Pre Brexit, there were concerns across the sector that there would be a shortfall in staff as historically UK Nationals have chosen not to join the sector and that has proven to be the case. The British Cleaning Council believes we will be one of the industries that is hit hardest by problems in the recruitment process and the situation is worsening daily when now more than ever the importance of cleaners should still be at the forefront of all our minds.

Despite the cleaning sector having a presence in Parliament and the hard work being recognised by the PM during the height of the pandemic, changes in our immigration system effectively classes Cleaning Operatives as unskilled workers so how do we go about changing the perception of the cleaning industry and encourage UK Nationals to pursue a career in the sector?

Honestly, few people dream of a cleaning job and most fall into the industry but there is a lot to be said for a job in the sector, it’s not just about the cleaning, it’s about Health & Safety, Quality Management and Social Responsibility plus other skills and knowledge and offers job security too.

Some cleaning companies can find themselves with notoriously high employee turnover but this may be more about the company than the people they recruit.  Here at USS the majority of our staff have been with us for many years and we put that down to the training and development opportunities we offer to our staff, the flexibility to work full or part time with hours to suit, recognition of good work and achievements and a higher rate of pay compared to the industry average.

Interested in finding out more about working for USS and the opportunities available, call the office on 020 8669 4377 and a member of the team will be happy to help.

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Both sectors face a number of misconceptions, such as low pay, unsociable hours and lack of career progression however we are keen to change this perception and that is why we are delighted to announce that we have signed up to a voluntary ‘Hospitality Commitment’ led by People 1st International.

People 1st International are an employer led skills and quality assurance expert who are also part of Workforce Development Trust, a not for profit organisation cultivating ultimate workforces.

‘Our Hospitality Commitment’ is a code of conduct with the following points:-

• Training and development for all staff
• Work-life balance
• Job rotation
• Holidays approved or rejected in a timely manner
• Rotas and shift patterns issued in a timely manner
• Staff recognition
• Regular feedback
• Respect
• Employee assistance support available
• Mental health, human trafficking and modern slavery awareness available to all

If you’d like to know more about working for us, contact the office on 02086694377.

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It is unfortunate that all too often cleaners are held in low regard despite the vital role they place in business.

Remember first impressions count and it is your cleaners that keep the place spotless and looking good for your customers and workforce.

It is important that as a country we realise the worth of our cleaning operatives, it will ultimately lead to greater productivity, reduced staff turnover and higher loyalty.

Here at USS all of our operatives have contracts of employment are employed on a permanent basis, we are not an agency offering temporary work and we don’t believe in zero hour contracts.  We pay above minimum wage and positively encourage our clients to pay the Real Living Wage and all of our staff have access to free in-house and online personnel development and training.

So if you’re looking for a reputable cleaning company that cares for its staff and appreciates their worth to be associated with, why not give us a call today on 02086694377 to find out more about our full range of services.

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Cleaning, especially in public places remains a necessity and is good for business, in fact despite the economic uncertainty that comes with a Deal or No Deal Brexit, the contract cleaning industry is thriving contributing over £24billion to the UK economy.  

This said, there is still a lot of competition when bidding for new contracts meaning that cleaning contractors have to offer more than just the best price, we believe communication is key.

We live in a world where unfortunately due to digital technology, interpersonal and social skills are deteriorating. One recent survey of 2000 millennials showed that 80% of them prefer to converse remotely, 65% do not feel comfortable engaging with someone face to face and 62% dread speaking to clients on the phone.

USS buck against this worrying trend and embed people skills across our workforce. Our training programme actively encourages our operatives to communicate and engage with our clients and each other, we also have an open management structure and our Managing Director Paul Vincent is a familiar face to all of our staff giving them the confidence to liaise at all levels and adapt and add value to the services they provide.

So if you are looking for an approachable cleaning company that you can communicate with, look no further, whether it be window cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning, deep cleaning, marble/granite cleaning, back of house or front of house cleaning why not give us a call today on 020 8669 4377 and one of our members of staff will be happy to speak to you.

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Recent research indicated that 12% of cleaning companies struggle due to a lack of skilled staff and furthermore 68% of companies say that the skills issue is having an impact on their business and the potential consequences of this cannot be underestimated.

Lots of companies however are investing heavily in in-house training and external training courses and USS is no exception to this.  At USS, all new starters are enrolled on a comprehensive training program, further training modules and on-site training is provided throughout the course of the year and an annual refresher training course is undertaken by all staff.

Figures show that across the industry 60% of staff receive training and this is a much improved percentage on years gone by and the cleaning sector scores above the national average for training investment within the commercial sector which may be surprising to some but more still needs to be done.

In conjunction with the industry’s in-house programmes, the British Cleaning Council recognises that there is only so much that can be delivered without vocational training and have introduced a programme called Level 35 which looks at how more young people can be introduced to the cleaning industry and a Creating a Career in Cleaning campaign whose aim it is to empower potential and existing cleaning operatives to attain their career aspirations.

Cleaners are rarely noticed and yet contribute so much to the health and wellbeing of staff and customers by helping to create a clean and hazard free environment and as with any other commercial business, promotional opportunities and managerial positions are there for the taking.

