The Benefits of Training New Staff

Training often increases retention within employees. Not only will staff learn new skills it will help them to be the best at their role. This leads to increased confidence and productivity.
It can be seen as a great return on an investment. In time they can progress to more senior roles and become mentors and role models for other staff members.

When hiring new employees many consider that as part of their package you mention annual training. It can attract top talent of those who appreciate that there are always new areas to learn and develop. There is an understanding of their motivation and commitment is valued.
It helps to keep staff motivated and engaged. It is always a good idea to invest in training for long term staff loyalty.

Training staff allows everyone to understand what is expected of them. They can work out their boundaries. It means there will be less need for interaction with each staff member if they can carry out their duties having been shown the right way from the start.

How to Work Out if Staff Need Training and Development

This requires some questions to be answered.

• Do they perform to the best of their ability
• Are there areas within their role that are constantly a challenge
• Do staff have lots of questions? If yes, are they answerable by more communication or do they need to be shown how to complete a task for example?
• Is there consistency with all staff?

What Training is Needed?

Define training objectives. Consider what is the intended outcome that learners will achieve when they have completed the training.
Conduct a report to ascertain where there is a gap in skills. This can be approached independently, then possibly heads of each department and finally with each person.
If you are a house manager then it’s always a good idea to take some time to help out in various areas of the house with new staff. This could be making beds, turning over laundry or washing up with the chef. This shows respect and a can do attitude and often is a way of seeing how things function or need improvement. This could be in the way of investing in training for your new staff.
Not all training needs to be costly. In house training should always be given when a new staff member joins. However as a principal this is not an option and time does not always permit this way. If you employ someone in a new role within the house then it can be hugely beneficial to have an expert come to the house and provide one-to-one training. This allows not only bespoke training to take place but allows for many unanswered questions to be addressed. It makes it easier for everyone’s schedules to be taken into account too as well as logistical issues.

Measure and Track Progress

Appraisal meetings are meetings that are commonly more formal than a regular meeting, they are set up at the beginning of employment for the future for example after 6 months or a year in order to review their performance.
It should be set out in a way that allows for an open discussion. Ensure that the focus is based on evidence and not from personal opinions, focusing on positivity and development.
There may be areas that you have not noticed where training is required but by having an appraisal meeting it may highlight areas of concern.
When you have chosen the right training for the staff and they have taken part then it shouldn’t end there. Be sure to have a chat with the staff to get their feedback on how they think the training went. Make notes on this for future training. After a period of time it should be evident that training has taken place and there is progress seen.

There is nearly always value in continued professional development and therefore to take the time to invest in training for your new staff.

Are you looking to source training for your staff or are you looking to sign up for a training course yourself? We have online and in-person training options available. Have you decided which training option would be best for your needs? If you are still unsure, our consultants are readily available to help you.Why not get in touch here to find out more.

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Investing in your Staff

Employees always want to feel inspired in order to keep motivated. By giving them the opportunity to develop their skills and refresh their knowledge, they will feel more confident in their ability to progress. You need to keep your staff engaged. Investing in training for your existing staff will make them feel appreciated and that they are able to grow individually with your help. By showing your own loyalty to your staff,  this will encourage them to be loyal to you. You want them to stay with you for the long term. It is vital, to keep your staff happy. If someone feels as though they are not progressing in their job, they may start looking elsewhere for work. It is always a good idea to invest in training for long term staff loyalty.

Employees will become tools for agility in a changing environment if they can quickly obtain the information they require while working. Investing in training your staff, equips them with the confidence they need to feel competent in their job. A lack of training and development can have a negative impact on their drive and motivation. Investing in training with benefit the both of you. You will have highly-skilled staff, and they will be working for someone who shows they value them.

Types of Training Courses

There are various types of training available, including in-person and online training. Online training has become increasingly popular with e-learning courses becoming the most used training tools. Staff have the comfort of doing training in their own home or wherever they are in order to get started straight away. It is also handy to be able to track your progress online and also your instructor can monitor this from their end. E-learning courses are a fast, and efficient way to develop your skills. E-learning is a good option for those who live outside of the UK.

Alternatively, in-person training courses are good if you feel you learn better face-to-face. This also allows you to asks questions to the instructor, as soon as they come to you and get answers straight away. By being able to discuss fully, this will improve your overall understanding of the topic. Group courses are also a good option for open discussions on topics, as others may ask a question that you may have not thought about yourself.

