Press Releases

24 Results Found

CWA SUPPORTS NEW FAIR WORK AGENCY TO COMBAT MODERN SLAVERY IN NON-COMPLIANT HAND CAR WASHES

17/10/2024

The Car Wash Association (CWA) strongly supports for the government’s proposal to establish a Fair Work Agency aimed at enforcing workers' rights and addressing illegal employment practices. This new agency, as part of the Employment Rights Bill, will consolidate various enforcement bodies under one umbrella, empowering them to take decisive action in high-risk sectors like non-compliant hand car washes.

CAR WASH ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS GOVERNMENT’S ACTION ON ILLEGAL WORKERS

22/07/2024

“In a modern society, there is no place for modern slavery. We welcome the Government's initiative to target businesses employing illegal workers in car washes. However, it is disappointing that it has taken so long to address this well-documented issue.” said Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association (CWA).

HAND CAR WASHES A HOTBED FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, SAYS CWA

13/06/2024

"Non-compliant hand car washes, that vastly outnumber legally operated sites, are blatantly disregarding employment laws, with minimal enforcement from the relevant authorities. When employment laws are ignored, people suffer. These hand car washes, many of which only accept payment in cash, are often a hotbed of modern slavery and other illegal activities, such as money laundering and tax evasion. The continued lack of action on this issue empowers these criminals and endangers lives." said Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association (CWA) in response to recent Home Office figures showing that hand car washes racked up almost £2.5m in civil penalties last year.

CWA COMMENTS ON THAMES WATER’S ONGOING CHALLENGES

22/04/2024

"As the Thames Water saga drags on, the company is ignoring its responsibility to keep our environment clean,” said Gordon Balmer Executive Director of the Car Wash Association, commenting on the latest Thames Water’s latest issues.

CAR WASH ASSOCIATION COMMENTS ON RIGHT TO WORK OFFENCES

26/02/2024

Data from the Illegal Immigration Unit at the Home Office showed that 78 hand car washes across the UK had been fined a total of nearly £1.5 million for ‘right to work’ offences in the first nine months of 2023. Brian Madderson, Chairman of the Car Wash Association (CWA), said: “It is disappointing that even in the face of blatant violations of the law, the Government is still unwilling to crack down on illegal hand car wash operators."

LATEST SAFE CAR WASH APP REPORT RAISES CONCERN FOR CWA

02/08/2023

Commenting on the newly released data from The Clewer Initiative's Safe Car Wash App, Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association (CWA) said: “I am deeply concerned to see the report highlighting the widespread exploitation taking place in hand car wash businesses, especially as a third of all reports submitted through the app raised significant concerns regarding modern slavery and exploitation. The shocking 127% increase in the number of high-scoring reports referred to the Modern Slavery Helpline (MSH) compared to the previous 6 months is alarming.

CWA COMMENTS ON BBC MODERN SLAVERY INVESTIGATION

27/07/2023

"It is very positive to see the BBC taking on the crucial task of exposing modern slavery and creating awareness about this pressing issue. We are pleased that the material we provided contributed to their in-depth research. We remain available to provide guidance and insights on this urgent matter that we have been tirelessly working to bring to public attention,” said Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association (CWA)

CWA WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

13/07/2023

The Car Wash Association (CWA) welcomes the Government’s recent announcement of new legislation to tackle environment offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

CAR WASH ASSOCIATION COMMENTS ON THAMES WATER’S FINANCIAL ISSUES

29/06/2023

Commenting on the unfolding situation at Thames Water, Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association (CWA), said: “It is concerning to see that one of the UK’s largest water companies is experiencing financial difficulties on this scale. This, in conjunction with hosepipe bans being announced by other water companies, is a stark reminder of the importance of conserving water.

CWA EXPRESSES DISAPOINTMENT WITH FAILURE TO ACT OVER MODERN SLAVERY

23/05/2023

Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association, said: "It is astonishing that non-compliant hand car washes remain unregulated and operating illegally in plain sight in 2023."

