Jobs And Careers Autumn 2018 - 292

Cleaning
Offices, shops, schools, hospitals, wedding
venues - they all need to be kept clean and
hygienic, and that job is often outsourced
to contract cleaning companies. Once
you've mastered the basics of cleaning
efficiently and thoroughly, you may
choose to specialise in particular items
such as carpets, upholstery or windows.
There are also specialist services that
focus on the clean-up after floods, fires or
crime scenes. Hours can be unsociable.
With experience, you can move
into supervisory or management
roles, or set up your own business.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? No qualifications are required,
but you need to be reliable, hard-working
and able to follow safety instructions (for
example, with cleaning chemicals).
How much can I earn? Salaries start at
£14,000 (or the part-time equivalent),
rising to £19,000 with experience and
£29,000 for management roles.

Recycling
Responsible waste disposal and recycling
are increasingly important for businesses,
and specialist companies offer a range
of services, from recycling glass and
paper to converting non-recyclable
waste into energy and the anaerobic
digestion of food waste. Jobs range
from drivers to recycling technicians
and customer service managers.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? Entry-level jobs don't require

qualifications but are often physically
demanding, and a good knowledge of
health and safety is important. For driving
a waste collection vehicle, you'll need
an LGV (large goods vehicle) licence.
Apprenticeships and graduate schemes are
available. Management roles may require
a degree or postgraduate qualification.
How much can I earn? Salaries
start at £13,000 for a recycling
collection position, rising to around
£28,000 for a plant supervisor, and
£35,000 for senior managers.

Pest control
If a company has a problem with mice,
rats, cockroaches, wasps or other pests,
it will need to be dealt with quickly and
discreetly. A pest control technician can
investigate and collect samples, plan
and execute a method of control, and
advise on how to avoid future problems.
It's not a job for the faint-hearted!
With experience, you can move
into supervisor or management
roles, specialise in a particular pest
or set up your own business.
What skills and qualifications do
I need? There are no formal entry
requirements but there are various
foundation and advanced courses
available. You'll also need good customer
service skills, confidence in calculating
doses of chemicals and setting traps,
knowledge of health and safety rules,
and the ability to keep accurate records.
You'll usually need a driving licence.

How much can I earn? Salaries
start at £17,000; £30,000 for
an experienced manager.

Security
From patrolling and monitoring premises
to guarding valuables, supervising
exits and entrances, and preventing
shoplifting, security is essential for
any business. If you work for a security
company, you may install surveillance
systems and provide emergency
responses. Shift work is common.
You can progress to senior and
management roles, go into training
or set up your own security firm.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? A background in the police or
armed forces is an advantage (although
not essential), as you must be confident in
challenging people, using your initiative
and making quick decisions. Writing
reports and keeping accurate records is
also important. You'll need a criminal
records check before starting any job, and
you may be offered training on the job.
How much can I earn? Salaries start at
£13,000, rising to £26,000 for supervisors.

* British Institute of Facilities
Management bifm.org.uk
* British Institute of Cleaning
Science bics.org.uk
* Chartered Institution of Wastes
Management ciwm.co.uk
* British Pest Control Association
bpca.org.uk
* Skills for Security
skillsforsecurity.org.uk

292 /// JOBS & CAREERS

WORDS CATHERINE FRANCIS

Find out more
http://bifm.org.uk http://bics.org.uk http://ciwm.co.uk http://bpca.org.uk http://skillsforsecurity.org.uk
Jobs And Careers Autumn 2018

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