Want to Sign up to our Training Courses?

Now you know why it is a good idea to invest in training for long term staff loyalty, you are probably looking for the next steps. Are you looking to source training for your staff or are you looking to sign up for a training course yourself? We have online and in-person training options available. Have you decided which training option would be best for your needs? If you are still unsure, our consultants are readily available to help you.

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The Benefits of Effective Housekeeping

Firstly, to understand how to reduce improper housekeeping. We should look at the benefits of effective housekeeping.

It will make an enormous difference on many different levels. Firstly, productivity will increase when housekeepers are working efficiently. Simply put, working effectively does not only mean that tasks will be executed quicker. But also better. Whether there is a small room or a large property to clean, being effective in your work is key. It makes you stay on top of everything. It also ensures you don’t miss any details. Also, when work is being done effectively, it is more enjoyable for the housekeeper to do. Nothing worse than constantly feeling like you are running behind. Like you are not able to fit all the tasks into the hours scheduled for the job. And a happy, content housekeeper will be a loyal employee for a long time.

How Does Training Help To Reduce Improper Housekeeping?

Training provides three important things: Structure, Skills, and problem-solving. All vital to not only reduce mistakes and accidents during housekeeping jobs. But also to have the job done quickly and efficiently. Which is beneficial both for the housekeeper and the employer.

Structure

Structure is of the utmost importance when it comes to proper housekeeping. Whether there is one room to be cleaned, or a whole house to keep up. You must have a clear structure in place to make sure that all areas will be covered. So that nothing will remain untouched. Without a structure, it can be very overwhelming to tackle a room, area or whole property. Training will provide handy systems and overviews that can be implemented in any situation. So that an easy overview and plan can be made of daily, weekly and monthly tasks for everyone to follow.

Skills

Skills and knowledge is the second key factor of training. This encompasses everything from learning to work with many different types of equipment, to different cleaning products, and materials. How do you remove a red wine stain out of a velvet couch? What is the best piece of equipment used to clean a wooden floor? How do you clean a chandelier? These are all skills and knowledge questions that will be answered during training. After all, knowledge really is power and although you might never have worked with marble before – you never know when you will need this knowledge! Knowing more than you need to will always put you one step ahead of the rest and enables you to implement and adapt quickly.

Problem Solving

Training will provide you with the confidence and skills to tackle any unexpected situation. Whether you are working onboard a yacht, in a hotel or in a private household. You will never be able to fully control all situations. So you need to be ready to provide solutions to problems that will present themselves. Does the private household have unexpected guests coming? You will be able to efficiently prep the rooms needed with the skills you learnt during training, how to prioritise. An unexpected stain? Your training will have taught you exactly how to clean it. No cleaning products at hand? During training, you will learn how to make your own cleaning products to tackle even the toughest stains!

What Are the Elements of a Housekeeping Programme?

The Housekeeping Training Programme consists of two key elements: skills knowledge, and practice.

Skills knowledge is applied through all of the detailed modules. In which every aspect of the house, property, hotel or yacht will be covered. As per the examples mentioned above, you will learn everything about cleaning products, cleaning tools, equipment, and materials. Even the most seasoned housekeeper will learn new tips and tricks. Such as new ways of cleaning, arranging flowers, packing a suitcase or folding towels, napkins or toilet tissue. The list is endless!

Practise is the second key pillar. Expect to be getting stuck in, practically, during the training. We do not believe in only the theory of housekeeping, you have to be able to experience it yourself. You will be on your knees scrubbing, sitting mending clothes, polishing shoes, and silver, ironing, folding and packing. And removing challenging stains out of all different types of material and fabric. The only way to truly learn a skill is to practise, practise, practise!

Online Housekeeping Training

Our online housekeeping training courses are extremely suited to reduce improper housekeeping through training. Not everyone can travel or make time to come do a training programme in person. The online training does not give you a lesser experience that in-person training. You will take exactly the same modules, with exactly the same content. You will still be able to view, watch and practise with our interactive online training platform, but now from the comfort of your own home. Housekeeping training will be available for you wherever you are in the world, from the comfort of your own home.

How Can Polo & Tweed Help?

