harm both good employers and the very employees that the bill seeks to protect.
Introducing day-one unfair dismissal rights will increase the legal and financial risk of taking on new hires and discourage employers from offering opportunities to individuals who need a first step, a second chance, or time to prove themselves – and further will discourage growth and reduce employment opportunities — especially in labour-intensive sectors like ours. Probationary periods are a vital part of responsible recruitment, allowing both parties to assess suitability before long-term commitments are made. This change will also encourage and increase the number of vexatious claims against employers, over-burdening an already overstretched tribunal system heavily weighted in favour of the employee
Meanwhile, introducing statutory sick pay from day one places a new, immediate cost on employers — especially in sectors like ours where staffing models are built around tight margins and stringent contracts. While we support fair and compassionate sick leave policies, the reality is that many SMEs simply cannot absorb this additional cost without significant impact. This additional burden will force some employers to reduce staff headcount or reduce their hours, turn down new contracts or even exit the market altogether. None of these outcomes will benefit our employees or our customers, many of who are public services.
Recent increases to employer National Insurance contributions have already placed a heavy financial strain on service-based industries like ours, despite warnings from the business community which have been largely ignored. At a time when inflation and operating costs are rising, this additional burden risks forcing employers to scale back hiring, reduce hours, or cut back on training and development opportunities for staff.
The facilities management sector is not dominated by large corporations; it is made up of thousands of SMEs that care deeply about their teams and communities. Most of us already go above and beyond minimum requirements. Yet we feel these changes risk penalising the good companies while doing little to deter bad players.
We urge you to consult more closely with employers, especially the thousands of SMEs in the FM sector and other labour-intensive industries, before finalising these proposals. We believe reform is possible — reform that supports worker rights, rewards responsible employers and sustains jobs rather than putting them at risk. We are ready to engage and help shape legislation that delivers lasting, balanced progress for the workers and the businesses that keep Britain running.
Signatures:
ABM, Zach Corbett, Head of Risk
ABN Contract Cleaners Ltd,Neil Shortman,Director
AIM Commercial Cleaning,Kola Odetayo,Managing Director
Always Responsive Commercial Cleaning,Chloe Stanforf,Executive Director
Andron FM,Cheryl Stewart,CEO
Aquilo Facilities Ltd,Daniel Dwyer,Director
Archway Facilities Ltd,Snezana Jackeviciene,Director
Ark Pest Control Ltd,Sarah Lancaster,Key Accounts Manager
Aspin FM Ltd,Warren Court,Operations Director
B2B Facility Solutions,John Zapata Restrepo,Managing Director
Bayleaf Facilities Management,Paul Babai,Director
Bellrock Group,Paul Bean,Advisor/Ex-CEO
Big Change,Richard Warley,CEO
Biovate Hygienics,Nick Winstone,Managing Director
Birkin,Susan Bartholomew,Technical Director
Brandall Facilities Management Ltd,Richard & Julie Allsop,Director
Brave Agency,Tony Conte,Founder
Bridge Recruitment,Daniel Robert Tanner,Director
Brooksure Ltd,Andrew Shore,Director
Business Leader,Alison Bolt,CFO
CAM Specialist Support Ltd,Sean Canty,Director
Caribbean Blinds UK Ltd,Stuart Dantzic,Managing Director
Carma,Jim Holland,CEO
Chamberlaine Cleaning Services Ltd,Morten Elstrup,Managing Director
Churchill,Charlotte Parr,Exec Director
Citrus Facilities,Daniel O'Brien,Managing Director
Clean Deep Services Ltd,Tatiana Hibberd,Founder
Cleaner Care Ltd,Denise Lardner,Managing Director
CleanEvent Services Ltd,Tomas Gronager,CEO
Cleanology,Dominic Ponniah,CEO & Co-Founder
Cleenol,Sam Greaves,Managing Director
Composty,Matt Guest,CEO
COREcruitment,Krishnan Wheeldon-Doyle,Founder
Corps Security,Michael Bullock,Chief Executive
Crystalcare Cleaning Services,Toby Jerman,Managing Director
CW Cleaning Services Ltd,Claire Wilson,Director
CWS Ltd,TJ Doyle,MD
Cynergi,John Goodwin,MD
D&D Recruit,Neil O’Brien,Managing Director
DALROD UK,Russell Eckert,National Network Manager
