Moving window cleaning up a rung
February 1st 2007 Backed by the likes of Contico and Tucker Pole, the Association of Professional
Window Cleaners (APWC) aims to promote the increasing level of professionalism
within the trade – and ensure its members' businesses gain all the benefits and
promotion they deserve.Brendan Coyne spoke with APWC co-founder and chairman,
Andrew Mullen
The APWC officially launched last September, opening offices in
Caterham which allow Mullen (pictured, centre) to continue
running his business while bringing member services online.
He's currently ironing out the bugs in an online searchable database,
which will enable Facilities Managers, for example, to search for
window cleaners with
experience and
qualifications that
precisely meet their
specification. Mullen
explains the thinking
behind the service,
which he says will be
fully up and running
by March this year:
"It's all part of our
aim to promote
members as much as
we can," he says."The
window cleaning
industry needs all the
promotion it can get,
and we feel it's been
lacking in the past.The
search function takes the hassle out of the equation for the busy FM.
Our system shows who's available in the area and how suitable they
are for the job. For example: what kind of insurance cover they have;
training completed; and the industry bodies they belong to, such as
IPAF, the APWC, the Federation of Window Cleaners etc. It also shows
the kind of work the contractor does (i.e. domestic/commercial), so all
the FM has to do is tick the categories that meet their specification
and see who matches.They save a lot of time, and our members have
a better chance of winning new business."
Membership starts from £125 per annum, up to a maximum of
£250 for the larger window cleaning firms. Benefits are numerous and
Mullen believes it offers excellent value for money, as the first job
picked up as a result will pay for the fee."Members receive free life
insurance and accident benefit.We hope no-one ever has to use it
but statistically the chances are somebody will.The membership fee
also includes their own website and email address and we are
developing more marketing tools to help members increase their
turnover and standing locally."
As well as producing colour leaflets that advise the public on
window cleaning methods, restrictions and legislation, the APWC is
currently negotiating with a national company that will provide leads
for major window cleaning jobs around the country. Mullen says the
service divides the UK into 58 regions and will inform members of
new build clean-up contracts/office relocations within their region –
and supply contact details to allow them to tender."There's a big cost
involved but it will really benefit the members.Hopefully this will be
recognised by the industry."
The aim is to become a kind of CORGI for the window cleaning
industry, enabling members to show the public the professional face
of what is becoming an increasingly respected and well paid trade.
Mullen says the APWC hopes to offer more practical training relating
to water-fed poles. From personal experience, he says the present
offerings are focused too much on the technical aspects, when more
hands-on training would be beneficial.
In the meantime, the association says it will continue to lobby
government and water companies in the face of legislative change
and further drought orders.Mullen says the APWC was deeply
involved in last years'drought order negotiations, but perhaps didn't
receive the credit it deserved. However, this year – which is predicted
to be worse than 2006 in terms of drought – he says the broader
industry has more time to prepare, and that the APWC will represent
the interests of the industry to the utmost of its ability."Members are
our priority but we will always stand up and speak for our industry,"
says Mullen."But the more members we have, the louder our voice."
For further information, visit www.apwc.eu or call the number
below. | 