If you think you, your household or your department might need training, why not get in touch us the team here. We have training solutions for any of your staff issues. Whether the goal indeed is to reduce improper housekeeping. Or teach more skills, and improve efficient working. From tailor-made in-person training to online courses. Polo & Tweed has the right course for you. So do get in touch and we can find the right training solution for you. We look forward to hearing from you!

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So, how do you learn to become a domestic Housekeeper?

Difference Between Domestic / Non-Domestic Housekeepers

So, if you are looking to learn how to become a domestic Housekeeper. Then firstly it’s important to know the difference!

Simply put, if you are a domestic Housekeeper, you are working for a private household. This can be a small, two-bedroom flat. Or a large estate with several Housekeepers working in a large team together.

So the domestic part purely is regarding the fact that you do not work in a corporate environment. But rather a private household. There still can be many different types of domestic Housekeepers working in households. But there are some very key differences, between working in a hotel, for example, and a private household.

The transition

It is quite a common route for a hotel housekeeper to progress into working for a private household. And if you have never worked in a private household setting, there can be a lot to learn. To adjust to. And to get used to! You can be the most highly skilled Housekeeper in the world with all the housekeeping knowledge. But moving to a private household setup requires a different kind of mindset. And if you have never worked in a domestic setting before, it can be daunting if you are not fully prepared.

Privacy & Discretion

The first thing you need to learn when you become a domestic Housekeeper is privacy. When you are a hotel Housekeeper, chances are you will only clean areas and rooms when guests are out of the room. There will be very little to no interaction with guests at all.

This is what is different in a private household. All of a sudden you might be working in a busy household. Where your employers might not only be in the same house as where you are working. You could find yourself working in the same room as them too.

So being able to understand privacy, and discretion, are absolute key. It is about finding out what your employer prefers. Perhaps they do not mind you being in the same room as them when you are working. But perhaps they would find it really disturbing and prefer their privacy.

Understand that you are in someone’s private, home space. They do not want to feel like they are in a hotel. They want to feel secure, comfortable, and able to do whatever they want. Without feeling like you are imposing on their privacy.

So you need to understand that some people will want you to not be present in the same room, at the same time. And work your schedule around that. And if you are in the same room, always be discreet. Be polite in saying hello and goodbye. Always ask to see if it is ok for you to start working in the room where they are at. And never repeat any private conversations you might have overheard!

Working around families and children

Have you worked around children before? As a domestic Housekeeper, it can very much be a regular occurrence.

Firstly, practically you should look at getting a DBS if you do not already have one. It is quite common for an employer to pay for a DBS, but it is good to have this conversation and not assume.

But besides the documents, it is important to understand if it is something you are comfortable with. Do you like children? Do you have them yourself? Some people are natural around children and love being around them. Some people, however, are not.

And that does not make you a bad domestic Housekeeper! But it is something to think about. When you are applying for domestic Housekeeping roles, do ask about children.

And even if the family has kids, it does not automatically mean you will be working around them a lot. If the children go to school,  are at boarding school, have a nanny, or have parents doing all the sole care. There will be a small chance you will be caring for the children or be around them much.

But it is definitely a different dynamic than any hotel or corporate environment.  Households with children will likely be busy, with lots of last-minute changes and hectic mornings. Make sure you are ready for this and happy to work in this environment before taking a domestic Housekeeper job like this.

Training can help

What can really help you to learn to become a domestic Housekeeper, is specific training. You might be the highest skilled, technical housekeeper. Domestic Housekeeping requires different skills, outlooks, and mentality. And the right training programme can really help you with this!

Focusing on things as discretion, privacy, working around pets and children. Can really make a difference in how you understand a domestic Housekeeping role. Understanding if it is right for you. And if you could thrive in it! Training will give you those insights. But it will also give you confidence with your newfound skills. To apply to your new domestic Housekeeping role!

How can Polo & Tweed Help?

Polo & Tweed have top online Housekeeping training courses available for anyone, worldwide. All of the courses are internationally acknowledged and provide you with a certificate upon passing your final assessment. The training courses are created by the best professionals in the industry. Combining their many years of skills and experience to create outstanding training courses.

 To find out more about housekeeping training, or finding a new domestic housekeeping role for you. Why not contact us here now and we look forward to speaking to you!

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What Are Your Training Goals?

