TOMORROW’S CLEANING DECEMBER 09
Being a manager in times of change
The Association of Building Cleaning Service
Providers hosted their Managers Day with FM
Guru on the 18th of November at Manchester All blocked up
United Football Club in Old Trafford, Manchester.
The fully attended event addressed issues
Cathay Pacific’s fleet of Airbus planes has
currently impacting managers who work for
been hit by a spate of mysterious toilet
or with Local Authorities.
blockages recently.
The day began with a stakeholder analysis, So much so that one flight from Riyadh had
as the attendees were encouraged to think
The fourth session dealt with improving to make an emergency landing in Mumbai
strategically in terms of current and future needs.
communication and marketing in the
when the crew discovered that none of the
The second session dealt with the increasing
workplace towards stakeholders and featured
plane’s 10 toilets were working.
requirement for managers to have a greater
useful tools, techniques, exercises and
commercial focus by locating and exploiting
action planning.
A solution has been found in the form of
opportunities around facilities management
new toilet pipes and yes, you guessed it,
The fifth and final session of the day dealt
as they diversify into other areas.
with change and positive responses to
deep cleaning. But it appears that the
After an enjoyable tour of the stadium’s
transition. The attendees were given several
blockages were not caused by the usual
facilities over lunch, the third session dealt
sources to follow up and informed of the
explanation. Staff often find medicine
with plenary awareness, as attendees were
importance of keeping positive through
bottles, clothing and even stuffed toys in
assisted in gaining an understanding of their
difficult times and upheaval.
the pipes!
position in relation to others. www.abcdsp.org.uk
Current training and funding issues
This is set to be a very difficult academic After April, Train to Gain will be funded by Apprentices may
year for colleges.
local development agencies. Up to April there well continue to be
The Learning Skills Council, which currently
are very little funds available but after April
funded wholly if
provides the money to colleges and training
colleges and training providers will have a glut
not partly. The
providers for Train to Gain, will cease to exist
of money to spend before July. Make sure that
apprenticeship for
at the end of March.
you are negotiating now with your local
cleaners consists
Train to Gain is a government initiative which
college to make the most of this money
of the Level 2 NVQ,
a certificate in Cleaning Principles, which is
aims to ensure that 80% of the workforce are
while it is available.
tested by an examination, and a Literacy
qualified to Level 2. Many cleaning companies,
Remember there are funds for all Level 2’s, so
level 1 and Numeracy Level 1. Again, talk to
local authorities and hospitals have taken
team leaders, customer service, administrative
your local college/provider to see if they have
advantage of this ‘free’ offer to up skill their
and catering staff can all benefit, not just your
the staff who are sufficiently skilled to provide
staff. Many organisations have been taken in by
housekeepers and cleaners. Insist on using a
these qualifications.
colleges and training providers who have not
provider that offers BICSc, to ensure you get
provided the training part of ‘Train to Gain’
Everybody knows the importance of training,
the best value out of the programme.
(the clue is in the title) but only assessment –
especially for cleaning staff.
this is not up-skilling.
After this year with the recession and a
In these challenging times, a knowledge of
A few colleges provide BICSc courses as part
possible change of government nobody knows
funding and developments will help you get the
of the preparation for NVQs and it is with these
if there will be a future for Train to Gain.
best deal for your staff!
that managers should be engaging. All NVQ’s
Hospitals and Healthcare Trusts should all be
can include the cleaning of high risk areas –
looking at the JIF funding which is for NHS
If you need more information contact
Are your providers staff qualified in control of
only. Investigate and find out what is available
Mary Schramm at mschramm@merton.ac.uk
infection? They should be!
in your area.
www.merton.ac.uk
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| TOMORROW’S CLEANING | The future of our cleaning industry
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