Dish It Dirty Podcast

Episode SummaryIn the first-ever monthly industry roundup on the Dish It Dirty Podcast, David Revell breaks down the biggest stories shaping the cleaning and hygiene sector in May 2026. From major leadership changes at the CHSA to industry recognition at the Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards, this episode highlights the people, organisations and achievements making headlines across the industry. CHSA appoints its first permanent ChairNick Thompson's vision for the future of the CHSALorcan McEtarian recognised with Life Vice PresidencyThe impact of CHSA accreditation schemes on industry standardsWinners from the 2026 Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service AwardsRecognition of outstanding cleaning companies and individuals across the UKWhy industry standards, professionalism and recognition matter more than ever00:00 Introduction to the first monthly industry roundup01:15 CHSA appoints Nick Thompson as its first permanent Chair04:30 Nick Thompson's background and priorities for his first 100 days07:15 Why CHSA accreditation schemes matter to the industry09:00 Lorcan McEtarian awarded Life Vice Presidency11:30 Lorcan's legacy and leadership through COVID-1915:00 What Lorcan's recognition means for the industry17:00 2026 Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards19:00 Healthcare, Education and Office Cleaning Award Winners22:00 Retail, Hospitality and Manufacturing Award Winners24:30 Sustainability, Social Impact and Diversity Awards26:30 Cleaning Team, Supervisor and Operative of the Year29:00 Why industry recognition matters31:00 Final thoughts and June previewKey Topics Covered:Podcast Chapters

In Episode 2 of Dish It Dirty Podcast, David Revell sits down with Ali Sharp — one of the cleaning & hygiene industry’s most impressive emerging commercial leaders.Ali’s journey is anything but conventional.Starting out in agricultural commodities trading during the 2008 financial crisis, he developed a deep understanding of markets, pricing, supply chains and commercial decision-making before moving into the cleaning & hygiene sector with Kimberly-Clark Professional and later WEPA Professional.During his time at WEPA, Ali helped grow the UK & Ireland business from roughly £1M to £8M in just 3 years, helping build distribution from scratch during one of the most volatile periods in modern business history:COVIDBrexit disruptionEnergy crisesSupply chain chaosInflation & global instabilityIn this episode, we discuss:How WEPA built national distribution from the ground upWhat separates average salespeople from elite performersLeadership, autonomy & accountabilityThe importance of processes, data & attention to detailAI and how it’s changing commercial decision-makingWhy transferable skills matter more than industry experienceThe changing state of the cleaning & hygiene marketIf you work in cleaning, hygiene, catering, facilities management, packaging or B2B sales — this episode is packed with practical insights.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Introduction & Ali Sharp’s background02:00 – Agricultural commodities & trading04:30 – Understanding markets & supply chains07:15 – Entering the cleaning & hygiene industry08:15 – Joining WEPA during COVID10:30 – Growing WEPA from £1M to £8M12:00 – Building logistics & distribution14:00 – Marketing & brand awareness18:30 – Kaizen & continuous improvement22:30 – Building distribution partnerships28:45 – The ‘3 P’s’ framework35:30 – AI, data & sales45:00 – Leadership & autonomy52:00 – Building culture & teams1:00:00 – The state of the hygiene market1:05:00 – Commodity selling vs innovation1:08:00 – Final thoughts & lessons

In the very first episode of Dish It Dirty, David Revell sits down with industry heavyweight Mike Revell—former Managing Director across multiple major businesses within the cleaning, catering and food packaging industrys and founder of the UK’s largest catering and hygiene buying group, the Socius Network.With nearly 40 years at the top of the sector, Mike breaks down what’s really happening behind the headlines.From geopolitical conflict to collapsing supply chains, rising costs, and broken legislation, this episode explores the forces quietly reshaping the cleaning, hygiene, food packaging, and hospitality industries.You’ll learn:Why the current global conflict could trigger major product shortagesHow supply chains unravel (and why recovery takes months—not weeks)The real impact of inflation, energy costs, and EPR legislationWhy hospitality is under more pressure than everWhat separates businesses that survive vs. those that collapseLeadership lessons from decades in high-pressure marketsWhether you're a distributor, manufacturer, or operator—this is a raw, unfiltered look at what’s coming next.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to the podcast & industry focusOverview of the sector and why it matters globally 00:34 – Meet Mike RevellCareer background and industry credibility03:20 – 40 years of change: what’s shifted most?Technology, data, and decision-making evolution05:30 – The pros & cons of modern tech in businessSpeed vs. pressure and information overload07:26 – The global conflict explained (and why it matters)Oil, supply chains, and economic ripple effects09:00 – Shipping chaos & supply chain breakdownsWhy disruptions take 6–12 months to fix11:00 – Product shortages (gloves, materials, manufacturing)What happens when supply simply disappears14:00 – How businesses should respond right nowCost control, stock management, and tough decisions17:00 – Inflation, hospitality struggles & market pressureWhy pubs and restaurants are under serious threat22:00 – Is there any opportunity in this chaos?Timing vs. risk in uncertain markets26:00 – Price increases: how to handle customersCommunication, strategy, and reality checks29:00 – The hidden killer: EPR legislation explainedWhy it’s broken and damaging compliant businesses40:00 – The future of hospitality & changing behaviourWhy younger generations are reshaping demand44:00 – Growth areas: home delivery & hygiene sectorWhere the opportunities actually are50:30 – The talent problem in the industryWhy young people aren’t entering the sector59:40 – Leadership lessons from decades at the topTeams, strategy, and decision-making under pressure1:06:20 – The one thing businesses forget: VALUEWhy it matters more than price1:09:30 – Closing thoughts & final takeaways