ServiceMaster Clean continues to lead the way for best practice in the commercial cleaning industry. Committed to investing in the growth and development of new and existing franchisees, ServiceMaster Clean now has the largest number of qualified British Damage Management Association (BDMA) Senior Technicians, more than any other company in the UK.

ServiceMaster Clean believes in the importance of training all franchisees to the highest possible standard, enabling them to grow successful businesses. All new ServiceMaster Clean franchise owners go through an intense two week training course at the ServiceMaster Clean Academy, to give them the skills and knowledge they need. To begin, all new franchisees are taught general customer care and are trained in basic psychology and communication techniques to equip them with the customer facing skills they need to use on a daily basis. This forms a vital part of the professional service provided by ServiceMaster Clean with a strong emphasis on customer care.

They then progress through to foundation and intermediary levels, covering all technical skills for carpet and upholstery cleaning and restoration. The foundation level includes step by step training in carpet and upholstery recognition and cleaning, floor maintenance and re-finishing, stain removal, equipment maintenance and soil, static and flame resistant finishes.

The intermediary level then aims to provide the franchisee with advanced skills in specialist, restoration techniques, including fire and smoke damage restoration, water mitigation and damage restoration and carpet repair including, re-tufting, sectional inserts and seaming.

Ian McCormack is a BDMA Senior Technician at ServiceMaster Clean and is responsible for providing training and support to the franchise network. Ian draws on over 21 years of experience after joining ServiceMaster in 1989. Starting as a regional manager, Ian then progressed to running the Commercial Disaster Recovery Department at ServiceMaster Clean, dealing with larger disaster restoration projects.

Ian believes that the two week training academy provides a level of training that allows business owners to run a professional and successful business, but stresses the importance of ongoing training and development.

Part of Ian’s role is to facilitate the training necessary to keep ServiceMaster Clean at the forefront of Commercial Cleaning. Ian says; “The industry is constantly changing with new developments and procedures and as a result, both ServiceMaster and franchisees are constantly striving to achieve a level of excellence.”

When Swine Flu swept across the UK, ServiceMaster Clean were one of the first companies in the industry to adapt and respond to this environmental hazard, by introducing a new range of anti- bacterial products which included Hygienilac. Independently tested and approved by the NHS, the range of products equips all ServiceMaster Clean franchisees with everything they need to tackle germs and bacteria within a commercial environment.

In addition to the two week training programme, business owners are taken through further restoration training to enable them to take and pass the BDMA Technician exam. After three years as a qualified technician, they are then expected to progress to Senior Technician Level, which allows them to undertake specialised restoration projects for fire and water damage.

It is ServiceMaster’s goal to develop franchisees to their fullest potential and with their support and drawing on over 50 years experience in the UK cleaning industry, ServiceMaster Clean has grown into one of the UK’s most respected commercial cleaning companies in the industry, with over 200 local businesses throughout the UK.

ServiceMaster Clean is the UK’s leader when it comes to providing specialist cleaning and restorative services. For further information visit www.servicemasterclean.co.uk or call 0800 021 3073