[oliver collins]

Hi Guys

I am thinking of joining the NCCa in the new year and i would like your opions of the benifits of joining ie training and logo use in marketing, i was hoping it will make me stand out from the splash and dash guys even more than i do now.

However i have been carpet cleaning for 5 years i would say a have a good grasp of PH levels and spot and stain treatment and the right chems for the right carpets,but the training is £275.00 and if i fail the exam i think it would have been a waste of time and money no prizes for runners up

Your opions please Regards Oliver Collins Rise & Shine & Cleaning 

[derek west]

you won't fail. trust me. get it done, i might join ya.

[Grant Whyte]

Hi

The course will prepare you to pass the exam and as you've been in the business for a good while you'll be in a good position to sail through the course.

Grant

[Joe H]

The very fact Paul and Pawel are the instructors is every reason to attend.

The course I went on had 24 cleaners, half were newbies and the rest were experienced ranging up to 25 years of it.

[ianharper]

oliver

dont do it

join

http://www.bics.org.uk/

about £50 a year you get letters after your name  plus ask about city & guilds in cleaning science it will stand you much more if you ever give up carpet cleaning. the exam is study at home with a muiltable choice exam over two years. its much more comprehensive and covers many areas that should be included in the NCCA but are not.

Respect

Ian Harper

[Matt Seymour]

Ian.

I've just had a look at the BICS site and it made interesting reading.

Couldn't find any mention of prices for the courses though. Do you have a rough idea of prices for the foundation course?

[Paul Heath]

It is a good idea to have a institution to set standards and for all us to follow.The only problem is the average household is not aware of any of these exist
When and whoever gets to be a houshold name i will be the 1st to sign up, but they seem to lack the marketing budget. Take Rogue traders the other week, it proves that price is the number one factor, and that would have been an ideal opourtunity for one of the institutes to show themselves, rather than the lawyer, who had no idea.
I have found that by giving a good and reasonilby priced service is far more important than if you are a member of something no one has heard off
Just my view, but this is what a forum is about 

[derek west]

It is a good idea to have a institution to set standards and for all us to follow.The only problem is the average household is not aware of any of these exist
When and whoever gets to be a houshold name i will be the 1st to sign up, but they seem to lack the marketing budget. Take Rogue traders the other week, it proves that price is the number one factor, and that would have been an ideal opourtunity for one of the institutes to show themselves, rather than the lawyer, who had no idea.
I have found that by giving a good and reasonilby priced service is far more important than if you are a member of something no one has heard off
Just my view, but this is what a forum is about 

unfortunately, doing it in that order makes it all the more difficult to achieve. the idea is to get a mass on board to make it happen. TACCA anyone?

[Paul Heath]

Agree with you d, but how long has the NCCA been going   Long enough to become a household name if the marketing was there

[cleanability]

Well I did the course and was a member of NCCA until about 6 years ago. Actually learnt very little I hadnt already learnt by myself. Whether its changed now I dont know but I wasnt actually shown how to clean anything. Was just taught the risks of cleaning. Felt less confident after I'd done the course lol. As for the course. Not worth the paper its written on. Failed the course on the day but just sent in the correct answers by post which I thought was ridiculous. Had the NCCA logo everywhere but I'm sure it didnt make any difference to bringing work in. Look carpet cleaning as has been discussed many times is NOT A SCIENCE its just carpet cleaning. To take an analogy, some ppl on here think people want Picaso to paint their living room. All I'd want is my living painted by a decent painter lol

Chris

[oliver collins]

Hi guys

Thanks for the posts so far

Heres a question in my advertising two other carpet cleaners advertise in the same booklets as me i would be the only one to be a member of the NCCA that would surely tip potential customers in my favor.

Any thoughts

Oliver Collins Rise &shine Cleaning

[Paul Heath]

Over the next week or so ask you customers if they have heard of the NCCA?? Be intersted to hear the results

[derek west]

paul
firstly i'm not disagreeing with you as ive thought the same for a while now but as i like to look at things from a different angle heres a thought.
when you see a solicitor with loads of letters after there name, do you actually know what they mean. but at the same time, i'd guess the more letters the better the solicitor.

maybe the public will see the NCCA next to olivers ad and go, "oh he belongs to an organisation, he's obviously reputable"

just thought i'd throw that out there for discussion.

[Matt Seymour]

Personally, I don't think it will do anyone any harm being a member of the NCCA, but I can't see it doing anyone all that much good either.

As has already been said, barely anyone has even heard of the NCCA. In fact, I've mentioned them to a couple of customers and they found it quite amusing that such an organisation even exists.

Given the pretty steep membership and training fees. I don't personally think it is worth it.

[Paul Heath]

Good point d, usually when talking about solicitors the more digits after there name the more they charge....
Everybody knows NHBC, so why can't the cleaning industry get a federation that would become a household name??

[derek west]

Good point d, usually when talking about solicitors the more digits after there name the more they charge....
Everybody knows NHBC, so why can't the cleaning industry get a federation that would become a household name??

nearly everybody

just a thought paul really, looking at it from a diff perpective. i think the NCCA with someone new behind the wheel, might just be able to turn it into an amazing organisation, treasured by all who strive for perfection and see this job choice as a profession rather than a way to make a few quid.

[Paul Heath]

Totally agree d....perhaps a change at the helm would be good and a large marketing campaign, would see me sign up. It would be good to get the RD cleaners out of the way

[Joe H]

As I see it Paul, you got it wrong way round again

"a large marketing campaign, would see me sign up".

it takes people to have faith and sign up so that generates an income to be able to spend on a large advertising campaign.


Re Rogue Traders., according to the latest NCCA News magazine they were consulted with the lead up to the programme - but do you think they could force there way in front of the cameras?
Maybe it was a case (and this is only my comment) that they could have had camera space but it would have cost them - and they didnt have enough cleaners paying the subscription to be able to afford that advertising campaign.
Catch 22

[ianharper]

Guys

BICSc has been going as long as NCCA but have achieved so much more. as a member i get annual report on their finances and they are impressive.

If you take just one area commercial cleaning ask any person who responsibly it is for cleaning about BICSc and they will know about them. the reason is the on the job training they do. this lifts standards.

If you do lots of commercials then it would have a benefit for you.

Plus as i said you would not believe what's not covered by NCCA until you see what is by BICSc it is worth the time and effort.

Just give them a call and ask about the city and guilds or NVQ

Respects

Ian Harper

[Hilton]

As I see it Paul, you got it wrong way round again

"a large marketing campaign, would see me sign up".

it takes people to have faith and sign up so that generates an income to be able to spend on a large advertising campaign.


Re Rogue Traders., according to the latest NCCA News magazine they were consulted with the lead up to the programme - but do you think they could force there way in front of the cameras?
Maybe it was a case (and this is only my comment) that they could have had camera space but it would have cost them - and they didnt have enough cleaners paying the subscription to be able to afford that advertising campaign.
Catch 22

I dont get what you mean,

Are you saying that the NCCA would have had to have paid to have gone on the Watchdog programme.? If so thats nonsense.

I am afraid it says more about the lack of clout the NCCA have if they were not deemed well known enough to actually take part in either the Bait & Switch or the DFS warranty scam, as the supposed body that represents Carpet Cleaners you would have thought that they would have been afforded the opportunity to take part and explain about themselves and get across that consumers should only choose NCCA members,  this is of course is the very reason why so many see no point in joining up.