Dazzle Office Cleaning Company London Ltd,Simon Elias,CEO
DC Site Services,Scott Mason,Head of Operations
DC Site Services,Samantha Ingram,Senior Project Manager
Denma Cleaning Services,David Mason,Owner
DOC Cleaning Ltd,Jamie Bull,Joint Managing Director
Dynamic FM Consultancy,Jasmine Dell,Owner Director
Dynamic Resourcing Services Ltd,Syed Akthar Hussain,HR and Finance Director
E & A Cleaning Solutions Ltd,Immanuel El Sante,Director
EA-RS,Alan Wheal,Founder President
EcoClean & Property Services Ltd,Terence McDonald,Managing Director
Eikon Associates Ltd,John French,Founder
Equinox Partners,Michael Taylor,Owner/Partner
Euro Sanitation Machines,Neil Collier,Director
EverGrowth Group,Chris West,Owner & Founder
Evolved Ideas,Colette Wyatt,CEO
Extech Cloud,Andrew Hookway,Owner & Founder
Fidum Property Management Ltd,Simon Marshall,Director
Flexspace Management Ltd,Angus Wilmot,Facilities Manager
Foremost,Darryl Penson,Managing Director
Francis Wilks and Jones,Anthony Bull,Chairman
Fresher Finish,Thea Keith,MD
Futures Supplies and Support Services Ltd,Marc Kemp,MD
g2Gsolutions Ltd,Martin Bolton,Managing Director
Geda Services Ltd,George Wishart,Director
Green Facilities Management,Andreia Coelho,Head of Operations
Greenwood and Partners Recruitment Ltd,Tom Greenwood,Owner
GSF UK,Bryan Haley,Director
Guardian Cleaning Management,Ray Kydd,Operations Manager
Hako Machines Ltd,Sylvie Giangolini,Managing Director
Hello Recruitment Associates,Giles,Director
Hive Cleaning Ltd,Louis Beaumont,MD
Hooper Services Ltd,Ian Robert Hooper,Managing Director
Hygenie Ltd,Cosette Wright,Managing Director
Indigo Integrated FM Ltd,Phil Smith,Managing Director
Infinite Services Group,Nicola Lathbury,MD
Integra Cleaning Group Ltd,Clive Ravenscroft,Founder and Chairman
IPM Facilities Ltd,Mark Noakes,CEO
IT Cleaning Ltd,Stephen Yates,Director
Janitorial Express,Gary Fage,CEO
Jensten Insurance,Simon Henderson,Managing Director
Julius Rutherfoord & Co Ltd,Chris Jarvis,Managing Director
Kanso FM,Norma Bresciani,Owner
Kentklean,Leigh Thorneycroft,HR Director
Kentklean Ltd,Michael Dickenson,Managing Director
Killis Ltd,Tibor Killi,Managing Director
Liberty Hygiene Ltd,Scott Marshall,CEO
LNA 14 Ltd,Naomi Austen,Director/Owner
Louisa Fleet Recruitment,Louisa Fleet,Owner
Married to the Mop,Barbara Roberts,Owner
MDS Hygiene Support Ltd,Peter Blair,Managing Director
Merlin Environmental Solutions Ltd,Adam Juson,CEO
Minster Cleaning,Ian Hadley,Head of Operations
Mitie,Lee James,Solutions Director
Neil Johnson Cleaning Ltd,Neil Johnson,Managing Director
Newhall Janitorial Ltd,Stuart Powell,Director
Next Level Commercial Services Ltd,Drew Coulson,Managing Director
Nice Guys Group Ltd,Simon Barnes,Director
Nirvana Group,Darren Waitson,Group CEO
No Going Back Cleaning C.I.C.,Barrie Torbett,Chief Operating Officer
No Worries Commercial Cleaning Services,Joanne Hicks,Director
NuServe,Simon Duke,CEO
OCS Group,Josie Marshall-Deane,Regional Director
Ops in Action,Dax Goose,Director
Peartree Cleaning Services Ltd,Bradley Reames,Managing Director
Pink Hygiene Ltd,Barry Marsham,Director
Power Hygiene & Safety Products Ltd,David Woods,Director
Redsquid,Sohin Raithatha,CEO
Regular Cleaning Services Ltd,Julian Lingham,CFO
Right FM Ltd,Venesa Coodien,Managing Director
Rosewater Building & Office Services Ltd,David Walsh,Company Director
SBFM,Matt Chapman,CEO
Seeclear Services Group,Mark Judd,Managing Director
Service Sector Consultants Ltd,Lloyd Ansermoz,Founder and Owner
Servicemaster London,Vicki Corbett,Director
Shed Grounds Maintenance Ltd,Peter Botham,MD
So Clean Commercial Services Ltd,Nicholas Gasson,Managing Director
Soap2o,Jordan Hurley,Director
Soft Service Solutions Ltd,Adam Cowper-Smith,Director
SP Cleaning Ltd,Steven Edward Parker,Director
Spectrum Service Solutions,Rebecca Bell,Managing Director
Spotless,Roger Green,Chairman
Sweep Scrub Ltd,Gareth Emmett,Director
SWGC,Martin Galbraith,MD
TCMS Midlands Ltd,Michael Dainty,Director
TDS Commercial Ltd,Rona Tait,MD
Tech ICS,Shajjad Miah,Director
The Cheeky Panda,Chris Forbes,Co-Founder
The TDS Group Cleaning Services Ltd,Sam Cooper,Managing Director
Think FM Solutions,Malcolm Hills,MD
Thomson FM Ltd,Mark Whittaker,General Manager, IWFM Chair
Thoth London,Alan Hunte,Founder
Trevett Group,Andrew McMaster,Director
Truvox International,Gordon Robert McVean,Executive Director
UTCL,Graham McCarroll,Director
We Clean Ltd,David Harker,Director
WhiffAway Group,James Edward McLean,CEO
Yorkshire Cleaning Fabrics Ltd,Robert Wood,Managing Director