Fresh Desk is a purpose-driven cleaning company committed to enhancing health, wellbeing and professional development of works in the cleaning industry, another of our partnerships highlighted in Ākina’s 2023 Impact Report.

Fresh Desk, a purpose-driven cleaning company, is a certified Ākina impact supplier. As a member of a cleaner-centred collective, Fresh Desk is dedicated to enhancing the health, wellbeing, and professional development of people in the cleaning industry. Ākina has supported Fresh Desk, particularly in increasing its understanding of procurement processes, connecting them with the supplier community, and helping them to understand the opportunities within both government agencies and corporate suppliers that Fresh Desk can champion.

Working with a new legislative framework

Since 2020, social procurement has gained momentum within the sector, driven by the progressive procurement policies initiated by the New Zealand Government. These policies seek to address decent income, amplify supplier diversity, and ensure compliance with employment standards.

Cleaners employed by Fresh Desk experience superior outcomes in their health and wellbeing, financially and with training opportunities:

Living Wage:

Feeling valued at work and being fairly compensated makes measurable difference in wellbeing metrics, so Fresh Desk ensures that cleaners receive a living wage, enhancing their financial wellbeing and ensuring they can meet every day needs such as utility bills and medical expenses. Measuring workforce pay inequities in 2022, Pacific peoples at Fresh Desk were paid 1% more than non- Pacific peoples and women were paid 3% more than men.

Fresh Desk Commercial Cleaning staff member at work

Health and Safety:

Fresh Desk prioritises health and safety, and creating a safer and healthier work environment for their employees and their customers’ staff. Fresh Desk is an +IMPAC PREQUAL organisation, meaning their processes are externally audited for best practice in health and safety. Initiatives implemented by Fresh Desk include the introduction of colour-coded cleaning equipment to match international standards and reduce the risk of cross-contamination at customers’ premises, purchase and use of cordless vacuums to prevent trips and falls, running Health and Safety workshops with Dr Danae Anderson, lecturer in occupational health and safety at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University Wellington’s Te Kura Tātai Hauora School of Health, and running monthly Toolbox hui.

Professional Development:

Cleaners have access to professional development opportunities, fostering personal and career growth. Since 2015, 14 Fresh Desk team members have completed a New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning: Level 2 to develop skills in cleaning safely, cleaning methods, infection prevention and customer service. Additionally, one Fresh Desk team member has completed an NZQA Trainer and Assessor: Level 4 course that enables them to assess candidate performance, and another has completed a New Zealand Certificate in Business, First Line Management: Level 4 to develop skills in managing workflows and leading a team. The beneficiaries of Fresh Desk’s professional development programmes are regularly ‘vulnerable workers’ who face barriers to employment by belonging to at least one, often several, marginalised communities. The qualifications are formally recognised and the learners reported outcomes of feeling fulfilled and having more choices in their career.

Support from Ākina and Social Procurement Solution

Social procurement is the acquisition of goods, services, and works that also generate social, cultural, and environmental benefits. Our Impact Buyer Membership Programme and Impact Supplier Certification Programme are pivotal in advancing social procurement in Aotearoa. These programmes focus on educating buyers about the “why” and “how” of incorporating social, environmental, and cultural impact into their procurement decisions and processes; as well as making it easy to identify suppliers that are having impact through certification. The ultimate goal is to embed impact-led suppliers into these buyers’ supply chains and catalyse our certified impact suppliers into their supply chains. Organisations have the power to create meaningful impact through their procurement choices. Working as intermediaries, Ākina looks for opportunities to encourage value exchange with an impact focus and highlight areas of growth to build capability with impact buyers and suppliers.

Ākina is a leading advocate for social procurement in Aotearoa. Ākina actively works with and alongside buyers and suppliers in their impact journeys. Ākina worked with Fresh Desk to build their understanding of procurement processes and opportunities.

Deciphering the intricacies of social procurement

Ākina assisted Fresh Desk in deciphering the intricacies of procurement by providing educational resources, workshops, and guidance on navigating the procurement landscape. By arming Fresh Desk with this knowledge, they were better equipped to align their services with the requirements and values of socially responsible buyers.

Furthermore, Ākina connected Fresh Desk with a vibrant community of like- minded impact suppliers and buyers. This network not only expanded Fresh Desk’s opportunities but also fostered collaborations and partnerships that were mutually beneficial.

Conclusion

By embracing social procurement as a means of advancing health, well- being and professional development, Fresh Desk with support from Ākina has thrived, showcasing excellence in their field. Working collaboratively to better understand what Social Procurement means in our current economic climate, Fresh Desk has been a positive demonstration of commitment to social outcomes while leveraging learning from our capability programme.

This partnership is a testament to the incredible potential that lies within social enterprises and the impact that can be achieved when organisations like Ākina work hand-in-hand with dedicated and visionary social entrepreneurs.