Before we look at what training is available for housekeepers, let’s find out first what you want to achieve. Defining your goals can be helpful before setting out on your learning journey.

What skills do you or your staff already have? If you or staff already have the basic housekeeping skills and years of experience thinking about the subjects the housekeeping course covers will be useful. Are there any gaps in knowledge?

Will you or your member of staff need to be able to serve food or laying the dinner table? Greet guests? Or supervise staff serving food, laying the dinner table?

The above skills can be great skills to have as a housekeeper. But they are typically not covered in a classic housekeeping course. This is where, for example, a Silver Service course would be suited. This is often seen as the next step in training housekeeping after the basic course and will give the next level of service skills. A housekeeper may then increase the services they can offer or knowledgeably supervise other staff.

Will you or your staff member be responsible for managing other staff, overseeing the household? Dealing with outside contractors or budgets?

Housekeepers looking to progress to this level and develop management skills will often have the experience of or have completed the housekeeper training course and/or the Silver Service course. Ensuring they have all the necessary basic skills before completing the house management training.

Do I or my housekeeper need to have completed the housekeeper training course and the silver service course first?

Thinking about the skills you have and those you need will determine the courses you need. If you do not need to serve guests or supervise staff serving then you may feel that the silver service course is not necessary. Equally, if you have been a housekeeper for many years you may feel the housekeeper training is not for you but you would like to progress and house management is where you need to develop your skills.

Housekeeper Training

When looking at what training is available for housekeepers, the most straightforward option is a complete housekeeping course. Here you will learn all the tools and techniques of housekeeping, and so much more. You would understand how to clean each of the specific areas of a home including care of special surfaces and stain care. You would cover laundry including care of fine garments, ironing, steaming, folding. Even subjects such as shoe care, handbag care, wardrobe management will be covered. Packing and unpacking, finishing touches for the home including basic flower arranging as well as how to provide turndown service.

Silver Service Training

This course is about how you interact with guests and provide everyone with the best possible service. This could be an excellent added training available for housekeepers.

You will cover table management and the form of service for the following types of service – Silver Service, Butler Service, Russian Service, Buffet Service, Tray Service, English Service, French Service, Yacht Service, Party/Event Service. How to serve wine, champagne, tea & coffee, High Tea.

You will also cover subjects such as etiquette and address, including arrival & departure. Glass and Silver polishing, napkin folding, hygiene and finishing touches.

House Management Training

You will cover the hierarchy of the private home. This can be a great training option for housekeepers looking to take on more responsibilities. You will look at staff management including organisation and planning, hiring and firing, staff communication. Time management, teamwork, problem-solving.  Dealing with contractors, health and safety and fire awareness. Budgets and inventory. Shooting etiquette, party and events organisation and planning.

How To Get Started

Are you ready to start a new training course? Polo & Tweed are here for you! We have our Housekeeping, Silver Service as well as House Management training all available in online formats. Meaning you can do all the training from the comfort of your own home. According to your own timeline! So why not get in touch with us here to discuss training options, and get you started!

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What is Online Training?

Online training has been around for quite some time, however. It has gained popularity in the last couple of years, and what has helped with that is updated technology. Training courses can now be offered more extensively, and professionally. Whereas previously a training course might have just been documents of text to read and learn. Nowadays, audio, video and interactive elements are incorporated into online training courses. This will give you a much more detailed, elaborate online training experience. Much closer to the experience of in-person training, too!

It has also allowed for more sectors to offer their training courses in online formats. Whereas previously they might have not been able to transform their training to online platforms, audio and video have allowed pretty much every sector to be able to offer online courses.

And there is so much you can learn in an online training course. Except for the social interaction with fellow students perhaps, there is very little difference to an in-person training course. With good internet connections, training and video formats are used to showcase any practical skills that need to be taught.

A good online training course will give you a balanced combination of theory and practical skills. You might have to complete assignments and tests. Or when it comes to showcasing your nearly learned practical skills, you might have to show these on video. So that trainers can grade, and give tips on how to improve.

The great thing about online training is that it can be done anywhere.  Without you leaving your house, you can now access so many different types of training courses. In most cases, it is more affordable than in-person training. These are just some of the many positives of online training courses.

Is Online Training Very Time-Consuming?

