In our first ever guest blog, we are pleased to welcome Daisy Hunter from the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA), an organisation that works to raise standards across the UK cleaning sector. Daisy is passionate about the cleaning industry and in this blog explores the skills required to make it in this exciting sector and how we can make sure it attracts the best new talent.

 

 

As children, we dream of growing up to have the most amazing careers. Doctors, teachers, astronauts, footballers – but never do we envisage ourselves working in the cleaning industry. I certainly didn’t. Even once I had ‘grown up’, I didn’t realise it was such a large or thrilling industry to be part of.

Its perception as being just ‘mops and buckets’ couldn’t be more wrong. It’s a £60 billion industry with 70,000 cleaning businesses in the UK – and with it many exciting career paths. Finance director, receptionist, warehouse driver, microbiologist, chemist, manufacturing… the opportunities are endless. There is something for everybody.

But I didn’t know any of this when I started out. In fact, I started my career in retail and only took a job in FM out of ease – the company was just a ten-minute walk from home. I started as a receptionist, then was hired as a PA for one of the managing directors, and then from there, just kept getting promoted and haven’t looked back since!

We need to encourage young people – the new talent – to join us and realise the myriad of roles that are on offer and are still emerging. For example, today there are job functions that simply didn’t exist ten years ago – content creators, ESG and sustainability departments, marketing roles are now much more prominent too. Internal communications are so important too, especially from a facilities management and cleaning services point of view. Since frontline colleagues, the cleaning operatives themselves, don’t generally have work phones, tablets or laptops, internal communications are essential to keep them up to speed with training, health and safety, and sustainability updates for example.

So, what do I think are the most important skills to get ahead in the industry? In my experience – number one is passion. I certainly had this – I still do, in fact! I think if anyone sees passion in a young person in the industry, they should try and harness it and mentor them. I was fortunate to receive this myself, as well as meeting a lot of people along the way, who have helped and guided me. And this is there for everyone – the industry is so collaborative, and people are genuinely willing to share knowledge and provide care and support.

Everything else can be taught. There are so many learning development opportunities available. From apprenticeships, which is the path I took, through to companies’ own training schemes. A basic British Institute of Cleaning Sciences (BICS) course is always worthwhile, because even if you’re not working on the frontline, it’s really important to understand what we’re talking about when we’re discussing how to mop a floor or clean a toilet. Jangro has a great CPD-accredited e-learning platform, the Learning Management Solution (LMS), which offers high quality and relevant training on a range of subjects.

 

 

Networking is incredibly important. Over the past three months alone, we’ve had various events like dinners, dances, and awards ceremonies, which highlight our strength in coming together. These gatherings are crucial because they provide opportunities to build relationships and showcase who you are. By demonstrating trustworthiness, reliability, and your true character, you increase the likelihood of being employed, securing business, or developing meaningful relationships. People are more inclined to engage with someone they know personally rather than just a name on a piece of paper.

It’s also a really great way of meeting potential mentors. As mentioned previously, the industry is so collaborative and our people are passionate about coming together, sharing knowledge, and giving back to help others within it. Don’t be afraid to initiate contact and build relationships, be open to feedback and use it to improve your performance. Foster connections with peers and other departments to broaden your support network. Following these steps will help pave the way for career advancement.

The challenge is how we bring in younger people to make sure that the industry continues to evolve and prosper. We need to update our approach – advertise on the platforms that reach younger people, focus on the job role itself rather than the industry (for example ‘ESG’ or ‘cyber-crime’ rather than ‘cleaning’ which is perceived to be decidedly less glamorous!), and maximising the impact the industry has sustainability-wise. Younger people, especially Generation Z, want to work for companies that are truly making a difference. They also demand a better work/life balance and benefits – offering all of this will help bring in a younger generation.

Communicating this will also help improve the image of the cleaning industry. I now work with the CSSA, which is passionate about improving its perception. But it’s not just us – all industry leaders are invested in it. The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA), the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners to name but two other organisations working towards the same goal. I love that it’s so collaborative and we join together to raise the bar, constantly looking for improvement, embracing change and pushing forward in an ever-changing world.

Tune into to episode one of Keep it Clean, a podcast from Jangro, to hear Daisy and Jo Gilliard talk more about this subject. More blogs filled with other voices in the industry are coming soon.

Want a career in the cleaning industry? Check out these useful links:

https://www.jangro.net/contact-us/careers

https://www.cssa-uk.co.uk/clean-start

https://www.bics.org.uk/youth-employment-cleaning-industry-hub/