[Lee Burbidge]

I clean domestic only.

My franchisees clean domestic only.  They are businesses independent of mine.

None of us have more than five employees, so we don't need written risk assessments.  We'd presumably be second class citizens in this new guild order.

Vin

Vin since this is an open to debate and discussion, please do not assume you are 'second class', you would not be and you are not. Actually, its good practice and common sense to start thinking and training about health & safety on or before your first employee. If you have employees you will still need to back yourself up to show that you have a risk assessment for the work your employees carry out....... if something happens to your employees they dont say we wont investigate or check what you have in place for safety awareness because you have less than 5 employees. Working safe starts with YOU, then your first employee when they arrive.

I understand what you're saying.  However, for those of us that franchise, we're not going over 5 employees ever.  So, our risk assessments don't need to be written.  In your plan, we could have a hundred franchisees and not have a written risk assessment within the organisation (remember, domestic only).  How would we get to the stage of Level 2 (or whatever) of membership?

Vin

Hi Vin, I see. Yes your franchisees personally become safety responsible. Do you teach them any safety stuff as part of the franchise program? We clean domestic and commercial, I still get my guys trained even if just residential. Anyway getting back to your point and we are still discussing the options here. No decisions have been made...... would you want to go to a level two? That is the topic here so your views would be no insurance is enough, right?

Let me ask you something else. If there is a H&S level and an insurance level only and your happy with th insurance level why would you be bothered too much about the H&S level.... it would be there for you for when ever you need it, if you needed it. Personally I still think some safety training must still be given off your own back even if your happy to prove membership insurance..... IMO

Hey, but its your business.... you run it how you like. You know best.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

How d'you prove you have health and safety competence?

By uploading your training certificates.

And what about all those superb, excellent window cleaners who posses what really matters- no certificates but good old common sense? Are you really going to isolate these potential members Lee? Or are you just hoping they'll join anyway & allow any potential customer see that they are at the bottom of "YOUR" pile!!

You are going to kill it mate, you'll end up with 10 members!!

[Lee Burbidge]

How d'you prove you have health and safety competence?

By uploading your training certificates.

And what about all those superb, excellent window cleaners who posses what really matters- no certificates but good old common sense? Are you really going to isolate these potential members Lee? Or are you just hoping they'll join anyway & allow any potential customer see that they are at the bottom of "YOUR" pile!!

You are going to kill it mate, you'll end up with 10 members!!

You have missed the point. This will be a valuable tool for your business if you want it. Not choosing to join is fine. I remember when I researched the magazine on here two years ago, heard all the same stuff..... but I know this place was a hard talking place where amongst all the noise I could get the right information to help me make a decision. If I listened to the noise, the magazine would never of started. Rhetoric like 'bottom of your pile' and isolating window cleaners' does not fit in to what I understand this Guild to be. So, what would you prefer to see?

[Window Lickers]

And what about all those superb, excellent window cleaners who posses what really matters- no certificates but good old common sense? Are you really going to isolate these potential members Lee? Or are you just hoping they'll join anyway & allow any potential customer see that they are at the bottom of "YOUR" pile!!

You are going to kill it mate, you'll end up with 10 members!!

My point exactly. Just expressed differently. I was previously a member of the Guild, all I ended up getting was a sun-bleached van sticker. I was a member of Nationwide window cleaners, all I got was bugger all. Not sure what the point is of trying to re-invigorate interest in it.

The sun shining does more to raise the profile of our trade than anything else.

[paul13]

Hi Lee, Are you looking for ways to help window cleaners to grow there business
or are you looking to make different levels of membership for
I asked earlier about H&S and Qualifications where do you send your employees?
I have in house training records would these qualify for guild membership?
As for qualifications where do you get them? for window cleaning
IMO proof of insurance and licence in Scotland should be enough then the
focus should be on H&S and training  with paper work help ect for those
who want it.
 

[paul13]

Might have been a bit unfair with my post
H&S always gets me  worked up just think its a bit extreme now,
not just in window cleaning but in all aspects of work/life.
Anyway respect the work you do Lee and I'm sure you will do
well for the Guild.
I am now a member

[James Bulton]

In stead of have requirement to join you should have eduction  modules to up the game of all members, and this should be on going so as to lift the integrity of its members. So lifting the standers of the guilds profile and its members.Maye a test after each module.Creating value in being a member is key is to the success of any institutional group.
Things should be a requirement after 6 months as you will need to sell the concept of insurance to  member. At this point if you have not achieved this the member would have to conform or not get full membership. But you information needs to be quality.
One also needs to get discounts for members and as many things as you can, to enhance the need for  .membership.
Another died quango or old boys club is the last thing you need.

[capn sparkle]

I've got a certificate from MENSA telling me I didn't get in!!