Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: morphe on December 18, 2008, 05:38:29 pm
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Hi Forum ;D
Never cleaned a window in my life, apart from my own house.
My job looks dodgy at the moment so was thinking of starting to window clean in the swansea area.
Im not sure of the laws, ie. can you still use ladders, do you need insurance etc..
not sure about starting up costs either.
Are there training courses?
What about big companies, ie tesco, asda and all them? do you have to be a big company to get contracts.
So can any of you advise me in the right direction, I was thinking of starting 2 days a week to see how I get on, depending on different criterias.
I would love to be my own boss.
But first I need advice before i even attempt anything.
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Welcome to our happy little band.
Have you a financial cushion to tide you over?
What's your health like?
How old are you?
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what areas you working in? ;)
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what areas you working in? ;)
lol Chris...noticed the nic? Morph ;D
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I had a call yesterday from a firm called Lindens. Apparently they are fronting an NVQ for window cleaning that is 100% funded by the government.
Don't know if a national thing, but would assume so.
Heres the email they sent me.
NVQ2 High level window cleaning
100% funded
London registration
Starts 17th March 2009
News Link
http://www.cleaning43.com/latest-news/latest-news-article.php?latestNewsID=632
http://www.cleaning43.com/latest-news/latest-news-article.php?latestNewsID=677
To register a place please contact
David Willis 01205 769032
Or reply to this email
Kind regards,
David Willis
Linden Management (UK) Limited
* British Fields, Ollerton Road, Tuxford, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0PQ
( Telephone: 0800 298 0632
Direct Tel: +44 (0)1205 769032
Direct Fax: +44 (0)1205 761818
) Mobile: +44 (0)7984 365917
: E-mail: david.willis@impact43.com
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I had a call yesterday from a firm called Lindens. Apparently they are fronting an NVQ for window cleaning that is 100% funded by the government.
Don't know if a national thing, but would assume so.
Heres the email they sent me.
NVQ2 High level window cleaning
100% funded
London registration
Starts 17th March 2009
News Link
http://www.cleaning43.com/latest-news/latest-news-article.php?latestNewsID=632
http://www.cleaning43.com/latest-news/latest-news-article.php?latestNewsID=677
To register a place please contact
David Willis 01205 769032
Or reply to this email
Kind regards,
David Willis
Linden Management (UK) Limited
* British Fields, Ollerton Road, Tuxford, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0PQ
( Telephone: 0800 298 0632
Direct Tel: +44 (0)1205 769032
Direct Fax: +44 (0)1205 761818
) Mobile: +44 (0)7984 365917
: E-mail: david.willis@impact43.com
its not funded if you have 5 gcse's or equivalent qualifications. Unless your lucky the quota have not got their already
Im still waiting to here back from Lindens..
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Welcome to our happy little band.
Have you a financial cushion to tide you over?
What's your health like?
How old are you?
Not alot of money, but can get some, but depends how much, dont really want to spend large amounts if the venture fails.
health, i get a bad back but I am not afraid of work, or the weather.
38 1/2 ;)
AJ, thanks, I have emailed for information.
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what areas you working in? ;)
Just noticed your in swansea ;D
If i did start i wouldnt step on anyones toes.
I live in the llansamlet area.
Chris, do window cleaners use ladders or is it all pole work now?
Nice website BTW.
Have you seen all the glass buildings down sa1 :D
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what areas you working in? ;)
Just noticed your in swansea ;D
If i did start i wouldnt step on anyones toes.
I live in the llansamlet area.
Chris, do window cleaners use ladders or is it all pole work now?
Nice website BTW.
Have you seen all the glass buildings down sa1 :D
if your in swansea, you wouldnt need long ladder, as dont they all live in caravans in swansea ? ? ? ? ;D ;D
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forget the big markets like asda tescos it takes long long time and bit of a luck to get there
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nicked the thread a bit, but, do you think that NVQ qual will benefit someone whos been at it for 20yrs, or just good for newbies.
