TOMORROW’S CLEANING MARCH 10
Advertorial:
Asset Skills: improving skills
in facilities management
and cleaning
A celebration of Women
restricted in numbers to enable providers to
and Work
gain significant benefit from their membership.
In April 2010, the Women and Work programme
We believe this will be reflected in improved
begins its fourth year. To mark this, a special
service and flexibility for employers.
event was held at Westminster celebrating its A paper outlining these plans has been
key achievements and the 16,500 women who produced. It will be available to view at
have gained meaningful work and rewarding www.assetskills.org but if you would like a
careers across a range of industries. copy sooner, either electronically or in hard
The Women and Work project was started in
From left, Chris Cracknell, Chief Executive of OCS and
copy, or if you would like to find out more
Chairman of Asset Skills, Richard Beamish, Chief Executive
2006 to tackle the under representation of
about the Virtual Academy pilot, please contact
of Asset Skills, and Baroness Elspeth Howe.
women in traditionally male-dominated
Steven Proudfoot or Karen Waterlow at Asset
industries. In cleaning, it was clear few women
Moves are underway to form a network Skills by emailing sproudfoot@assetskills.org
between FM employers and training providers
were progressing into management roles.
or kwaterlow@assetskills.org or phoning
designed to improve access to learning and 01392 423 399.
As the Sector Skills Council for cleaning, meet the needs of all parties.
Asset Skills was asked to run the programme
Barometer Survey –
We are also consulting on setting up such a
across the cleaning industry in England. To
latest findings
model in the cleaning industry.
date, more than 3,500 women cleaners have
Finally, the latest findings from the Asset Skills
been able to access leadership training that
The term Virtual Academy has been chosen
Barometer Survey show a quarter of cleaning
has led to more fulfilling careers.
because it is not the intention to create a new
employers actually increased the time spent on
facility but to utilise existing structures and use
training their staff during the recession.
The event at the House of Lords was attended by
technology to aid communication.
politicians, employers and key organisations
The rolling research programme surveyed 77
involved in ensuring the programme’s success.
Skills Academies currently exist in other
cleaning companies. Time spent on workforce
sectors and are recognised as delivery models
development had risen for 26% of respondents.
“The extension of this project for a further year
throughout the education world and by
“These findings show the cleaning sector
is excellent news for both employers and
government agencies.
recognises that a skilled workforce is crucial
women working in the cleaning sector,” said
to recovery,” said Richard Beamish. “Despite
Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset
A low bureaucracy project
The Academy is designed to be a low the downturn, they have managed to find ways
Skills (pictured middle, with Chris Cracknell,
bureaucracy organisation and will not require of focusing on their people as their number
Chief Executive of OCS and Chairman of Asset
significant start up funds. A modest one asset.”
Skills, and Baroness Elspeth Howe).
subscription will be charged to members and
To view the Barometer findings in full,
“The programme has equipped so many details are provided in the paper.
click on the following link:
women with the supervisory skills needed to
The learning to be piloted through the Virtual
move into management positions. It has also
www.assetskills.org/Research/Projects/
Academy will be sourced through a limited
given them added confidence and motivation -
Barometer_Questionnaire.asp
network of further education and private
workforce qualities that greatly improve
providers who we believe are committed and
For more information on any of the above
business performance.”
able to meet employer expectations. projects email info@assetskills.org or call
Virtual Skills Academy
The network will be constantly reviewed to
0845 678 2 888 (local rate call).
In other training related news, Asset Skills is keen
ensure those expectations are matched and we
to hear from employers in facilities management
will look to develop a quality mark over the first
on its plans to pilot a Virtual Skills Academy. 12 months. The network will however remain
The future of our cleaning industry | TOMORROW’S CLEANING |
51
ASSET SKILLS
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