Washroom technician John ‘Badger’ Heritage from Carlisle Support Services has been recognised on the national stage after winning Individual Technician of the Year at the 2025 Loo of the Year Awards.
John collected the trophy at the annual awards ceremony, held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull. John cleans and maintains public toilets in the City of Westminster in London.
His bosses nominated him saying:
“John’s work ethic is exceptional. He consistently delivers immaculate, safe, and welcoming washroom environments, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment. In the fast-paced and high-demand setting of Westminster, his reliability and consistency stand out as truly remarkable.”
John is known for trying to help people who use public toilets even if they are experiencing difficulties in their lives. By his own admission, John had a difficult upbringing and led a wayward life until, as an older teenager, he decided to turn his life around and has worked ever since. He’s been in his current role for just over a year and his empathy has not gone unnoticed.
“One evening, when a colleague faced a challenging situation involving a group of youths misusing the facility, John didn’t hesitate to step in. He engaged them with empathy and honesty, sharing his own life experiences and encouraging them to make better choices. That conversation not only defused the situation—it changed it. The youths never returned to cause trouble and now greet John with respect and warmth,” said Stewart Smith of Carlisle Support Services.
“John’s impact extends beyond his immediate duties. He has received multiple commendations from the public, including emails to the council and glowing Google reviews. Local businesses have even expressed that his presence is so vital, they would escalate concerns to Westminster City Council if he were reassigned. His reputation is built not just on technical excellence, but on trust, integrity, and genuine care.”
The Washroom Technician of the Year Awards celebrate the people behind the scenes who care for toilet facilities every day. While the Loo of the Year Awards recognise the quality of washrooms themselves, these categories focus on the dedication, professionalism and pride shown by the individuals who maintain them. The awards are open to both in-house teams and external contract cleaning staff.
Speaking after the ceremony, John said the win was an emotional moment.
“I’ve never won anything in my life,” he said. “I’m incredibly proud of what I do and to be recognised for it means more to me than I can explain. Toilets are part of everyone’s everyday life and if I can help people, even in a small way, then that really matters to me.”
The Loo of the Year Awards have been recognising the very best of washrooms across the UK since 1987. Created to raise standards in ‘away from home’ toilet provision, the scheme assesses facilities against national benchmarks for accessibility, hygiene, repair and overall provision. Today, the Loo of the Year Awards, now in their 39th year, are widely regarded as the established standard for washroom quality and compliance.
The 2025 awards attracted more than 1,500 entries from businesses and organisations across the UK, all of which agreed to receive an unannounced inspection. Facilities are judged against 101 criteria including cleanliness, accessibility, customer care and overall presentation.
This year’s overall winner was St David’s Dewi Sant shopping centre in Cardiff, which was judged to have the best washroom facilities in the UK.
The awards are run by Becky Wall BEM and her husband Charles Wall and aim to recognise excellence not only in facilities, but also in the people who keep them running to the highest standard.
For more information visit: https://www.loo.co.uk/