CWA URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO CRACK DOWN ON EMPLOYMENT LAW ABUSE

04/05/2023

Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association, said: “Modern slavery is often practised in broad daylight, with non-compliant hand car wash operators openly flouting employment and environmental regulations with total impunity.

CAR WASH ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO £42BN HMRC GAP

12/01/2023

Responding to the Public Accounts Committee’s 2020-2021 HMRC performance report, Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association, said: “It is unacceptable that the Government is asking people to make responsible financial decisions when the Treasury itself is owed an astonishing £42bn in unpaid taxes. "

CWA ENCOURAGES AWARENESS ON ANTI-SLAVERY DAY

18/10/2022

Sixteen anti-slavery organisations have joined forces to mark Anti-Slavery Day 2022, on Tuesday October 18 with unregulated, non-compliant hand car washes highlighted as a key area of concern.

Petrol Plaza interviews the CWA

09/09/2022

Alexander Russell the CWA's Director of Strategy has just been interviewed by Petrol Plaza discussing how the industry has overcome the unregulated hand car wash crisis, the current growth in the automatic wash segment and some of the biggest trends today.

CWA URGES CAR WASHES TO MINIMISE WATER CONSUMPTION AS UK HEADS FOR A DROUGHT

10/08/2022

The Car Wash Association (CWA) has written to the heads of major water suppliers in the UK, the Environment Agency and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to explain what measures our members are adopting in order to minimise water consumption in car washes.

CWA EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH THE OUTCOME OF NCA’S OPERATION AIDENT

15/07/2022

Following extensive lobbying, the CWA has welcomed the National Crime Agency’s announcement to direct greater focus on non-compliant hand car washes (HCWs) to crackdown on modern slavery.

CWA endorse the Government’s decision to establish a Single Enforcement Body

16/06/2021

The Car Wash Association (CWA), who have lobbied extensively on the matter, are delighted that the Government is sticking to its manifesto pledge by committing to create a Single Enforcement Body that is responsible for ensuring employment rights are being respected.

Car Wash Association launches new website

27/05/2021

After many months of hard work and dedication, the Car Wash Association (CWA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new website.

RMI Chairman congratulates Brian Madderson on his lifetime achievement award

11/05/2021

At the Forecourt Trader Awards, Brian Madderson, Retail Motor Industry (RMI) Director and Chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) and Car Wash Association (CWA), was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gordon Balmer appointed as Executive Director at the Petrol Retailers and Car Wash Associations

05/05/2021

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) and Car Wash Association (CWA) have announced that Gordon Balmer has been appointed as their Executive Director and Retail Motor Industry (RMI) Board member. He joined the PRA in 2014 and has served as its Commercial Manager.

Ian Paisley MP endorses PRA/CWA call for automatic car washes to reopen immediately

15/03/2021

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) and Car Wash Association (CWA) have called for automated car washes, which include roll-overs and self-serve jet washes, to be allowed to re-open immediately in Northern Ireland.

The CWA welcomes Welsh Government decision to allow automatic car washes to open

02/02/2021

The Office of the Welsh First Minister published an updated review of the Covid-19 regulations (29/01/21) which stated: “automatic car washes will be listed alongside petrol stations and garages as allowed to open to provide legal clarity”. The Car Wash Association (CWA) had previously written to the First Minister (07/01/21) to request that automatic car washes (ACWs) be allowed to remain open during the latest national lockdown.

CWA urges Scottish Government to allow automated car washes to open

07/01/2021

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) and Car Wash Association (CWA) continue to lobby the Scottish Government regarding the closure of Automated Car Washes.

Automated car washes to remain open in new lockdown

05/01/2021

The Car Wash Association (CWA) and Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) represent the 5,350 independent forecourt operators and specialist car wash companies across the UK. This covers 65% of the total fuel outlets (PFS) with more than 50% having high-quality Automated Car Washes (ACW).