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Cofely Besix facility management has opened the first British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) Centre of Excellence in the Middle East. Based at International Tower, one of the premier commercial buildings in Abu Dhabi, the Centre of Excellence allows CBFM’s staff to be trained to the highest international standards. “We are using International Tower as a live example in the training process as all the equipment needed for the training is already here,” explained Ian Harfield, CEO of COFELY BESIX facility management. International Tower offers tenants in Abu Dhabi the rare chance to occupy international Grade-A office accommodation.
The 41,000sq metre building was developed by SinoGulf and designed by Woods Bagot, and was the first commercial tower launched at ADNEC’s Capital Centre, which adjoins the exhibition centre. “International Tower is definitely the leader in the market in terms of setting standards in managing buildings, hence our choice of location for the training centre was a very easy one,” said Harfield. “Also, having an operating building to use during the training process introduces a whole different dimension in cleaning, as our staff are trained to clean a building while it is in use, which is a very important factor.” The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) is the largest independent, professional and educational body within the international cleaning industry with over 10,000 individual and corporate members in the UK and around the world.
Cofely Besix’s services manager and three cleaning supervisors received intensive five-day training from the prestigious institute, and had to demonstrate both theoretical and practical competence of the BICSc processes and standards. This was followed by a rigorous two-day assessment carried out by a BICSc International Assessor. Once qualified, the trainees effectively become the trainers for the next batch of recruits, creating a pyramid effect and resulting in a higher level of empowerment and accountability. “Besides providing an appropriate level of cleaning service, the cleaning team is often the first point of interaction when entering the building, therefore it is very important for us to know that they have received the best training available,” said SinoGulf’s Fund Manager David Cockerton.