Some people are worried about the practicality of online training. Will it be difficult to follow? What if you are not very skilled in the online, IT department? Will it take a long time to complete a course? The short answer to that is no. However, it depends on how you want to do the course.

Flexibility of Time

The beauty of online training is that it gives you flexibility. Whereas with an in-person training course, you’d have to stick to the set days planned for the training. Which is likely to be several days in a row, potentially over a weekend. not having the flexibility to decide when to complete your training, can be seen as time-consuming. So in this case, it is not the online training, but the in-person training that would be time-consuming. With online training, you decide when you want to start your course. So you can plan it in at a time when you know you will have time to focus, and complete. Most course providers will give you at least several months to complete a course. This way you have even more time to get all the knowledge, and the certificate, you want to achieve and receive.

No Travel

Another way you will actually save time with online training, is that it cuts out any travel time. You can do online training wherever you are, as long as you have an internet connection and a laptop or computer. So it means you can fit in a bit of study and training time on an evening after work, for example. Or when you have a day off, you can decide do to an hour or two of studying. So again, instead of online training being time-consuming, it will save you time!

Speed of the Course

Finally, you might worry that it will take you a long time to get through the online modules. Honestly, online training courses are set up so well nowadays, that it will not take long at all to familiarise yourself with how it works. If you can navigate through sending emails and signing up for the course online, you will be able to do the course, with ease!

How Can You Get Started?

Do you still think online training is time-consuming? Or do you now think it might be the right option for you? Polo & Tweed might have the right courses you are looking for! We have an extensive online training academy, with courses suited for everyone. We only work with the absolute best trainers in the industry who have dedicated their many years of experience and skill to the students, to develop and deliver on the best courses in the industry. So why way, contact us today and let’s chat training!

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Essential Skills

All housekeepers should be very honest and trustworthy. This is essential. As a housekeeper, you are often working in a private household. You should always maintain absolute discretion and honesty. Listening is another key skill that the best housekeepers possess. It is vital to listen closely, ensuring you understand the directions given.

Methodical

The best housekeepers are very methodical in their approach. When vacuuming a room, where do you start? Begin in one corner and work your way out. This way you can be sure that you won’t miss even the smallest patch. As mentioned earlier, cleaning a chandelier can be a big task! One clever tip is to take a series of pictures or videos before you start. This will help you massively when you reassemble all the intricate pieces. If you approach your tasks methodically, you will ensure that your duties are carried out to a high standard.

Attention to Detail

If you want to become a better housekeeper, then paying attention to detail is key – great housekeepers will keep a close eye on all the intricate details. When polishing, for example, it is best to spritz the polish onto the duster. Spraying polish directly onto a surface can cause overspray. Simply paying close attention to this small task can save you time late.

Being Organised

Being organised is imperative. Keeping to-do lists can be very helpful to maintaining order in a household. If you are working as part of a larger team, to-do lists and schedules can be helpful. By delegating duties, you can ensure everything is completed in a timely fashion.

Know the Tools

Make sure that you properly utilise the tools that are available to you. It will only make your life easier! Vacuum cleaners, for instance, come with a myriad of different attachments. Do you know what all these attachments are designed for? You can use the short bristle brush attachment, for example, to gently clean skirting boards. Whereas the more precise plastic nozzle attachment is perfect for cleaning between sofa cushions.

Know the Products

Know your products and surfaces. If you don’t know the different methods for cleaning various types of metal… well it’s safe to say that the outcome could be disastrous! Take the time to become familiar with different surfaces. How to identify them and how best to clean them. Brass, for instance, can often be identified as a magnet that will not cling to it. Once you have this information, you can make an informed decision on a suitable cleaning product. Doing your research can help you avoid wasted time and costly mistakes!

How can Polo & Tweed Help?

Do you want to become a better housekeeper? Polo & Tweed can help! The absolute best way to become a better housekeeper is to take our online Housekeeping training. Our industry expert trainers will teach you everything. From the most basic of skills, to how best to clean a crystal chandelier! Whether you are completely new to the trade, or a seasoned professional. You will be able to learn so much from the online training course. The online courses are internationally acknowledged and provide you with a certificate upon passing your final assessment. However, if you are looking to find a new job as a housekeeper – we can help you with that too! Simply register with us to get on our books and we will keep you posted when a suitable job comes up. 

