Atkin's quest to improve industry image

Dateline: 26.01.2010
Author: Michael Parkinson

When Adam Atkin was presented with the Building Service Contractors' Association of Australian NSW branch 2009 Young Manager Award recently, it was appropriate recognition for a business professional who has spent his working life in the building service industry.

In evaluating nominations for the Award, the judging panel was looking for a candidate with broad industry skills, financial management ability and a demonstrated contribution to advancing the industry.

Commenting on attributes needed to his Award, the Linway NSW general manager said his early start in diverse areas of the industry gave him a solid grounding.

"A part-time position with TBM in Newcastle doing grounds work at the Williamtown RAAF base, then cleaning and progressing to area management showed me there was a career in the industry. About 12 months later the company was bought by Prestige Property Services, considered by many to be pioneers of the cleaning industry. These formative years in the industry encouraged me to move forward," Atkin said.

That period introduced him to many of the business and industry values that have helped develop his career. Managing clients with office buildings, industrial sites, commercial buildings and retail centres was an invaluable experience.

"Since then I have added nursing homes, hotels, five star resorts, hospitals and schools. In fact there would be very few areas of the industry I haven't been involved in at some stage."

Atkin emphasises that hospital cleaning is a highly specialised industry segment, as it requires knowledge and training in infection control processes.

"This market is probably one of the most challenging areas for which I have been responsible and demonstrates our industry has reached a high level of professionalism and left the days of 'mop and bucket' well in the past.

"A young manager today has to be skilful across the whole spectrum of the industry - managing people on the ground, operations and financial elements. You also have to be innovative and open to fresh ideas," he emphasises.

In terms of contributing to the industry, Atkin believes he has been fortunate in being able to influence industry policy by serving six years on the BSCAA board as well as a two year term as president of the New South Wales branch.

"It was a significant part of my career as it involved many industrial relations issues. I am also proud to have been one of the people who pushed for Excellence Awards to give an incentive for both personal and corporate improvement within the cleaning industry.

"It always concerned me that our industry was regarded as a team of mop and bucket people when in fact, it was providing an extremely valuable service.

Better skills make a better industry. I recognised that it made sense to encourage education within the industry and reasoned it's better to compete with another professional organisation than one that is not."

Atkin was instrumental in arranging costing and estimating courses. "Some argued this helped our competitors, however it's all part of growing the professionalism of the industry by assisting smaller companies cost their services and retain margins that enable them to grow," he notes.

Progressive attitudes are needed to take our industry into the future, says Atkin. "We've come a very long way as an industry but we still have a long way to go to dispel negative perceptions. I would like to my legacy to be a contribution to an improved public perception of the industry.

"The cleaning industry has given me incredible experiences. For example, I am deeply involved in the financial management of an orphanage in South Africa and this community activity takes me there regularly. An extension of my South African involvement and cleaning industry background has led me to conduct cleaning industry training to help develop their industry - a very satisfying experience.

"I believe what takes to be a Young Manager Award Winner is a mix of experience, professionalism, dedication and sharing what the industry is about. It's also about encouraging people and fostering those ideals within the industry as well as inspiring people to join.

"I'm also very passionate about the industry. I love it and am proud to work with great people. If you love your work and it genuinely interests you, it becomes your passion and this translates to success," concluded Atkin.

Atkin's quest to improve industry image