European Social Fund in England

A clean sweep for the cleaning industry

Tackling gender discrimination in the cleaning industry may be a tall order but the "Clean Sweep Project" aims to encourage equality of opportunity through training.

This ESF-funded Action Research Project began in mid-2004, setting out to research the impact of training on women working in the cleaning industry in Norfolk: Although a major employer, it is a low-profile highly-competitive cross-sector industry with deep-rooted occupational segregation.

"A lot of women employed in cleaning work do so in small businesses, on a part-time basis and have never considered training as an available of realistic option", says Action Researcher, Sarah Collis. "The Project aims to highlight the hidden potential of employees in this field by offering work-based training and the opportunity to gain a nationally-recognised qualification."

The College of West Anglia at King's Lynn provides NVQ1 and NVQ2 City & Guilds (7696) training and qualification in Cleaning and Support Services free of charge. So far, over 65 (mainly female) cleaning workers, across a range of businesses, have completed NVQ1 and participated in the Project via Questionnaire and Interview. The majority have been encouraged by their success to go on to Level 2.

"17 of my staff have gained the NVQ1 Cleaning qualification including kitchen assistants and laundry staff, and all have been very positive about their experience. They are all going on to Level 2 at the moment. It has been a real confidence boost for some staff because it has been the first qualification they have ever achieved. Other staff are pursuing wider training, something they had not previously considered, and they are all working as much more of a team", says Sharon Wilson, Manager of the Orchard House Nursing Home and Project Participant.

The Project has been well received by local employers and more cleaning workers are due to begin training in the New Year. By the end of the Project (early 2006) it is hoped that, in line with Objective 3, many women will have had the opportunity to improve their skills, gain qualifications and achieve a more positive sense of their potential for progression within the industry and in the wider job market.