Want some qualifications to get you started in the cleaning industry? Why not try some internationally recognised courses for free with BICSc?
Picture this. You are at that point in your life, where you want a job, maybe you even want to start a career, but where do you begin? Have you thought about the cleaning industry? A lot of people disregard the cleaning business, believing that there is only one aspect to the industry, but this is simply not true. So, where can you access free courses?
Free cleaning industry courses with BICSc
The British Institute of Cleaning Science (more commonly referred to as BICSc) are an independent educational body within the cleaning industry and they offer an array of online courses, amongst other things.
How to find free courses with BICSc:
- Head over to the BICSc website and click ‘online training’ and then ‘all courses.’
- You will see all the online courses BICSc offer on their BBS virtual training suite, with a link for the free courses.
- GOOD NEWS: You do not have to be a member in order to access the online training,!
- You will be asked for an email address, your name, then you create a password.
- If you are already a member then you can add your membership number – and if not, leave this part blank.
Recommended courses to look at:
Understanding Colour-Coding
Hand hygiene explained.
Understanding Chemical Hazard Pictograms
Understanding PPE
The programs are made up of three sections:
- an introduction
- a presentation on the subject matter
- a small quiz at the end to check your knowledge.
This is not a test though and can be retaken as many times as needed.
Understanding Colour-Coding explains the benefits of using colour-coded equipment and why most sites use this system, BICSc also recommend the colours they use and what areas these are implemented in.
Hand Hygiene Explained uses a variety of different learning aids to help explain the act of washing your hands, including pictorial diagrams with step-by-step instructions, a video demonstration, downloadable resources and facts that surround the history of why we wash our hands. Hand washing is a task that only 67% of us undertake. It is a function that is so simple so it is not surprising that the attitude the course could be met with is “what on earth are you going to teach me about washing my hands that I don’t already know” but can you tell me why water is applied to the hands first then soap? The information that is given regarding PPE is very helpful, especially if you are new to this line of work,
Understanding PPE and Understanding Chemical Hazard Pictograms are very similar they both demonstrate the most common symbols you will see within the industry, how you would recognise each of the symbols and why we need to know this, it also touches upon the different documentation that you will come across within the industry.
How long do these BICSc cleaning courses take?
Each of the lessons takes on average 15 – 20 minutes to complete but the courses are not timed, meaning you can pause them whenever and as many times as you want returning to them at a point that is most convenient to you.
Once you have enrolled you have access to the lesson for 14 days allowing you to revisit and complete it in that time period or access it simply to refresh your knowledge, this is something I have been known to do. After you have completed the courses, you can download and use the free resources available to you. There is also a certificate.
Course benefits
So, what are the some of the benefits for taking part in these free online courses?
With BICSc being an internationally recognised organisation, you can add your accomplishments onto your CV and a future employer will recognise your achievements, giving you a head start.
Each of the courses accredit you with 1 CPD point (Continuing Professional Development) which is a way to measure the time and quality of learning and development activities.
One of the key words that reoccurs is understanding, with these courses you gain an awareness of some of the basic terms that are used daily within our jobs, reading job descriptions will become easier because you will recognise some of the terminology that is being used. An insight can be gained into what is paperwork which is involved in a site becoming compliant i.e., risk assessments, safety data sheets (SDS), training documentation etc.
If you take the courses and decide that the cleaning industry is not for you at least you will have gained some knowledge into facility management careers, and an industry that quite literally surrounds you. Hopefully you catch the bug for it like so many of us do, if you will excuse the pun. Oh, and in case we didn’t mention it, it is free 
