It’s a time for festive cheer as Calabash takes the opportunity to thank staff for their hard work and dedication. We know that our skilled employees are our greatest asset and they have helped make 2023 a year to be proud of in supporting the bottom line of people, profit and planet. Facilities management teams from across the business have received chocolates and praise for a job well done as we reflect on our successes and gear up to take the business to the next level.
Since we were established in 1992, Calabash has committed to continuous business improvement, seeking to redefine what it means to be a responsible facilities management business. We have been on impressive growth trajectory and now employ more than 200 people who day-in-day-out exceed customer expectations.
Our dedication to driving service standards by embedding sustainable practice has seen Calabash go from strength to strength. In the last year, turnover has increased by around 10% and we have built on our impressive client base to increase our market share. The build up to Christmas is an ideal time to express gratitude and share gifts with the people who make it all happen.
Highlights for 2023 include the launch of the new Calabash website which will allow us to reach out to a wider market and better communicate our end-to-end facilities management offer. We have had fantastic feedback and are excited about building on the platform in the months to come.
Afterall, there is plenty to be shouting about. We have attracted no fewer than 19 new clients in 2023. Key achievements include winning a contract to provide cleaning services for Swiss sportswear brand On Running. Calabash is providing a range of cleaning services for the retailer’s Regent Street and Brushfield Street stores and the client was so impressed with the results that they gifted each member of our team a new pair of trainers!
Other notable new retail clients include Halcyon Gallery on 148 New Bond St, Italian luxury brand Moncler at Heathrow Airport, and jeweller David M Robinson at The Peninsula London. We are also serving clients beyond the capital. Be it retailers at Bicester Village, Charlotte Tilbury in Liverpool, or French Connections stores in Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle, we can now serve many of the UK’s major retail centres. That provides a competitive advantage and allows us to support retailers in expanding their store portfolios.
We are also taking the opportunity to reflect on our sustainability journey and celebrate progress to becoming an ethical and responsible business. 2023 has seen us start developing a robust sustainability strategy, action plan and road map and we are determined to be a force for good within the facilities management sector.
Our team is committed to finding new ways of working that support the triple bottom line of people, profit and planet. Calabash is leading the charge in using low impact high performance cleaning products. We also use techniques and equipment that reduce water and electricity consumption, saving our clients money whilst reducing their carbon footprint.
At the same time, we continue to put people first as part of our ESG credentials. From April 2023, we committed to paying The London Living Wage, an hourly rate of pay above that required by law to reflect the high cost of living in the capital. It is the only UK wage rate based on living costs and is voluntarily paid by more than 12,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.
By the end of 2024, we hope that clients will have agreed to pay every one of our employees the London Living Wage. Other sustainability actions for the coming months include continuing got develop our responsible waste management services and completing our baseline greenhouse gas emissions. We will then agree an emissions reduction plan, as well as continuing to invest in techniques and technology that help us minimise environmental impact.
So, here’s to a very merry Christmas and a whole host of new positive outcomes in 2024. Thank you to all those who have fed into Calabash’s success over the last 12 months and let’s continue working together for better outcomes for all.
Company No: 02764589 | Registered address: The Coach House, Powell Rd, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, United Kingdom, IG9 5RD | VAT No. GB609134553