So let’s change perceptions of the industry, encourage young people to consider a career in cleaning and hope that the government realise the importance of vocational training within the cleaning sector.

The post Cleaning Industry Skill Shortage appeared first on Unique Cleaning Services.

The reputation of the industry is that of low skilled and low wages.

The truth is though, that cleaning companies are really are taking a key interest in ensuring their employees are trained properly in order for them to offer a professional service in an ever evolving industry.

Recent data highlighted that over the past 12 months, there has been an increase of 175% in training courses being completed along with a 10% rise in overseas training so it is a global industry wide improvement that we are happy to see.

The cleaning sector contributes greatly to society e.g. employing millions across Europe, driving up standards, innovation and sustainability and with few barriers stopping people from working in the industry this means a growing number of job opportunities.

All of our staff are trained as a minimum on the following topics within one month of starting work with us with annual refresher courses:-

Manual Handling / COSHH / Fire Safety / Hand Hygiene / Personal Protective Equipment / H&S Awareness / Sharps Awareness

The post Cleaning Up Perceptions appeared first on Unique Cleaning Services.

Wednesday was this year’s Thank Your Cleaner Day and despite cleaning being a profession, the perception of our industry still has a long way to go before it is perceived as a professional industry with professional staff.

Cleaning is an essential service for the efficient and professional appearance and running of every building whether it be a hotel, a shop, a school or an office and with cleaning comes health and safety.  Reliable and regular cleaning reduces the risks of bacteria and infection spreading and is a necessary preventative measure if we are to keep our clients, customers and staff feeling well.

Here at USS, we are passionate about our industry and our staff.  All of our employees are treated with dignity and respected for the hard work they do especially those that work unsociable hours. 

We ensure that all of our staff are provided with a uniform, the right equipment to carry out their tasks efficiently and regular training.  Dedication and hard work is recognised with promotional opportunities being offered internally before recruiting externally and we have an open door policy for all staff should they wish to discuss new ideas or have an issue they would like to discuss.

Often the focus in the cleaning industry is budgets and cost and yet staff are often not provided with the right equipment to carry out their tasks and not provided with the training required which ultimately affects the bottom line.  One of the best ways to streamline effective cleaning and to make substantial savings in the long run is to invest in our staff.

If the perception of the industry is to change then the industry as a whole has to be passionate about what we do.

What’s your opinion of the industry, let us know your thoughts and experiences simply by emailing info@unique.org.uk

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Their extensive portfolio includes: First Aid qualifications, Health and Safety qualifications, Fire Safety qualifications, Food Safety qualifications, Manual Handling qualifications and more and we are delighted that both Julie Wiseman our Office Manager and Sam Tolley one of our Window Cleaning Operatives have recently completed and passed the Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.

As an organisation that takes health and safety seriously and appreciates the risks involved in some of the work that we carry out, it is important that all of our staff are trained appropriately and encouraged to complete courses and qualifications that support our company ethos.

Well done Julie and Sam.

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The levy enables companies to invest in workforce development and allows for best practice of management techniques and it can also help to encourage companies to look to sustainable solutions for the future.

Many employers across a wide range if sectors point out how apprenticeships can create a ‘win win’ situation for both employer and employee and we encourage the cleaning industry to support it and follow other industries that have been taking on apprentices for many years.

Staff that have been offered training and development within the organisation that they work for are more likely to stay loyal to their employer and furthermore it has been well documented that investing in the skills and development of our teams results in less absence, fewer health and safety issues and increased productivity not to mention a more professional image to our customers.

Specific areas when apprenticeships can impact positively in the cleaning sector include risk management, health and safety and hospitality.

Staff can learn on the job rather than having to try and put into practice something they have been taught in a classroom environment or hypothetical scenario for example a window cleaning apprenticeship would not only include the practical skills associated with cleaning windows but would also include carrying out risk assessments, using specialist equipment such as telescopic poles, personal protective equipment and pure water technology.

Get all of this right and the next generation of window cleaners will be experts in their field.

So whether the levy applies to you as an organisation or not, or if you are a young person considering working within the cleaning sector, apprenticeships are the future for cleaning, invest now and benefit long term.

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Perhaps the word ‘trade’ is part of the problem as it conjures up the wrong image or perhaps it is that cleaning is not seen as a genuine profession like many other sectors are.

As an industry, we need to work really hard to attract young people, there is huge potential to forge great careers within the cleaning sector and we need to make sure new talent is aware of this.

Research recently showed that only 6% of cleaning employees fall into the under 25 aged bracket, this is 50% less than the national average and at the other end of the scale 47% of cleaning employee’s are aged over 45.

Apprenticeships within cleaning are curently available but only up to Level Two and this is something The British Institute of Cleaning Science is working hard to change.

Qualified IRATA Window Cleaners working at height can earn anything up to £100,000 per annum, Cleaning Managers can earn in the region of £30,000 per annum and with the increases in National Minimum Wage and the introduction of the National Living Wage, cleaning staff no longer face the risk of being paid less than people of the same age in different industries.

We’ll soon be sharing what one of our young members of staff has to say about why he joined the cleaning industry and what he likes about it.

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