Making cleaning attractive
February 21st 2007 The main challenges facing the cleaning
industry are the recruitment and
retention of staff, coupled with an
increasingly competitive marketplace
and demand for high levels of customer service.
Making the industry an attractive career choice
has always been difficult, with stiff competition
from similarly paid jobs in other fields. Substantial
investment in training and defined career
pathways is needed to encourage take up as well
as retain existing staff.Asset Skills as the employer
led Sector Skills Council is continuing to work with
Professional Bodies, Trade Associations and
Employers to identify ways in which the cleaning
industry can raise its profile and become a more
attractive career proposition.
Asset Skills Specialist Adviser Bev Yates notes:“The shift
towards daytime cleaning will go some way to
removing the social stigma currently associated with a
career in cleaning, and encourage more people to
enter the industry. The use of daytime cleaning will
provide more structured and longer shifts, resulting in
a more substantial wage.”
The increase in member states joining the EU and a
continually transient migrant workforce means that a
large number of those working within the sector do
not have English as their first language. This makes the
development of communication skills and the ability
to work effectively within the office and customer
facing environment of paramount importance,
enabling companies to meet their clients’expectations.
One of the ways Asset Skills is helping to address this
issue is the pilot of a Basic Skills Ambassadors
Programme. The programme has been designed to
encourage users to learn basic skills within a cleaning
context, making coursework more relevant and
removing the pressure associated with a traditional
teaching environment.
Adult Language Literacy and Numeracy (ALLaN)
continues to remain high on the political agenda and
Asset Skills,working with others, has developed and led
the ALLaN forum. This forum promotes awareness of
the strong business drivers for improving “basic skills”in
the workplace, highlighting the potential for enhanced
performance and efficiency.
The impact of this programme is already being felt,
especially in the cleaning sector where employers have
recognised the value of investment in this area of skills.
The resulting increase in customer satisfaction, better
use of materials and reduction of errors is seen as a
major step forward in assisting employers to deliver
good service and enhance the profile and reputation
of the sector. At the same time, employees gain the
chance to improve their skills and their potential for
career progression.
The Pathway Card which was developed in partnership
with the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc),
the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA),
the British Cleaning Council (BCC) and Purple Passport
records an individual’s training programme and
achievements in an easy to use format. The success of
the scheme has meant that organisations outside the
industry are looking to develop similar models to cater
to their specific needs.
The increase in the use of modern technology, and
changes in working patters and customer expectations
mean many more challenges lie ahead for the cleaning
industry. By working with a variety of representative
bodies and employers Asset Skills is keen to ensure
that the right skills and frameworks are in place to
continue to drive the sector successfully forward.
For free advice on skills and qualifications issues,
contact Bev Yates on 07841 362 143 or via e-mail
byates@assetskills.org More articles from Asset Skills: | 
