The cleaning industry remains resilient and committed to innovation despite persistent challenges and cost pressures, according to new research from Robert Scott. “This year’s findings show that the sector remains determined and forward-thinking, despite facing economic pressures.”
 
According to the research, the rising cost of doing business is the biggest challenge currently facing the UK cleaning industry.

Nearly 90% of cleaning professionals surveyed said that the rising cost of doing business had the greatest impact on their operations in 2025. This represents a more sustained challenge than originally anticipated, with the figure more than 17% higher than last year. Over 85% also believe it will remain a significant factor in 2026.
 
The survey revealed an increase in negative views on the political environment, with inflation and political or policy uncertainty both scoring 29.7%. Political uncertainty for the coming year increased further, to 35.71%.
 
When asked about the impact of the new government on the cleaning industry, close to 60% of respondents said it had been negative or very negative.
 
Over 97% said the increase in Employer National Insurance contributions had had a serious impact on day-to-day operations, while 82% cited the increase in the minimum wage.
 
Looking at the impact of the rising cost of living, over 70% said customers were spending less overall, with more than 30% reducing investment in larger purchases. Over 75% said customers were seeking better value for money, while more than 39% reported that customers were looking for solutions that reduce costs in areas such as workforce.

Despite these pressures, sustainability continues to play a critical role in shaping the industry’s future. Over 87% of respondents confirmed the importance of sustainability, with supplying more environmentally friendly chemicals cited as the top priority by more than 61%.
 
Product effectiveness was highlighted by over 53% of respondents, while more than 51% cited understanding the environmental impact or carbon footprint of cleaning products as a priority.
 
While reducing plastic waste remains an important issue, only 48% cited it as a priority this year, down from 60% in 2025.
 
The research also highlighted that only around one third of customers are still prepared to pay more for eco-friendly solutions, underlining the need for businesses to balance sustainability with value. Indeed, demonstrating value for money was identified as the biggest overall trend for 2026 by more than 40% of respondents.
 
Alastair Scott, sales director at Robert Scott, commented: “The cleaning industry has always adapted to shifting market pressures, and this year’s findings show that the sector remains determined and forward-thinking, despite facing economic challenges. Cost pressures and policy changes are real, but it’s encouraging to see businesses responding proactively and continuing to seek smarter, more efficient ways of working.”

Another emerging area of innovation with the potential to deliver significant efficiency gains is robotics. When asked what they believed would be the biggest trend in the cleaning industry in the coming year, over 28% cited robotic cleaning, up from just 2% last year.
 
When asked how much impact robotics will have over the next five years, over 47% said it would have some impact, while a further 26% said it would have a significant impact.
 
“In response to customer demand, Robert Scott continues to expand its cobotics offering and has recently added the MT1 Max and MT1 Vac to its range,” says Alastair Scott. “The MT1 Max builds on the industry-first AI-powered scrubber dryer robot for large-scale environments, with improved location technology, slope climbing, rain avoidance and obstacle handling. The MT1 Vac delivers powerful, industrial-grade suction, capturing everything from fine particles to larger debris with close-edge cleaning.”

“This annual survey is not only about assessing industry views, but also an important way for us to measure our performance in an increasingly challenging marketplace,” adds Alastair Scott. “Over 97% of respondents rated our service in 2025 as good or great, up 6% from the previous year.”
 
“The research explored customer satisfaction levels with Robert Scott, and I am delighted to report that 100% of respondents rated our service as good or great, up from last year’s already strong score of 93%. We also achieved 100% scores for product availability and product recommendation, up from 95% last year.
 
“We are very proud that the industry rates our service and product availability so highly. However, achieving top scores does not mean we will become complacent. In the coming year, our focus will remain on delivering products that improve cleaning efficiency, reduce environmental impact and provide tangible value for our customers.”