Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Outstanding achiever in the cleaning industry receives Royal approval
Robert Urquhart, a member of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, received a Livery Companies' City & Guilds Award from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace earlier this month. The Awards are given in recognition of 'Outstanding Achievement' as a City & Guilds of London Institute learner or tutor.
Robert has been instrumental in setting up and running the cleaning workshops at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Rochester, Kent. He started work there 16 years ago where he was assigned to put together a cleaning qualification for offenders. Since then Robert has displayed enthusiasm, passion and drive to do the best he possibly could for his learners and has never been deterred by any setbacks and barriers he has faced.
Robert has now developed the course he delivers from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) qualification to the City & Guilds NVQ level 2 in Cleaning & Support Services. Robert has gained his assessors qualification and teaching qualification in both courses.
Robert has built a good working partnership with prison staff and heads of departments, to ensure learners have access to clean different areas and types of surfaces to meet the course criteria.
Robert's work aims to give course participants the best opportunities once they have been released from prison. He delivers the courses to a very high standard, making sure the prison offers the same, if not better, quality than a traditional college. ?
The variety of cleaning courses on offer at the prison lays the foundations for learners to enter the cleaning industry qualified with sufficient work experience to gain employment. Robert is continuing to improve the progress for his learners by working with employers to get them employment opportunities.
The Worshipful Company's Master, Philip Morrish, and Clerk, Maureen Marden, were in attendance to see Robert receive this deserved recognition.
The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners is one of 110 Livery Companies which are based upon trades, industries and professions and carry on the ancient traditions of the Guilds and Livery Companies which started in the 12th century. Formed in 1972 as the Guild of Cleaners and subsequently known as the Guild of Master Cleaners, the Company was granted full Livery Status in 1986 as the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, the 97th Livery Company of the City of London. HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh is an Honorary Freeman of the Company.
The Company aims to encourage and maintain high standards of practice and integrity while promoting and supporting education, training and research projects within the cleaning industry. One fine example of its efforts to raise the industry can be seen in its achievement of a Royal Charter in 2010.
23rd June 2016