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AFR’s #1 Best Place to Work: Why Cleancorp Took the Top Spot in 2025

Written by Lani Johnson | April 14, 2025

From Mops to Medals: How a Cleaning Company Became the Best Place to Work in Australia

Imagine this.

You’re scrolling through LinkedIn and see another headline: “Startup X raises $30 million in Series B funding.”
Next one: “Tech company Y offers four-day work weeks and yoga on rooftops.”
And then this:

Commercial cleaning company Cleancorp just ranked #1 Best Place to Work in Australia and New Zealand in the Professional Services Category by the AFR.

Wait, what?

Yes. That’s real. That’s us. We’re a cleaning company - an industry often overlooked when it comes to flashy headlines or glamorous workplace perks. But that’s what makes this win mean even more.

The Award That Changed Everything

This year, Cleancorp was named the No.1 Best Place to Work in the Professional Services category by The Australian Financial Review.

And if that wasn’t surreal enough, we also received the Bendelta Generating Award - an honour given to a company that creates real, purpose-driven opportunities inside and outside of traditional careers.

That’s two massive wins. For a company built on brooms, buckets and belief.

So, How Did a Cleaning Company Beat Out the Big Names?

Let’s answer the question everyone’s asking:

“What does it actually take to be the best place to work?”

Spoiler: It’s not ping pong tables or catered lunches.
It's not a flash office in the CBD.
And it’s definitely not hype.

What it takes is simple, but not easy:

  • Putting people first.

  • Building a culture that truly listens.

  • Creating meaningful career pathways in unexpected places.

At Cleancorp, we’ve always believed in something better. A workplace where people feel seen, supported, and valued.

We built this business around the question: How do we get 1% better every single day?
And that’s led to something powerful. A culture where everyone counts. Where your voice matters. Where you’re not just another number.

What Makes Cleancorp Different?

Let’s break it down. Why did Cleancorp earn these awards?

1. We Create Careers Where Others See Jobs

In an industry often associated with high turnover and low recognition, we doubled down on career development.

  • Clear pathways for growth

  • Ongoing training and upskilling

  • Real conversations about what’s next

Because cleaning isn’t a dead-end job. Not here.

2. We Build Culture From the Inside Out

Culture isn’t a poster in the break room. It’s what people feel day to day.

We invested in the “invisible” stuff:

  • Listening sessions with staff at every level

  • Monthly check-ins and feedback loops

  • A focus on wellbeing, flexibility, and inclusion

This isn’t lip service. It’s leadership.

3. We Generate Opportunities Beyond the Job

That’s why we won Bendelta’s Generating Award - for sparking opportunities beyond just employment.

  • We connect our team with industry mentors

  • Help them explore skills for life and work

  • Encourage side passions and new possibilities

We don’t just care about what you do at Cleancorp. We care about who you become because of Cleancorp.

 

Why Should This Matter to You?

You might be reading this as a business leader wondering:

“What does a cleaning company winning this award have to do with me?”

Here’s the thing: this isn’t just our story. It could be yours too.

Whether you lead a team of five or five hundred, one truth remains:

When you back your people, you build something unbreakable.

A great workplace isn’t about hype, it’s about humanity.

If a commercial cleaning company can win Best Place to Work in Australia, what’s stopping you?

Let’s Redefine What a “Great” Company Looks Like

This win proves that the so-called “unsexy” industries (cleaning, logistics, trades, admin) are rising.

And we’re not just participating. We’re leading.

We’re proud to say:

  • We’re ISO-certified (9001, 14001, 45001)
  • We’re a B Corp, meeting the highest standards of social and environmental accountability
  • We’re innovating with chemical-free, sustainable products
  • We’re building a workplace where people are the product

No flashy PR campaign. No billion-dollar valuation. Just a group of people committed to doing the right thing, every day.

What Does This Mean for Our Clients?

You’re not just hiring a cleaning company.
You’re partnering with a team who:

  • Shows up because they want to

  • Works with pride and purpose

  • Feels seen, heard, and invested in

And that shows up in every polished surface, every completed task, every satisfied customer.

Great culture creates great outcomes for everyone.

A Final Word to Our Team

To the people who show up early, stay late, care deeply, and never stop improving:

You ARE Cleancorp.

This award? You made it happen.

Thank you for proving that you don’t need a flash title to lead.
You just need heart.

Want to Work With an Award-Winning Team?

If you're a business leader looking for a commercial cleaning partner who actually lives their values, you're in the right place.

If you're someone looking to work somewhere that sees your potential and invests in it, you're definitely in the right place.

Because at Cleancorp, we don’t just clean buildings... we build cultures.

And we’re just getting started.

Ready to work with (or for) Australia’s #1 Best Place to Work?

Contact us today and discover what happens when purpose-driven culture meets 30+ years of commercial cleaning expertise.