Hackney schools and children's centres are set to benefit from a new cleaning services framework, designed to provide better value for money and improved working conditions for cleaning staff, including ensuring payment of the London Living Wage. The Hackney Procurement Board approved the commencement of a tender exercise for the framework at its meeting on 9 December 2025, aiming for a maximum contract value of £6 million over four years. The tender exercise is scheduled to commence with the publication of the Tender Notice on 24 December 2025, with the contract commencement planned for 01 August 2026.

The framework, which will appoint a single provider, seeks to streamline cleaning services across the borough's educational institutions. It is designed to relieve the administrative burden on individual schools, allowing them to focus on education rather than procurement. The initial term will be two years, with the option to extend for two additional years in annual increments. The measure of success for the framework is that Schools and educational establishments are able to purchase quality cleaning in an easy and compliant manner that represents value for money.

According to the Public Reports Pack, the framework aligns with the Mayor's Manifesto pledge for a bright future for every child and young person.

The Hackney Procurement Board considered several alternative options before settling on the single-supplier framework. These included:

  • Doing nothing: Rejected due to potential disruption to schools.
  • Supporting schools to undertake individual procurements: Rejected as too resource-intensive.
  • Calling off an existing framework: Rejected as it would limit schools to national suppliers.
  • Multi-supplier framework: Rejected as impractical due to commercial viability concerns.

The framework will include mandatory and scored Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to cleaning standards, human resources, costs, problem management, health and safety, and sustainability. The Hackney Schools Cleaning Framework Business Case outlines that a key aim is to improve working conditions for locally employed workers, ensure payment of the London Living Wage, and embed social value and sustainability outcomes within the contract. Payment of the London Living Wage is a mandatory requirement of the framework. The framework will also require the contractor to recognize active worker representation and have a whistle blowing policy.

The service specification will set out a range of environmental sustainability related deliverables relating to cleaning services. This will include the impact of cleaning products used on the environment, minimising the use of single use plastic and recycling initiatives. The specification will also encourage the provider to promote local employment in order to to reduce C02 emissions as a result of staff travel. Sustainability requirements will be incorporated into the evaluation criteria and supported by supplier reporting on chemical usage, equipment efficiency, water consumption, waste generation, and continuous improvement in carbon reduction.

The council's Education Property Team is also developing an in-house cleaning service for schools as an alternative to the framework.