Golden Service Awards 2026 Launches with Focus on Frontline Impact and Health Awareness

Kimberly-Clark Professional has officially opened entries for the 2026 Golden Service Awards, the UK and Ireland’s leading celebration of excellence in the cleaning and facilities management (FM) industry. With submissions accepted from July 14 through October 17, the awards mark a milestone in recognising frontline workers who play a vital role in making environments safer, healthier, and more sustainable.

Now in its 34th year, the biennial Golden Service Awards has become a hallmark of credibility and pride across multiple sectors. These include healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, leisure, and commercial offices. The 2026 ceremony is set for May 21 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Celebrating the People Behind Clean and Safe Spaces

At the core of this year’s awards is a deepened commitment to recognising the personal impact of cleaning and FM staff.

“At Kimberly-Clark Professional™, we believe in the power of people and in 2026, we are proud to once again honour the everyday heroes who make our world cleaner and safer,” said Craig Bowman, Commercial Director, UK and Ireland Kimberly-Clark Professional. “The Golden Service Awards return as a celebration of excellence, dedication, and the incredible impact of our industry, especially the individuals and teams who consistently exceed expectations not just in their work, but in the difference they make to lives and communities.”

That message resonates in an era when clean, hygienic environments have never been more essential. Frontline staff across FM and contract cleaning companies are the invisible backbone of hospitals, schools, transport hubs, and retail spaces. The pandemic heightened awareness of their critical role, and these awards provide lasting recognition of that contribution.

Putting Spotlight on Unsung Heroes

Returning for 2026 is the Going the Extra Mile Award, which was first introduced in 2022. This unique category highlights the exceptional but often overlooked efforts of cleaning staff whose work directly contributes to health, safety, and dignity in shared spaces.

By reintroducing this award, Kimberly-Clark Professional reinforces its mission to bring visibility and appreciation to roles that are traditionally undervalued, even as they are foundational to public wellbeing.

Aligning Industry Recognition with Health Advocacy

A standout element of the 2026 awards is a new partnership with Bowel Cancer UK. This collaboration signals a bold move to integrate public health advocacy into the FM sector’s flagship event.

Bowel cancer remains the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, with around 44,000 new diagnoses each year. Yet early detection dramatically improves outcomes. The partnership is part of Kimberly-Clark’s wider ‘Get Comfortable’ campaign, which encourages people to recognise and act on changes in their toilet habits.

The initiative underscores the critical role of washrooms as not just hygiene facilities but also potential early warning sites for serious health issues. The collaboration will include awareness-building and fundraising efforts throughout the Golden Service Awards cycle.

Industry, Media, and Sustainability Collaboration

The 2026 awards continue to benefit from broad industry support, with sponsors and partners returning to amplify the platform. Kärcher joins again as gold sponsor, Nationwide as silver, and Pearroc as bronze. New bronze sponsors include Numatic, B-Sure Installations and Recycling, and OdorBac.

Kimberly-Clark Professional’s long-standing alliance with the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA) ensures a sector-wide embrace of best practices, from product innovation to workforce development.

Media support from Tomorrow’s Cleaning, Facilities Management Journal, and Cleaning Matters guarantees wide coverage and cross-sector engagement, helping the awards remain central to the UK’s professional cleaning discourse.

Building Capacity for Award Entrants

To support the entry process, a webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 28. It will offer detailed guidance from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), which independently oversees the judging, and insights from Suzanne Howe Communications, CSSA’s Paul Ashton, and KeyEnviro’s Neil Fletcher. The session also introduces a ‘how to enter’ guide, aimed at levelling the playing field for both large and small cleaning operations across the UK and Ireland.

The Golden Service Awards’ 18 categories range from healthcare cleaning to sustainability-led facilities management, ensuring a comprehensive view of industry excellence. Judging focuses on consistent quality, innovation, measurable impact, and team morale.

A Broader Sustainability Context

The cleaning and FM sector has increasingly become a key player in sustainability strategy. From low-impact consumables to waste reduction in public buildings, the industry’s green credentials are under growing scrutiny. Events like the Golden Service Awards help showcase how operational excellence and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.

For Kimberly-Clark Professional, the awards are more than a branding opportunity. They reflect an ongoing investment in social impact, workplace dignity, and public health – values that align closely with the growing ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) expectations placed on FM providers by public and private clients alike.

Looking Ahead

As organisations across sectors seek resilient and responsible operations, the cleaning and FM industry’s ability to adapt, innovate, and care for its people will remain vital. The 2026 Golden Service Awards not only highlight that journey, they serve as a reminder of how critical – and how human – this work truly is.

To enter or learn more about the 2026 Golden Service Awards, visit:
https://www.goldenserviceawards.co.uk

Webinar registration is open at:
https://kcc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ryd0md9CTUm3Nj3Pk9fTGA