Partnering for Success: Swiftclean’s Journey with a Hertfordshire Independent Girls’ School
In early 2024, Swiftclean embarked on a partnership with a prestigious independent girls’ school in Hertfordshire, one of the oldest educational institutions in the country. Catering to students aged 2 to 18, the school sought reliable water system monitoring after experiencing dissatisfaction with five different water service providers over the span of seven years.
Building a Collaborative Relationship
The collaboration began when the school reached out to us, expressing a clear need for effective water system management. During our initial meeting with the Premises and Health & Safety Manager, it became apparent that the absence of schematic drawings for the entire water system—encompassing outlets, thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs), and various other components—was a pressing issue that needed to be addressed. This became our first focused task.
From the outset, our approach was rooted in transparent communication. We made it a priority to introduce several members of our team to their staff, fostering a sense of familiarity so that when they answered the phone, it was not just about business, but about building a supportive partnership. Our office-based Legionella Services Manager established a strong rapport, while our Sales Manager maintained regular contact through WhatsApp messages, ensuring that the lines of communication were always open.
To further enhance our collaboration, we provided customised training on how to utilise our online portal, which hosts all their reports. This user-friendly platform has empowered the school to access crucial information easily.
Navigating Challenges Together
The school’s large and dynamic campus operates all year round, with its facilities serving as accommodation for foreign students during term breaks. This constant activity presents a unique challenge for us: there is rarely any downtime for maintenance work. To effectively address this, we work closely with the Premises and Health & Safety Manager to schedule our tasks during periods that will least disrupt the daily school activities.
Preventing the growth of Legionella bacteria is paramount, and our regular monitoring of water quality plays a critical role in achieving this. Each month, we conduct temperature checks on hot water sources and outlets, alongside essential tasks like water sampling, cleaning showerheads, servicing TMVs, and inspecting and disinfecting cold water storage tanks. By strategically deploying one or two surveyors to visit the school for several days each month, we ensure our time is utilised effectively.
Positive Outlook
Our Sales Director, Matt, shared his reflections on the school partnership: “I’m delighted with the progress of the contract. Each member of the Swiftclean team has gone above and beyond our customers’ expectations. Communication is crucial to this contract, and as we have been working there for some time now, we are becoming increasingly efficient.”
As we look ahead, our commitment to excellence in service and strong communication will continue to be the foundation of our partnership with this remarkable school. Through collaboration, understanding, and a collective focus on maintaining safe water systems, we are excited to support both the school and its students in their pursuit of education for years to come.
