Why Cleanial Must Be a Safe Place. A Personal Message From Me

I want to speak directly to my team, our clients and every business leader reading this.

Many of you know I am a gay man. It is not something I hide. It is not something I am ashamed of. But it is something that shaped me long before Cleanial existed.

I have worked in places where I did not feel safe to be myself. Places where comments were made that were not meant to be cruel but still cut deep. Places where I had to pause before mentioning my partner. Places where I felt I had to shrink myself to fit in.

Those experiences did not break me. They built the company I am proud to lead today.

Cleanial was created to be more than a cleaning company. It was created to be a place where no one feels the fear, hesitation or self doubt I once felt. A place where honesty is welcomed, where identity is respected and where every person knows they are safe.

This is why our Safe Place commitment is not just a logo. It is a promise.

What Safe Place Actually Means

You will have seen our Safe Place symbol. A home with a heart in the centre. It represents exactly what I want Cleanial to be.

A workplace where people belong, not just work.

And this is not just a statement. It is something we have built into the structure of how Cleanial operates.

Our Safe Place Initiative

Clear protections

Our anti discrimination policy explicitly protects sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment.This is not optional. This is how we work every day.

Real training for real understanding

Every team member receives full training that covers:

• Inclusive language

• Pronouns and gender identity

• Allyship and support

• Handling microaggressions

• How to correct mistakes respectfully

• How to support colleagues without fear of saying the wrong thing

• How to raise concerns safely

Many people have no issue at all with LGBTQIA identities, but confusion or lack of knowledge can still create problems. Not out of hate, but from uncertainty.

Our training removes that uncertainty. It gives people confidence. It gives clarity. It gives the tools needed to treat one another with respect.

When people know what to do, they do better. When they understand one another, they work better.

A confidential reporting system

Anyone in Cleanial can contact us privately using a secure form or email to raise a concern.Every report is reviewed, investigated discreetly, acted on and followed up.

• No judgement.

• No retaliation.

• No excuses.

Local and national support networks

We connect our team with trusted organisations including Out There Together CIC, Intercom Trust, Proud2Be, MindOut, Galop, FFLAG, X Plore and Devon and Cornwall Police diversity teams.

Being a Safe Place does not stop at our door. It extends into the community we serve.

Why This Matters for Cleanial

A safe team is a stronger team.A happier environment creates a happier team.A happier team is more productive, more loyal and more united.

When people feel safe to be themselves, they stop wasting energy on fear or uncertainty and start investing their energy into their work and their colleagues.

When they know their identity is respected, their performance grows.When they are trained well, they feel confident.When they feel supported, they stay.

By bringing all of this together, we have built an amazing team where everyone can be themselves. We celebrate that joy with them. We learn together. We grow together. It creates a stronger, safer and more constructive workplace for everyone, including people who may feel unsure about where they belong.

And to our clients, especially those within the LGBTQIA community, this is important for you to know:

Cleanial is a Safe Place. Cleanial is a safe company to use. We guarantee that.

A Message to Other Businesses

If you are a business owner or leader, I want to say this clearly:

This is not hard to do, but it makes a huge difference.

You do not need to have every answer. You just need to be willing to learn.And we can help you.

Cleanial now offers a full Safe Place Support Package which includes:

• The full Safe Place symbol

• Anti discrimination policies

• Inclusive language and pronoun guides

• Confidential reporting systems

• Step by step rollout and onboarding guides

• Real world training scenarios

• Staff allyship tools

• Community and support listings

• Templates for internal memos and team communication

We built this so other companies do not have to struggle or guess.If you want your workplace to be safer, kinder and more inclusive, reach out.

We will help you implement every step.

To My Team

Thank you for being part of Cleanial.Thank you for trusting our values.Thank you for making this more than a job.

You are the reason this company is what it is.

You are the reason people feel safe here.

You are the reason our Safe Place promise is real.

My door is always open.Privately, respectfully and without judgement.

Wayne Washbrook-Christophers

Managing Director