A Rotherham cleaning and schools catering expert has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Kim Phillips, who has worked at Rotherham Council since 2005, received an MBE for her work supporting communities within the borough, including during the COVID-19 crisis.
Kim, who is Head of Catering & Facilities Services, is responsible for the cleaning of schools, community and civic buildings, as well as school catering, crossing patrols, and caretaking services.
Along with colleagues, she was responsible for the setting up of the Lateral Flow Test Centre at Riverside House and has been called upon through-out the Covid crisis to participate in national webinars as a cleaning expert.
She was elected the National Chairperson of the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service organisations (ABCD) four years ago and is a member of the British Cleaning Council where earlier this year she was elected through a vote of cleaning industry peers to take one of the six Director roles on the Council. The Council has recently set up an All Party-Parliamentary Group (APPG) to lobby for greater recognition of the role of the cleaning industry and the operatives who undertake the front-line workers.
Kim said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award for public service which has been my career and my life. I am one of hundreds of employees across the country who have endeavoured to fight the pandemic and keep everyone safe and I would like to dedicate the award to all the unsung front-line heroes who have maintained a positive attitude in the face of adversity, which is just as important to success as ability.”
Rotherham Council’s Chief Executive Sharon Kemp said: “I would like to congratulate Kim on this well-deserved achievement. Since joining the organisation 16 years ago, Kim’s contribution to the Council has been invaluable. As well as helping to shape our own approach to catering and facilities management, and representing her peers at a national level, she has been instrumental in helping us to support the Covid response and in championing our work with children and young people.”
The Leader of Rotherham Council Cllr Chris Read said: “I am delighted the Queen’s Birthday honours have recognised Kim. Throughout the pandemic, she has worked above and beyond in the efforts to keep the public and staff safe. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication public service colleagues have shown over the past two years, and Kim’s award is thoroughly deserved.”