Working Day: Bert Bourchier

Nov 26 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

BERT BOURCHIER is one of the directors of B&B Hygiene and Bromley Cleaning Services, based in Huyton.

He is involved in both businesses on a daily basis, ensuring his clients receive a professional and thorough service. This was his working day.

7.30am: Arrive at India Buildings in Liverpool to meet Theresa and Ann, my supervisors for our new cleaning contract at law firm DLA Piper. All staff are working hard and to schedule. Mike Dawson arrives at 7.50am, short meeting to arrange any special cleaning requirements throughout the rest of the day.

Next, as we clean all communal areas of the building, liaise with building manager Paul Harvey and my six staff. All satisfactory, can move on.

9.10am: Office at last, having picked up the mail on the way in. All lads in the warehouse busy packing cleaning materials for delivery to Mecca Bingo Halls and Grosvenor Casinos throughout the country over the next 10 days. Hot coffee and pass post onto Kathy, Nikki, Linda and Barbara. Carl is still working on taking this job from me.

9.50am: Meeting in office with Kathy confirming all delivery arrangements and stock for deliveries to Rank (Mecca Bingo Operator). She keeps me up to speed every day, which enables me to develop the company.

10.30am: Jobcentre Plus with Alan Harrison. He’s a labour market expert and we are looking for a mobile supervisor for Bromley Cleaning Services and Alan will source this for me (only problem he’s a staunch Liverpool fan). Can’t have everything.

Noon: Call into AJ’s on Wilson Road, Huyton, quick coffee, no sugar please.

1pm: Lunch with Pat Monaghan, co-owner of Education Advice Services, at bar chain Slug and Lettuce. We’ve to arrange COSHH and health and safety training for 60 cleaners from various schools throughout Liverpool, as we both believe strongly about the development of staff. This is one of my highlights within work, as I really enjoy the training and the banter from the cleaners. I then issue a certificate free for this service.

2.30pm: Had a latte to recharge my battery (been diabetic for 10 years).

4pm: Return to my office, check all my emails, respond to any enquiries from clients requiring advice on floor cleaning, etc. Check diary for the following day.

5.30pm: Close up for the day, back home and check all my personal e-mails, see if Everton have signed anyone (they are my great passion). Telephone Lisa Williamson, in Chester, to find out how my two-year-old filly Kathanikki Girl has been and is she ready to run (I need to organise my diary to be there).

7pm: Have dinner, followed by read of the Daily Post and then the Echo, and finally settle down to watch my favourite programme on TV – New Tricks.

10pm: Fourth and last diabetic insulin injection, and then off to sleep.