Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
Your industry news - first
The original and best - for over 20 years!
We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
BICSc Education Conference helps set new environmental and training standards
New environmental and training standards were discussed and developed during the British Institute of Cleaning Science's highly successful inaugural education conference for the cleaning and FM industry.
The conference, entitled 'Green and keen cleaning workforces - setting new environmental and training standards in the cleaning industry', examined key themes of sustainable workforces, training and the environment. The event, sponsored by sustainable hand hygiene expert, Gojo, was held in the conference centre, at the Old Trafford football stadium in Manchester on 23rd June.
The aim of the conference was to:
* Explore key issues affecting the cleaning industry, focusing particularly on accredited training and motivating workforces, green practices and sustainable working practices
* Share industry best practice in the areas outlined above
* Demonstrate the impact accredited training can have for cleaning operatives within the industry
Speakers at the event included Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, an internationally recognised expert on green cleaning; Laurence Harvey, chief executive of Actuate learning and development , a leading UK training specialist in equality and diversity; Lance Harris, prison industries employment engagement manager ; Mark Roberts of Action for Employment (A4E) and Stephen Dunn for Remploy Employment Services.
There was also a highly entertaining interactive workshop from Actuate about understanding and challenging assumptions, which generated some amusing responses from delegates.
Keynote speaker Stephen Ashkin said: "The concept of green cleaning is now with us forever and we have to build coalitions with suppliers, service providers, facilities managers and consumers to drive this through. Change does not have to be complicated.
"We need to review the products we use, dispose of products wisely after use, appropriately train cleaning personnel based on proven green standard operating procedures, and communicate and report about green initiatives.
"In the near future, I believe we will see an even greater emphasis on training for cleaning professionals. However, this is not necessarily teaching procedures, as we normally think of training. Instead, this training will focus on how cleaning professionals can help building owners/managers reduce waste, energy use, and water consumption, and so on. In other words, businesses will call upon cleaning professionals to help them become more sustainable and reduce their building operating costs. Organisations like the British Institute are helping to promote professional standards and encourage this industry training."
A range of companies exhibited the latest green practices at the conference and demonstrated how to sustain workforces and industry professionalism through training. Exhibitors were Action for Employment (A4E), Biosweep, Mesh-4-Safety, Remploy, South Thames College and University of Northampton.
BICSc, the largest independent professional and educational body within the UK cleaning industry also exhibited its membership services and its recently launched accredited training scheme, The Cleaning Professional's Skills Suite (CPSS), which has been introduced to meet the current and ongoing demands of all types of businesses.
The CPSS includes three mandatory units: Chemical Competence, Equipment Safe Use & Care, and Storage of Chemicals & Equipment. These essential skills have been made compulsory to ensure the safety of the cleaning operatives and the users of the building, and for the sustainability of the building. A total of 25 core cleaning skills are available, covering a broad aspect of cleaning responsibilities. To be awarded CPSS certification the minimum requirement is the three mandatory units. The operatives will then only have to learn what is directly relevant to them and the environment in which they are cleaning.
The Institute will be continuing to introduce qualifications, via its training partners, to help raise professional standards and represent and promote the interests of members.
The 50th anniversary calendar of events also includes the BICSc Annual Awards taking place on 22nd September which celebrates training achievements, plus a series of regional events throughout the year for its members.
T: 01604 678710
W: www.bics.org.uk
Copies of the conference speaker presentations are available from the British Institute of Cleaning Science website until 8th July.
7th July 2011