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Why Invest in Domestic Staff Training for Professionals

The domestic service industry is unlike any other and it’s constantly subject to movement and change. As a professional in this industry, if you want to stay at the top of your game or grow within the job, you will have to keep up with the fast moving pace of the industry, the changes in culture, demands and requests.

Domestic staff training can open doors for you in the way of getting into higher-end positions in larger professional estates, yachts and palaces. It can also get you higher up within your current job – moving into managing a team or even the full household.

 Why Invest in Domestic Training for your Staff

Domestic staff training can fix problems such as a shortage of needed skills. You might have a lovely team of housekeepers who you trust and fit well within the family household, but they might lack a certain skill set. Putting them on a specific training course can fix this instantly, focusing on exactly the skills that need brushing upon, or learning completely new ones.

Besides learning practical skills, domestic staff training is also a great way to reinforce or create a new sense of teamwork that might be lacking. There might be a few members of the team who have settled in well, but newer employees are still trying to find their feet, leading to disconnection within the team and its synergy.

Putting the whole team on a domestic staff training course where things like hierarchy, leadership, teamwork, management and planning are being practised, can greatly benefit the efficiency and productivity of the individuals as well as the team as a whole.

How to Choose the Best Domestic Staff Training Provider

There are many different domestic training providers out there, with more popping up as the industry grows. It can sometimes be difficult selecting and recognizing the good from the bad and finding exactly the right domestic staff training suited for you. We have provided a list of 10 questions to ask a domestic staff training provider which will hopefully help you in selecting the right one for you or your team.

1. Group size
   

   Ask what the maximum size of the group will be and what the trainer/student ratio is. In a group course, there should not be more than 8 to 10 people per trainer, especially because training in the domestic service requires a lot of detail and fine tuning. A larger class than this would simply mean that the trainer would not have sufficient time during the course to give everyone enough feedback and attention to ensure the material and skills are being absorbed properly.

2. Ability to tailor a course
   

   Sometimes it might be difficult to know exactly what type of training you need. A good training provider should be able to help and advise you while setting up the training. They should be able to give you examples of modules and subjects to choose from, and if you are indeed doing a private course, there should be options to ‘pick and mix’ subjects. You might already have a vast amount of knowledge on butler service, for example, but know nothing about American, synchronised or Russian service. In this instance, you could discuss this with your (potential) training provider to create a course suited exactly for you, rather than wasting time and money on modules that are not relevant to you or your team.

3. Background of the trainers
   

   The trainer is a vital part of any course and you should absolutely ask about what type of trainers the institute has to make sure they are suitable and knowledgeable enough to provide the training. You can ask about their background, CV or summary of their experiences to put your mind at ease and find the perfect match.

4. Location/Venue
   

   Most good domestic staff training providers should be able to send their trainers to your venue to train staff in-situ. There are a lot of benefits to this – staff can learn with exactly the situations and equipment they would be using during their day to day job. If you are looking for a course where a venue is provided, do ask about the type of venue and think about how easy it is to get to, if there is a possibility of staying overnight, and what type of props they provide for practical training.

5. Reviews from previous students
   

   Do ask for reviews from previous students. Most providers will have these in a section on their website but if not, see if they can provide you with some. You can sometimes also find these on the company’s Facebook and Google pages. Keep in mind that every experience can be different, but to get a rough overview, reviews can be helpful.

6. Practical and theory
   

   Ask how the course is split up – is it only theory being discussed whilst sitting in a classroom? As for most subjects relevant for the domestic service industry, the theory is nowhere near as important as the practical skills.

7. Certifications
   

   Does the training provider issue certifications after the course? Are they internationally recognised? Is there perhaps any accreditation that comes with the certification?

8. Cancellation periods
   

   Any booking should come with a cancellation or refund period – ask for the terms & conditions so that everything is clear beforehand.

9. Module handbooks/handouts
   

   Do the students get any information on paper, or perhaps a handbook, notes or a PowerPoint presentation? These things are valuable to prepare for, especially after the completion of the training. A training day or weekend can be quite overwhelming, especially if lots of new material is covered, so having a handbook to reference afterwards can make sure that no information goes missing.

10. Exams / Assessments
    

    What is the assessment process? Are these theory, practical, or a combination? From a learning outcome perspective, having both a theory and a practical exam can be extremely valuable. To check on progress and make sure things that might not have been taken in or understood completely, can be focused on again.

