"We look at it as if we are cleaning our own home": Meet Imelda Hughes, who helps keep Parliament clean
Imelda Hughes (Credit: UK Parliament / Kelly Cooper)
6 min read
Imelda Hughes has been working in Parliament for seven years, rising early to clean the Chamber in preparation for the day ahead. In a Q&A with The House she describes how Parliament is not just a prestigious place to work, but a second home
How long have you been working in Parliament?
Seven years
What is your job role?
I am a cleaning supervisor for the House of Commons Heritage Cleaning Team. We prepare Parliament by cleaning the Chamber and rooms across the Palace so it is ready for the day’s sitting and business. If it has been a late night in the Chamber, we pick up the papers that Members have left. We are also responsible for cleaning the corridors and offices, including the Prime Minister’s office. As a supervisor, it is my responsibility to meet the needs of all staff and achieve high standards of cleaning. Cleaning heritage items is intricate and delicate work. All 24 people in the Heritage Cleaning Team have had specialist training in how to take care of everything.
All of my family are in the Philippines, but the parliamentary community and my colleagues fill that gap. With them, I can be my natural self
What did you do before you worked in Parliament?
I am from the Philippines where I worked as a researcher at the House of Representatives. After moving to the United Kingdom, I worked in various roles and was most recently a healthcare assistant before joining Parliament.
How did you find the job advert for working in Parliament?
A friend told me about the role and pointed me to the online application.
What made you want to apply?
I was really attracted to working in such a renowned and prestigious place. Working here feels like being a small part of history.
What were your first impressions of working in Parliament?
I was mesmerised by the beauty of the Palace and fascinated by the ongoings here. It truly is an interesting place to work.
Was it easy to get used to?
I am based in the Palace which is a huge building and easy to get lost in, as I am sure many others who work here can relate to! After my shifts, I roamed around the Palace to familiarise myself with the place and colleagues also showed me around.
What is your working schedule like?
I usually start at 6am, so we can prepare the Palace before the day starts.
Which areas do you mostly work in?
Primarily the Chamber, Speaker’s Office and in other Palace offices.
What are your favourite parts of the job?
We are surrounded by so many amazing heritage items at the Palace, and it is our privilege to look after them. We work closely with the Heritage Collections team to clean historic artworks, marble statues, furniture, carpets and sculptures. We even aim to clean every book in the library once a year – both inside and out!
Imelda Hughes (Credit: UK Parliament / Kelly Cooper)
Have there been any particularly tough moments over the years?
The pandemic was a difficult period because the way we worked changed massively. Our working patterns shifted, and we had a skeleton staff as members of the team had to self-isolate. We had to sanitise everywhere to make sure the working environment was safe.
The House was never empty, as we were one of many teams required to work in-person. But overall, we delivered the same standard of cleaning and went above and beyond to ensure the Palace and Chamber were clean. We showed great resilience despite the circumstances, and I am proud of our team for that.
How do you think the parliamentary community treats Parliament and its teams?
MPs are very respectful towards our team, greeting us in the morning and in general, appreciating the work we do. They and other members of the parliamentary community cooperate with us in keeping the Palace and their offices clean. This especially came to light during lockdown; many MPs came to thank us personally for our work during the pandemic.
How have the demands of your role changed over the years?
When I first started, my role primarily entailed general cleaning of the rooms in the Palace. Now the focus is more on working with the Heritage Collections team to preserve heritage items around the palace. As such, we are currently undertaking specialist heritage cleaning training so that we have the right specialist skills to protect the Palace – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – for the future.
How have you seen Parliament change over the years, if at all?
There has definitely been a greater appreciation shown for our work over the years, with people interacting more with our team. In 2021, my team won The Speaker’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Commons in recognition of our work during the pandemic.
Have you got any favourite anecdotes of working in Parliament?
We start bright and early in the morning – which in the winter tends to be when it’s dark – so we have a running joke in our team that there are signs of supernatural activity that occur in the Palace…
How far does your team socialise together inside or outside of work?
We work different shift patterns so it is hard to find time outside of work. But my team and I spend a lot of time together at work, like having breakfast together and celebrating each other’s birthdays.
Do teams on the estate work well together?
We are a supportive team and respect each other. Usually, our team and security are the first ones in the morning, and they make our jobs easier by giving us access to areas that need cleaning.
We work quickly and help each other, and we are trusted to do a good job. I make sure they all feel valued – I love my team and communication is very important. Everyone is very appreciative of our work, and I always share compliments and praise with my team.
Who are your favourite people on the estate?
All of the MPs are my favourites! But we have a particularly great relationship with the Speaker and his office. He really shows a lot of appreciation for our work and makes us feel like valued members of the parliamentary community.
What makes working in Parliament special?
I find this job challenging and enjoyable – there is always something to learn about caring for the different heritage items. I feel honoured to be one of the key workers here. We look at it as if we are cleaning our own home; we take the same amount of pride in our work. We’re helping to preserve this history for future generations.
What has kept you working in Parliament for so long?
The work and the people. I love my job and the fact that I get to contribute to the preservation of a historic building is so rewarding.
Could you describe what the parliamentary community is like to someone on the outside?
I see Parliament as my second home where I feel respected and valued. All of my family are in the Philippines, but the parliamentary community and my colleagues fill that gap. With them, I can be my natural self.
