Corby disaster restoration firm sees surge in pandemic clean-up business from major firms

The Corby company has already had calls from huge national firms to help decontaminate buildings post-Covid

A Corby company that specialises in decontamination has sprung into action to help firms returning to work after Covid-19 lockdown.

White Knight Service Group uses a pioneering decontamination mist system that uses harmless processes to rapidly disinfect rooms including offices. Its SteraMist system was originally used to tackle weaponised anthrax in the USA, but is now also being used as part of Covid clean-up processes.

Since featuring in the Northants Telegraph at the start of the coronavirus outbreak, the firm has won several contracts with global companies who have been keen to eliminate any presence of Covid-19 to keep customers and employees safe.

The system uses mist to deontaminate buildings

They are also facing down competition from a number of firms that have sprung up and are using poisonous chemicals as part of the decontamination process.

Phil Edwards, CEO of White Knight which is based at the Corby Innovation Hub in Bangrave Road, said: “We are so pleased that more organisations are starting to understand the benefits of the SteraMist system – unlike most other ‘deep cleaning’ processes, SteraMist does not contain harmful chemicals such as ammonia or chlorine, which can cause respiratory and other health issues.

"Even without these chemicals, our system is more effective in getting rid of bacteria and viruses, disinfecting to surgical grades or in other terms, to 99.9999% effectiveness.

"The latest research from scientists across the world is suggesting that COVID-19 can not only be transmitted by coughs, sneezes and contaminated surfaces, but also by tiny particles that can be suspended in the air for many hours - it is thought that these particles may arise after talking.

MP Tom Pursglove recently visited the Corby firm

"As we use a very fine mist, it acts like a harmless gas and gets everywhere – it treats internal air spaces and it can even treat air conditioning and ventilation systems. Normal disinfectants simply can’t do this."

Since businesses started to return to office spaces, Phil says there has been a huge increase in unqualified companies providing 'deep cleaning', using products that contain ingredients including ammonia and chlorine which are found in household cleaning products.

He added: "It is ingredients such as these that have caused poison centres in the US and Canada to see significant increases in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic period. There was a 103 per cent rise in March 2020 compared to March 2019, according to the Canadian Federal Health Agency.

"As these chemicals are also commonly used in the UK, we expect that our poison centres will be seeing similar increases."

There are no poisonous chemicals in the process

The company recently welcomed Corby and East Northants MP Tom Pursglove to their premises so he could see their process for himself.

Tom said: "I was delighted to learn more about the enviro-forensic work at White Knight, and I’m grateful to Phil and Tracey Edwards and their team for such a comprehensive insight into their fascinating business, which amongst other impressive work, has been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 through its cutting-edge cleaning service.

“I have been extremely heartened to see that, like so many other businesses I’ve visited recently across Corby and East Northamptonshire, Phil and Tracey have risen to the enormous challenges that COVID-19 has presented, and have invested, adapted, and worked so hard to make their business even stronger.

“From the numerous businesses I have visited over the last few weeks, it is clear to me that business owners are emerging from this dreadful pandemic with a renewed determination to succeed. It won’t be easy, but I’m very proud to represent such a diverse business community who are showing such entrepreneurial skills and are putting in place initiatives around new working practices and driving extraordinary innovation. They will undoubtedly be at the heart of the national effort to ‘reboot’ and deliver our economic recovery and I congratulate all of them.”

The firm is offering firms in Northamptonshire a free decontamination survey. You can also get ten per cent off a SteraMist treatment by following the firm on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @WhiteKnightHQ. More information is available on the firm's website.