Do you feel these 10 questions to ask a domestic staff training provider helped? At Polo & Tweed, we are proud to offer silver service courses, housekeeping, butler, house and estate management and yacht training of the highest standard.  If you’d like to know more about our small open courses or our private courses, then please do have a look here, or drop us a line. Tell us what your needs are and we will be delighted to advise you on the steps to get the right domestic staff training for you or your team.

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Why are Housekeeping Qualifications Required?

When looking at the housekeeping qualifications every housekeeper needs, we should first understand why they are required. As well as how it can make a difference to your career.

Industry Standards

Whether you are working in a small private household, large estate or in a big hotel chain. As a housekeeper, you will have to make sure you stick to a certain level of industry standards. Training courses are a perfect way to keep up to date with these. There might be a cleaning product that you have been using regularly that is no longer suited to use. Or a new version might have been released. The same goes for cleaning equipment and material. This is always in development so it is good to know what the new products on the market are.  So that you can either start using these yourself. Or advise your Principal or employer when they ask.

Skills Update

Anyone who does a job for a long period of time can become slightly complacent. As a housekeeper, you might feel like you are going in ‘automatic’ mode. For example, when cleaning something you have done many times before. There is a big risk in this. As when you stop paying very close attention to all your tasks, you can start forgetting things and standards will drop! Avoiding complacency requires renewed learning efforts. And this is where housekeeping qualifications every housekeeper needs can really make a difference.

What Will Training Do

Training will force you to break down a routine that you might be very used to. It makes you look at all the different aspects of the process. Where can you improve? Where are you dropping your level of detail? There might also be new products or material that you have never worked with before. So in training, you can learn how to, for example, clean stains out of a velvet couch. It is always best to know these things before they become apparent. So that you will never have to turn around to an employer saying you do not know how to do something. Because as your housekeeping qualifications have covered this.

Standing Out From the Competition

This is especially relevant if you are looking to apply for a new job. Or if you are looking to get higher up in your career. Chances are there will be other people also applying for the job. Initially, CVs will be compared. If your CV shows no qualifications and your competitors CV has exactly the same level of experience. But if they do have training on their CV, which person do you think will be favoured? Training does not only give you the skill. It shows future employers that you are serious about your career and willing to invest in it.

Qualification Requirements Essential to Housekeepers

There are many different types of training and qualifications you can consider. Either when you are looking to become a housekeeper, or when you are already working as a housekeeper. There is no such thing as doing too many qualifications. Keeping your training up to date by taking a similar training once a year can be very beneficial to your skillset. Doing regular training keeps your mind fresh and gives you the opportunity to practise things that you might not have come across in previous work. Below a list of must-have certificates and training for you to consider.

Health and Safety Training

Health and Safety training is paramount to undertake, especially if you are working in a private household. If you are working in a hotel or corporate setting it is likely that health and safety training is offered as part of your employment or introduction period. However, if you are working as an independent housekeeper, self-employed or employed, you need to be up to date on health and safety risks and how to avoid them. Especially in housekeeping, you will be working in a lot of potentially dangerous situation if these aren’t managed well.

You can think of all the different types of toxic material using in cleaning products and how to use them – and what not to use them on. Another example is when you are dealing with electrical equipment, you want to make sure never to use water near it. When you are working on stairs, you never want to lift too heavy items up or down – or leave bulky equipment such as vacuum cleaners lingering around, this is a massive trip hazard. Health and safety training will go over all these and many more potential risks, making sure you are fully understanding how to work safely for yourself and the people around you.

Fire Awareness Training

Similar to the above, if you are working in commercial or hotel settings, they will most likely give you brief training on what to do in case of fire. However whether you are working in a hotel, small house or large villa, you should have an understanding of fire safety and training in fire awareness. Also, fire escape and emergency plans will be different per property, requiring you to know what to in general in case of fire, what material and equipment you are using can potentially be a fire hazard. Fire awareness training will also teach you the common causes of fire, basic safety features in buildings and how to handle fire extinguishers.

Food Hygiene Training

Food Hygiene training comes in several different levels, but even you do not prep or cook food during your job – being around food and drink is enough to qualify you to do a Level 1/basic Food Hygiene course. You will learn why food hygiene is important, understanding food hygiene law, food safety hazards, food safety control, and personal hygiene. Understanding these skills is vital for any housekeeper as it is all part of the overall cleanliness, upkeep and cleaning of the household or space you are working in.

