[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

I haven't been on a training course for about 10 years.

Now that I am starting up the cleaning side in a serious way, would you recommend the NCCA training course (with a view to obtaining membership) or the Prochem course, which is the one I attended all those years ago.

Am I right in saying the NCCA don't recognise the Prochem courses as proof of competency ?

[Joe H]

I did the NCCA course early Dec 2007.
Really good and out of the 24 in attendance (a full house) 13 of them were experianced carpet cleaners, some with many years behind them.
Passing the exam at the end of the 2nd day (usually a Fri/Sat) entitles one to apply for membership with a reduction on the first year fees.
You do need "treatment risk" insurance in your policy to join, as well as PubLiability.

Go to the NCCA website www.ncca.co.uk you will see what course are accepted by NCCA, Prochem is not one of them as far as I can see.

[lands]

Prochem used to be recognised, probably when Ron Tilley did thecourse but now its too product biased and the NCCA are right not to allow it membership status. Do the NCCA one all day long.

[Straker Cleaning]

Both courses are good but the NCCA will show you how to clean and Prochem will show you what they suggest you clean it with 

Always worth finding good reputable local CC who can take you along on job to show the ropes  : ........... i am local at least.

[sherco]

Chris, would you take me out for a day to show me the ropes. Done the prochem course

[Straker Cleaning]

No teacher but happy to show how i carry out my work ....... and sales chat on jobs.

[Ken Wainwright]

If you go out with Chris, be prepared to be bored to tears. He's into history and is always rattling on about the year 1664.  He's got no time for those who can't have their own children who have to Foster instead, and he also rattles on about HP Sauce.

Oh, and he's obsessed with litter. You'll often see him walking around the common and tidying things up.

In fact Sherco, you must be desperate if you go out with Chris.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

PS Did you know he won an award for his "Green Cleaning" business

[Shaun_Ashmore]

H ealso goes to Common peoples houses

Shaun

[Simon Gerrard]

My experience is the total opposite. I did all of the Prochem Courses under Ron Tilley year after year after year. Later I did the three NCCA courses and thought they were total rubbish in comparison.
To be fair, things have changed as time has passed and Ron Tilley no longer does the training at Prochem and for all I know the quality of the NCCA training courses may have risen to a more acceptable standard than when I attended, I mean they couldn't have got any worse, in my opinion, that is.

Over the years I have attended many courses, including one run by Doctor Eric Brown that delved into the real science of carpet cleaning and from each of those courses and the various personalities that run them you usually go away have learned things you didn't previously know and each of those snippets of knowledge combine and gel together to provide you with a thorough grounding in all aspects of your trade and not just one view shown to you from one angle, an angle that may well be tainted by commercial gain or the pursuit of members.
Training isn't about product or association allegiances, it's about you, not them, so I would advise anyone to attend as many different training courses as they can.

[Len Gribble]

Don’t mention the 5th Beatle/Bond/Wimbledon or his wombal days nearly forgot TA/mp.

Nice lad though.

Len

[Straker Cleaning]

Len ............. nowt left to chat about 


1985 i did my Prochem courses and it was Ron Tilley that ran them in Kingston ................ served me well as i used Prochem chemicals and machines.
Now i use a wider variety of equipment, i would look for training that was more varied.

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

Chris, been meaning to phone you all week, but bogged down with work.
Number of things I would like to pick your brains about and I would definately like to take you up on your offer of a work day out.

Will try to find the time to phone you on friday if thats ok.

By the way I am going up to CCDO if you need a lift.

[Straker Cleaning]

Will listen out for your call tomorrow.

[spencer davies]

I am surprised that micro splitters do not play much of a part in the NCCA's agenda?

Regards


S

[Simon Gerrard]

Spencer,
Part of the problem with the NCCA course is that they don't, or didn't use any proprietary chemicals, like Prochem or others which means that you don't get introduced to a chemical system. The Prochem range is in itself a chemical system with each chemical having a coloured label indicating whether it is acid, alkaline or neutral and this helps a lot in helping you to understand the chemistry of cleaning as well as the practical aspects.
I understand why the NCCA were reluctant to go with a particular product range but I do think it undermined the learning experience somewhat.
Simon

[lands]

Never really looked at it like that before Simon and you have a valid point. Spencers point re M/S cements that theory further so I guess that it would be better to have something in between although I'm not sure how realistic that would be to incorporate into both a chemical system without any biase to a product range. Perhaps the NCCA could try and get the industry leading suppliers to introduce a more uniformed labelling system (much like the food industry are being encouraged to do). This way they could then incorporate a system more along the lines upon which you are say Simon.

Pete

[Karl Wildey]

the NCCA is the better corse but if you really want to know you stuff do the IICRC course its 2 days on carpet and another 2 days on upholstery. The NCCA is 2 days for both so you can see why you learn more with IICRC. You can join the NCCA once you are IICRC registered and have passed the exam. Not sure if you need to pass both carpets and uphol, or just one.

[spencer davies]

If I was choosing, it would have to be the NCCA, the NCCA membership increases my conversion rate as more of the general public know about the association, if they don't, I tell them!

Regards


S

[Simon Gerrard]

Spencer,
With respect, you are confusing two entirely different things. The way you are looking at it seems to be that if I do the NCCA course I can then be a member and by being a member that will increase my conversion rate, so you obviously more interested in upping your conversion rate than learning your trade.
Yes, it is beyond dispute that as a member of the NCCA you may have some added kudos in the eyes of your prospective customer but to satisfy and keep that customer and for her to recommend you to her friends, you had better be in a position to do not just an average job, but a FANTASTIC job, otherwise all you will have is some added kudos in the eyes of some of your prospective customers, but you won't have the building blocks of a successful business.
 Yes, do the NCCA course but do all the other too because you are only as good, or bad as you know your basics.
Training is not an expense, it's an investment.

[Mike Halliday]

I've done courses by; NCCA, Prochem, Alltec, Solutions, IICRC, Stimvak and some others which I've forgotten the names of.

 none of them prepare you for going into a house and cleaning carpets & upholstery, they tell you about carpet fibres and PH but not the nitty-gritty stuff.

what we need is like the flood school where they have a mock-up of a house, so learners can set up a machine and get their hands on a wand  & hand-tool and be shown how to use them , they need showing about moving furniture, where to start cleaning, how to recognises when the jets are blocked, all the stuff they really need to know, thats why you can't beat on the job training

Mike