Tarem Services Limited
Tarem Services Limited (Tarem) is a social enterprise company that has been driving social impact in the UK since 1999. It was founded with the support of a Prince’s Trust grant and with a critical mission: to tackle in-work poverty and inspire social value across the UK. By recognising the work of cleaners and service staff to be crucial for urban life, Tarem is committed to elevating their status, ensuring they receive the respect and living wage they deserve.
Since 2006 Tarem has sharpened its mission even further concentrating on work landscape transformation for cleaners and service personnel and acknowledgement of their indispensable role in our society. Moreover, Tarem Services proudly stands as a guardian of the environment, using eco-friendly products and waste reduction techniques. The social enterprise also extends its impact beyond the direct services by engaging in different initiatives that combat in-work poverty and promote social welfare.
The partnership with Zurich Insurance UK
For over 100 years, Zurich has been providing a suite of general insurance products in the UK, covering business, casualty, motor, property and travel insurance, life insurance and pensions products to individuals and corporate customers. Zurich employs over 4,500 people in the UK and its offices are based across a number of locations with the head office in Swindon.
Aiming at becoming one of the most responsible businesses globally, Zurich is committed to providing products and services with a positive impact on lives and society: from using 100% renewable energy in the UK offices, to supporting different social causes through financial and non-financial programmes.
Zurich outsources its Facilities Management for the UK locations to CBRE (Global Workplace Solutions.). Through this partnership Zurich encouraged them to explore opportunities to work with Tarem as part of their subcontractor model providing cleaning to the London office. Together Zurich and CBRE supported Tarem in getting preferential rates for consumables. As Tarem was a small company with a limited scale of purchase incomparable to other big cleaning companies, it was challenging for the enterprise to achieve this alone.
Partners also supported Tarem in building KPIs, developing management information and growing its business significantly. Originally just a small London based business, Tarem is now providing cleaning services for Zurich offices in London, Croydon, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Whiteley, Farnborough and Chichester. Tarem has won multiple new contracts with Zurich as a client, and Tarem’s partnership with Zurich and CBRE received the “Shaping a Better Future” Award in 2023.
“When Zurich commenced their contract with CBRE, Tarem Services supported our London Office for cleaning, as the contract progressed we've supported Tarem to expand to Croydon, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Whiteley, Farnborough and Chichester, showing a fantastic business growth for a Social Enterprise cleaning business.”
- Louise Sheppard - UK Head of Workplace Services & Security - Zurich Insurance
“This partnership exemplifies our mutual dedication to fostering social value. By providing fair living wages and ensuring safe, dignified working conditions, we are directly tackling in-work poverty. Moreover, we’re reinforcing our commitment to environmental sustainability by offsetting the carbon emissions generated through this contract, marking a critical step towards a sustainable future.”
- Titus Komolafe, Managing Director, Tarem Services Limited
The Impact
Carbon Footprint: Offset 8 tCO2e through the verified Carbon Standard (VCS) reduction project.
Employee Strength: 10 employees are working at 7 Zurich sites
Monthly Profit Sharing: 10 employees who have been with Tarem Services for up to 6 months, own company shares and were paid the monthly profit share of £1,280