Cleaning/Housekeeping Skills Training

Whether you are new to the industry or have worked as a housekeeper for a long time, doing housekeeping skills training is vital to keep your standards up to date. A practical training course would go through all different types of cleaning skills and techniques with you, from vacuum cleaning and mopping to polishing brass, silver and cleaning shoes and high-end handbags. Do you know how to work with all different types of material when it comes to stain removal? From leather to silk, velvet and suede – these are all things a training would cover. A good training course would also go further and teach final touches such as toilet paper folding, towel folding, wardrobe management and flower arranging. The skills for a housekeeper are endless so doing a practical course is vital to stay up to date.

How Can Polo & Tweed Help?

Polo & Tweed offer extensive Housekeeping, Health, Fire, Safety and Food Hygiene training courses which are extremely hands-on – requiring you to constantly be on your feet, knees and sitting as you go through all different types of cleaning materials, techniques, equipment and skills. You will work your way through all areas of the house. As well as learning things such as wardrobe management, pet care, shoe and handbag care. Polo & Tweed offers small group courses, as well as online training and private, tailor, made training. You can read more about our online and in-person training courses here and do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions you may have!

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What Is Online Training?

To find out if online training gives value for money, let’s look a little more first at what exactly online training is. Online training courses have been around for a long time. But in the last couple of years, training schools and companies have focused more and more on developing online training platforms. So that students from all over the world can participate in the courses they have to offer.

And it doesn’t only work in favour of the training providers. Online training has many benefits for the students too. Firstly, similarly, now courses from all over the world are available to you as a student. So wherever you are, you can get a qualification from an institution of choice. This can vary from extensive degrees to one-day qualifications or certificates, and everything in between.

No More Travel

It gives a lot more freedom to the student too. You no longer have to travel or commute to a training course. Nor do you have to take any specific days off to attend a course. All of this can be time and cost-effective. So when looking at whether online training gives value for money, this can be a first good argument. You are likely to save money by doing online training. Most (not all!) online training courses will be cheaper than their in-person variant. Besides that, you will save money on not having to travel, not having to stay overnight, and any other cost you could have from taking part in a face to face training course.

Time Is Money

Another way why online training could give value for money is that you will be more time-efficient. And that can be money-saving, or indeed, give you value for money. If you ever have participated in an in-person training course, you will know how time-consuming this can be. Normally these courses will run for at least one full day, or several days. Meaning that it is likely you will have to take time off work or cancel a shift. So instantly, you could lose out on income by doing a training course.

Now, look at what it would mean to do a training course online. Firstly, you can decide when to start the training. So you would simply not schedule this in your busiest period at work, or in your private life. As you will probably know it will be extremely challenging to combine. And would you still be able to get the most out of the course if you are tired and overworked?

The great thing about online training is that you are in charge of the timeline. You can start the course whenever you want. So you can schedule it into your time when it is convenient for you. When you know you will be able to focus for a couple of days, or weeks, to really learn everything the training has to offer. Most online courses will give you several months too, to complete the course. Which is likely much more time than you need. What that does, is indeed again giving you more flexibility. You can start, pause and restart the course according to your schedule and needs!

What Are Your Expectations?

So does online training give value for money? It does mostly depend on your expectations, and what you want from a training. Some people enjoy the social aspect of doing training courses. Meeting and getting to know new, like-minded people. It could even be seen as a networking opportunity for some. If this is the case, online training might not be suited for you. Online training will mostly be done individually, without much, or any group participation at all.

If you, however, would like to have a cost-effective and flexible way to get a new qualification or training course, then it will definitely give you value for money. When you do an online training course with a reputable training provider, you will get a good quality education and certificate. You will likely learn many new skills that you will be able to apply in your work or everyday life. As well as it looking good on your CV, too.

How Can Polo & Tweed Help?

Do you think online training gives you value for money, and are you ready to consider the options? We can help! Polo & Tweed have an extensive online training academy, with courses suited for everyone. We only work with the absolute best trainers in the industry who have dedicated their many years of experience and skill to the students, to develop and deliver on the best courses in the industry. So why way, contact us today and let’s chat training!

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