Innovation and focus on sustainability key to sustained partnerships

OCS Australia is delighted to announce it has renewed its contract with global product and PPE supplier Bunzl, acknowledging the benefits of fostering collaborative partnerships with like-minded companies.

Bunzl has been OCS’ primary supplier of cleaning consumables and equipment, as well as PPE for their facilities management and cleaning teams since 2019. They’ve been instrumental in keeping Australia’s Covid-19 frontline work-ready.

Responding to evolving challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic has required OCS to act decisively and fluidly. They’ve had to keep their frontline team safe at all times while also working swiftly to keep Australia’s public spaces and places safe, clean and hygienic.

Bunzl has risen to the challenge, rapidly responding to shifting needs and supplying high-quality materials, while providing innovative solutions to everyday problems.

OCS Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, Gareth Marriott, says the decision to extend the supplier agreement with Bunzl has been an easy one.

“We have cemented our partnership with a shared focus on sustainability, as well as a joint desire to innovate and create a better industry for everyone.

“Notably, our partnership has seen the Bunzl team thoroughly audit and ratify imported and local products and alter delivery activity to reduce carbon emissions.

“They have also worked closely with our teams to customize training of our team to ensure site hygiene and cleanliness, and personnel safety meet the highest standards.”

Mr Marriott says regular communication has ensured a continuous supply of stock and specialised products during the pandemic.

“The Bunzl team has developed a true understanding of the shifting needs and requirements of our customers.

“Our work with Bunzl truly reflects our Partnership Made Personal brand promise and we look forward to helping the relationship reach new heights in the future.”

Bunzl Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Lance Ward, says Bunzl is excited to continue its work with OCS.

“A shared purpose and similar core values have been the defining factors of this successful partnership with OCS.

“As a result, we have seen some real movement in achieving our sustainability targets and assisting our customers to do the same. We’ve been able to leverage the power of our global technologies and innovative systems to provide the most efficient results.”

OCS secures three-year contract renewal with Perth Airport

Perth Airport’s decade-long partnership with OCS Australia has seen the renewal of their cleaning contract for three more years, ensuring passengers will continue to enjoy the highest hygiene standards at one of Australia’s busiest airports.

OCS’ team of cleaners and sanitation workers have been on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and have worked diligently in the past two years to keep thousands of travellers coming through Perth Airport safe and hygienic.

OCS Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, Gareth Marriott, says the contract renewal also provided an opportunity to value-add for Perth Airport.

“Our trusted partnership with Perth Airport over the past 10 years has given OCS the insights to ensure any issues are immediately addressed. The renewal of our contract also gave us the opportunity to incorporate maintenance services delivered by our building repair and maintenance business, Midcity, adding another layer to our services for Perth Airport.”

Perth Airport Chief Operating Officer Scott Woodward says, “It’s great to have a partner who is aligned to our values and focused on our people and the airport users. It has been a challenging two years and OCS has continued to support and add value across the Airport”.

The OCS Perth Airport International Terminal sanitising team were also named the OCS Australia & New Zealand 2021 Annual Stars for their expert care and attention, and for their work on one particularly complicated and specialised sanitizing treatment following a high-risk repatriation flight.

Gareth says OCS looks forward to this next phase in its partnership with Perth Airport.

“Above all, we want to acknowledge the exceptional work being done by our onsite teams who continue to create a five-star experience for every visitor, passenger and staff member who walks through Perth Airport’s doors.”

New General Manager for OCS Australia

International facilities management company, OCS Australia, welcomes Stephen Lockley to the role of General Manager Australia.

Steve is an experienced people leader with strategic management experience across both soft and hard services, including cleaning, integrated facilities management plus mechanical and electrical.

He has worked across multiple sectors, managing services in healthcare, manufacturing, retail, remote sites, corporate, government, utilities and education.

His recent senior management experience has included roles with Ventia in Australia and New Zealand, ISS in Asia, and Sodexo in Australia.

Gareth Marriott, Managing Director OCS Australia and New Zealand said the new role was testament to the company’s focus on growing the Australian arm of the global business.

“Australia is an important strategic market for OCS. We have been operating here since 1998, growing to more than 350 sites across the country while delivering the same quality service and family values that our founders set back in 1900.

“Steve brings with him strategic strengths to support and grow our market share across key sectors and assisting in driving our acquisition strategy. He has the depth of experience we need to continue to innovate, to excite our customers and deliver quality solutions.”

Steve Lockley said he’s excited about joining the OCS family and working with the Australian team.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the team and our many clients and working together to deliver quality solutions and great service.” Steve said that he believes that “there is currently a real opportunity in the market and having the support an international company will help to accelerate profitable growth across multiple business sectors”.

Steve joined OCS Australia on 24 January 2022.

Leading the way – OCS goes carbon neutral

OCS has achieved ToitĹ« carbonzero certification across both its Australian and New Zealand businesses, becoming the first Australasian company of its type to receive this certification. The milestone was published in the company’s recent 2020 sustainability report.

Since 2017, OCS has worked closely with Toitū Envirocare to accurately measure its operational greenhouse gas emissions and put in place strategies to manage and reduce its carbon footprint each year, achieving Toitū carbonreduce certification in New Zealand for the last two years.

OCS Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Gareth Marriott, says “OCS Australia has been working with ToitĹ« Envirocare to audit our Australian carbon emissions with the aim of bringing Australia into line with New Zealand, through achieving ToitĹ« carbonreduce certification.

“We decided to fast-track our plans by taking the next step in our sustainability journey to become carbon neutral. Our goal is to ensure OCS is a business which is in harmony with our environment, setting an example for other facilities management services businesses around our region and the world.”

Carbon neutrality is an aspirational goal and OCS recognises that avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions in their entirety is almost impossible. Given this, they took the step to purchase verified carbon credits.

“Decarbonising our entire business to reach carbon neutral is a major step towards meeting our strategic business objective of being the most environmentally sustainable business in our sector by 2030.”

Sustainable Business Council (NZ) Executive Director, Mike Burrell, says “2020 was characterised by uncertainty and challenge, particularly for those trying to combat climate change and move from climate advocacy to action.

“This makes OCS’ many commitments in this space even more pleasing.

“Achieving ToitĹ« carbonzero certification in both Australia and New Zealand is a major accomplishment and demonstrates OCS’ commitment to carbon reduction and the Paris Agreement.

“These actions help deliver a strong message to many others in the sector to follow suit.”

OCS’ sustainability programme is aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement’s 1.5-degree pathway and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Read the OCS Australia and New Zealand Sustainability Report 2020 here.