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what areas you working in? ;)
Just noticed your in swansea ;D
If i did start i wouldnt step on anyones toes.
I live in the llansamlet area.
Chris, do window cleaners use ladders or is it all pole work now?
Nice website BTW.
Have you seen all the glass buildings down sa1 :D
yeah! im in llansamlet too :P
i dont do much work in the area, ive got some looks of other window cleaners who do this area.. i prefer to work further afield anyway.
SA1 Marina
Nope.. i got nothing down there, im a small fish my friend! Those get done by the likes of dai sullivan and district cleaning services among other south wales boys.
Give it 2 years i plan to be. However i dont like commercial jobs (not that i wont do them) i prefer residential. Planning for new van and system come the start of 2010, and get someone with me then.
You can use ladders still, but for commercial jobs you need wfp, be compliant and understanding of risk assessments etc.. the big shops are done by national companies, or at very least sub contract it out.
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i'm in ammanford....bbbbbaaahhhhh :D, theres wc popping up all over the place here.
i used to do a few buisnesses in the llansamlet area years ago..but i now concentrate on ammanford , crossshands , carmarthen etc.
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what areas you working in? ;)
Just noticed your in swansea ;D
If i did start i wouldnt step on anyones toes.
I live in the llansamlet area.
Chris, do window cleaners use ladders or is it all pole work now?
Nice website BTW.
Have you seen all the glass buildings down sa1 :D
yeah! im in llansamlet too :P
i dont do much work in the area, ive got some looks of other window cleaners who do this area.. i prefer to work further afield anyway.
SA1 Marina
Nope.. i got nothing down there, im a small fish my friend! Those get done by the likes of dai sullivan and district cleaning services among other south wales boys.
Give it 2 years i plan to be. However i dont like commercial jobs (not that i wont do them) i prefer residential. Planning for new van and system come the start of 2010, and get someone with me then.
You can use ladders still, but for commercial jobs you need wfp, be compliant and understanding of risk assessments etc.. the big shops are done by national companies, or at very least sub contract it out.
I wouldnt even attempt commercial, I havent cleaned windows before so taking something like sa1 on would be dull, and like you said its for the bigger boys with clout behind them.
Its hard to know where to start but what I have read so far on the forums are.
1. Dress code, look proffesional to gain an advantage ( so buy a uniform)
2. Ladders, step ladders, step
3. equipment, buckets etc..
4. Business cards.
5. liabilty insurance. (just incase a ladder falls onto a car)
6. Business name
7. Magnetic sign for the car/van.
If I started off doing weekends, Id probably be lucky to get work, so probably will not earn much, earning, would i have to register a business with the vat people, even though i might only be earning peanuts in the beginning.
I might only get £20 for a weekend, how does that work with tax etc...
I would rather do things properley.
or do you think im being too enthusastiac and just start with a ladder, bucket and the bare essntials.
BTW do you still clean residential in the rain and is the window sill and frame usually part of the price?
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have you lost your job?
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have you lost your job?
My job looks dodgy at the moment so was thinking of starting to window clean in the swansea area.
first post gary :P
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oops im rushing my reading through lol ... thanks.
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Havent lost my job, but i have lost 40% of my wages for 2-3 months.
Im not here to tread on peoples toes, thats not my intention, I probably couldnt compete with you lot anyhow.
My plan was to start of graually to see how I got on, I might not like it, I might like it but cant get work, who knows.
I certainly wouldnt pinch anyones work, I was planning on doing terraced houses to start me off.
I would hope to ditch my current job and be my own boss, but that could take a long time.
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morphe - there's too many new window cleaners out there now but if you enjoy it then stick at it and put the WORK in.
canvassing is tough at times and can take some getting used to but probably the best way to get going.
give it a go mate and don't hesitate to ask questions but it can be hard work mate - that I do promise you.