18 June 2017 - Dubai, UAE

UAE-based total FM company makes exemplary progress with standards, training and sustainability, prompting British Institute of Cleaning Science to maintain rating 

In recognition of its excellence in facilities management (FM) services, UAE-based total FM company Farnek continues its accreditation program from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), the largest independent, professional and educational body in the cleaning industry. 

Markus Oberlin, CEO of Farnek, said: “We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with the British Institute of Cleaning Science since we embarked on the first accreditation process in 2012 and we are delighted this will continue. Our customers benefit from our accreditation with BICSc, secure in the knowledge that we are delivering safe and sustainable cleaning services, to the highest standards, that will protect our clients’ assets.”

The overall objective of BICSc accredited training and education is to promote best practice in the cleaning industry; to protect the operative, provide a safe and clean environment, promote sustainability and preserve assets. BICSc is also instrumental in promoting staff retention.  

“Training and education provided to employees, especially where knowledge and skills are “certified”, as BICSc is, leads to a more confident and appreciative workforce, which in turn promotes staff retention,” added Oberlin. 

Farnek became a member of BICSc in 2012 and was approved as an accredited training organisation the same year. A cohort of Farnek managers were selected to train for assessor status and since then the company has more than doubled the number of employees that have received intense training to qualify as assessors in compliance with BICSs standards. In addition, Farnek has established its own dedicated training facility in Dubai, purpose-built to train employees to clean different areas and surfaces effectively, efficiently and safely. 

For Farnek to retain its accreditation, BICSc conducts an annual audit to ensure compliance with BICSc training and assessment guidelines, minimum standards for facilities and evidence of the correct paperwork. 

Farnek assessors are licensed to conduct training and assessments to their cleaning operatives on 22 of the individual cleaning skills in the BICSc Cleaning Professionals Skills Suite. This number of skills is more than any other accredited company in the region.

“Our training academy allows us to conduct practical sessions in one location and address specific issues that may be encountered during a day-to-day routine, which empowers our staff to become both confident and competent,” remarked Oberlin. 

BICSc is the leading provider of accredited standards and qualifications within the cleaning industry and has over 15,000 individual and corporate members in the UK and internationally.

Rosemary Chisholm, an Associate Consultant for BICSc and who conducts the international audits, said: “BICSc is internationally recognised for its stringent standards and best practice frameworks and accreditation is only awarded to firms that can demonstrate a culture for excellence, based on training and the improvement of standards, systems and processes. We are delighted Farnek has not only passed the audit but continues to grow their team of assessors and increase the number of cleaning skills that can be trained.”

Farnek has always pushed industry boundaries, not only adopting the internationally recognised colour coded cleaning system (visual identity is perfect for multi-lingual workforces), but also promoting sustainability by using eco-friendly chemicals wherever and whenever possible.