Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111

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Employers in FM and cleaning: funding offer for technical certificates

Government funding is available for facilities management and cleaning employers to put staff through training for the following technical certificates:

* Cleaning Principles
* Equality and Diversity
* Customer Service
* Business Administration
* Team leading
* Hospitality

Technical certificates are specialist courses that link to key components of a set job role.

Working with recognised training providers, Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for facilities management and cleaning, is pleased to offer employers the chance to support their staff and take advantage of funding targeted at raising their workforce's skills and knowledge.

The courses take place as distance learning programmes that last between three and six months.

There will be an initial face-to-face induction for enrolment, course introduction and advice on how to use the high quality support materials to guide participants through the training. Assessment is usually through a combination of multiple choice questions and an assignment.

The courses are nationally recognised and accredited by awarding organisations such as NCFE and City & Guilds. They can help employees with their career development and act as evidence that they are operating to agreed national standards.

The courses on offer are:

* Cleaning Principles - targeted at those in roles that involve cleaning of sites, this course covers the core techniques on the best ways of ensuring high standards of cleanliness.
* Equality and Diversity - particularly useful for those involved in public sector contracts as this is a key area of focus due to the Equality Act 2010. It aims to assist employees in understanding the benefits of a diverse workforce and provides a guide on best practice in avoiding and dealing with instances of discrimination, harassment and bullying.
* Customer Service - looking at how to deal with queries from internal and external customers.
* Business Administration - suitable for those involved in regular office administration tasks.
* Team Leading - aimed at supervisors, this course deals with the best ways of managing people through appraisals, one-to-ones and meetings.
* Hospitality - helps employees who are involved in front or back of house roles in the hospitality industry.

Eligibility requirements:

The employer needs to provide minimum groups of five candidates. Employees must work in England, have been resident in the EU for the past three years, be aged over 19 and not be studying, or hold the same or a higher qualification.

There is a processing charge to the employer of £25 plus VAT that will be payable for each employee who enrols onto the course.

The employee must independently wish to complete the programme and there is a penalty charge to them if they withdraw (unless it is due to a change of job).

Asset Skills' partner, Learning at Work, has a proven track record within the FM industry of assisting employers in accessing this type of initiative.

T: Tom Orton 0844 822 2525
E: [email protected]

22nd September 2011