Slough car washes awarded first accreditation in licensing pilot

Waves car wash and Pro Touch Valeting, both in Slough, Berkshire, applied for accreditation following a visit from the RCWS as part of a Home Office-funded pilot to test licensing for car washes. Both sites will now display an RCWS sticker and banner to assure drivers they will receive a fair wash when visiting.

The pilot started on 10 May with visits by the RCWS to 20 car washes in Slough with the assistance of the local council, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, and Thames Valley Police. The aim of the initial visits was to inform car wash businesses of the scheme and encourage applications for accreditation. These visits have been followed up with further communication with each car wash.

Teresa Sayers, managing director of RCWS, said: “These accreditations are a landmark in our goal to see car washes across the UK offer a fair wash for all – fair to their workers, their customers, and to the environment. Both of these car washes have proven to be adhering to the RCWS code of practice* in full and meeting their employment, environmental and premises obligations. Businesses in Slough have been very receptive to the scheme and we have other applications coming through, so I am sure these will be the first of many accreditations.”

Joanna Graham, chief executive of Waves Car Wash, added: “We fully support the RCWS and were very keen to gain accreditation as soon as possible. We hope that this scheme encourages other car washes in the area and more widely to ensure they comply with the law and that it also helps customers to make an informed choice about where they get their car cleaned.”

RCWS accreditation requires the operator to consent to trade and trading standards, financial transparency and corporate governance, providing safe and hygienic working conditions, protecting the environment, and compliant and ethical employment practices and prevention of worker exploitation.