[dexter]

Hi all,
I've been canvassing and setting up a round for about 5 weeks and got myself about 20 houses so far. In the future I am considering doing some proper training on things like abseiling cleaning and possibly WFP can anyone recommend any training companies that I can approach for this
ta 

[Tom White]

Bump!

I've not done any courses, so can't really help, but I'm sure there's plenty here who can.

I know there's NVQs which a lot of guys have done, and I'm sure there's other stuff.  Probably the best way to start is to find a window cleaner who'll take you out for an afternoon. 

[mci services]

http://www.bwca.co.uk/training.html

The above do a few courses, but I have never done any. As far as abseiling is concerned I believe that is big money to achieve and you would need to work so many hours supervised to qualify etc.

[rosskesava]

For abseiling you'll need to do a series of courses with IRATA.

http://www.irata.org/

Unless you already have abseiling experience, it'll either take you ages to do the courses and then work as self employed or a sub contractor, or you'll need to be employed by a company and then trained.

Yes, you can earn very good money but the downside is an incredible amount of traveling. It's also very physical work. You can get other roped access work - like taking pictures of the facias of buildings for surveyers, etc.

Unless you're determined to do roped access work, stick to houses.

[JamesLord]

Impact 43 do the QCF level 2 window cleaning which is the new NVQ - there are details on here of their courses of see their website.

http://www.training43.com/

my other half is a window cleaner and is doing his day 1 training  tomorrow of the 3days  which they spread over 3 months.  they do government funding also if you meet he criteria so has not cost.

Also the BWCA do various courses from WFT to marketing etc http://www.bwca.co.uk/

Hope this helps.

[A@R WINDOWCLEANING]

Hi all,
I've been canvassing and setting up a round for about 5 weeks and got myself about 20 houses so far. In the future I am considering doing some proper training on things like abseiling cleaning and possibly WFP can anyone recommend any training companies that I can approach for this
ta 
dont get offended but i think you should scrap this idea for now and concentrate on building you customer base first good luck

[Ian Holloway]

The best training you can get is going out with another window cleaner. Do you know any window cleaners in your area who would let you work with them for a few days.

Also some window cleaners have work that is not as well priced as other work, they might even give you some of it.

[dexter]

Cheers for all the info guys and gals,
I fancy the abseiling because I have quite a lot of experience of both working at height in another job i've done and also quite a bit of experience from climbing, I guess i might leave that for the future and try get myself a round built up first. I don't know any window cleaners personally just ones i've seen about so not too keen on the idea of asking to work for them. Cheers anyway peeps 

[dexter]

Alright guys an gals
I just thought i would update you all,
I've decided to bin the abseil idea for a year or 2 at the minute,
I have been canvassing still and managed to get myself a little round that i can do in about 2 days worth about £150 ish, 
as said i don't know any of the guys round my way so can't approach them so come on peeps has anyone got any badly priced work they don't want in and around Leeds, 
I have also been asked to give a quote for a Working Mens Club near me and cant for the life in me decide what to say its got about 30 Big windows on 3 levels any ideas i was thinking about 50 quidish. 

[Tom White]

Dexter,

I think you've done very well in a short space of time.  Before you canvass anymore, get window cleaning so that you can experience what you've quoted for.  You'll start to find out all the 'little funnies' that can make a job awkward and why you may want to quote more for them.

As for the Working Man's Club, £50 sounds good to me.

I base my price on number of windows, access issues, and frequency of clean.  I try to quote around £1 per window (big or small; it tends to even itself out), more for big bay windows (I may as well), leaded and georgian; oh and I'll charge £2 a window for 2nd story stuff; and then I'll add more for any access issues (which includes travel if it's a bit of a drive and I haven't got many around there); and frequency.  If the customer wants a longer frequency, they're worth less to me, so I'll charge a little bit more.

The guys here may charge differently, but that's the way I tend to do it - but I'm pretty loose with that I suppose.   And when faced with a property, I've no doubt got something like it on my books and I can compare it with what I charge already.

Anyway, you seem to be doing great.

[Jake Kelly]

Hi Dexter,

We do offer training courses bespoke to the window cleaning industry. Like JamesLord and Tosh mentioned, over here at Impact43 we are currently running a City and Guilds QCF Level 2 course. Closest one to you would be York i believe.

Fire us a call on 01205 316683 or check out http://www.training43.com

Regards,
Jake