The British Cleaning Council (BCC), the umbrella body representing the UK's cleaning, hygiene and waste sector, has elected a new chair and deputy chair.

Delia Cannings, who has served as deputy chair of the BCC for the past two years, takes over the chair from Jim Melvin.

She plans to continue with existing BCC priorities, as well as championing education and training in the sector and calling for Government to allow more Apprenticeship Levy funding paid by cleaning and hygiene businesses to instead be invested in industry initiatives.

The new deputy chair is David Garcia, who has been closely associated with BCC council for a number of years and is treasurer and vice-president of BCC member the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA).

During Jim Melvin's time in office, he drove the work of the sector's All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and the lobbying campaign for the recommendations in its report from last year to be accepted in full by Government. He will continue to lead on APPG work during Cannings' term in office.