[Moderator David@stives]

Brett

Dont know what happened to him , he resigned nearly 2 years ago and thats the last i heard from him

[Ian Lancaster]

Well done for trying so hard, Dave.  I've been on various committees in the past, and I can confirm it's b****y hard work for very little appreciation - people are always ready to criticise, but rarely prepared to compliment and chip in with any sort of tangible help.

I remember there was loads of enthusiasm when you first started, but trying to maintain the momentum is a gargantuan task.

I'm sure no-one else could have exceeded your achievement.

Ian

[mikethechamois]

hear hear

[Moderator David@stives]

Chears guys

[WCE]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I guess that time is great healer and if the FED has got is act together then that can only be a good thing but I do still have one question why do you feel you have to ridicule the Guild? If you don't think it's something that can benefit you then thats fair enough but that does not mean that it wont benefit others. The APWC tried to rival the FED but the guild hasn't set out to be another FED or APWC, it seems its only you that thinks that we are rivals we are not.  Our aims are different and although this is the case there are is some common ground an example being to raise safety awareness in the industry which can only do good for the industry. OK yes the guild is quite new and there is still a lot of work to do to raise the profile but give us time and we will make every effort to increase awareness. The membership benefits are still being added to all the time. The Guild is something that can be a benefit to the industry and IMO could be viewed as to complement the FED as in we ultimately both have one common aim. To benefit our members. If is not for you then fair enough but please understand we give up our free time to run the Guild and that we do it for the benefit of Window Cleaners and the industry so it can be a bit disheartening to see you put us down for no reason. 
 Your efforts with the APWC are to be applauded, you did very well and should be proud I suppose the fact that you longer felt the need to continue meant that you had achieved what you set out to do even if it wasn't quite what the way you imagined.
Pete     

[Moderator David@stives]

I dont ridicule the Guild, you make claims that it is something that it is not.

It is some of your members who compare it to the fed, not me.

If you want to be taken seriously there are a few things you have to change.

to use a quote , "we are better value than the fed"  I never said that, you did.

I dont put you down, you do it yourself by claiming to be something you are not.  If you think a guild certificate will impress a facilities manager, then you are completely misguided, if you are to use a certificate to impress someone, please make sure it has some substance behind it.

[Rob_B]

if you are to use a certificate to impress someone, please make sure it has some substance behind it.

I have been a member of the fed since 2003, and I have got to admit it hasn't done diddly squat for me. I attended their health and safety course which was ok, but as for getting work because I was a member I'm afraid is a no. Memberhip benefits aren't great either.

When I mention I am a member, no one still hasn't heard of it, some even think it is quite funny. I won't be renewing my membership this year, I have joined the FSB. Most people have heared of these and their benefits far outweigh the FWC.

[Moderator David@stives]

Rob

If its doing nothing for you youre not using it the way it should be, have you got the logo on your stationary or on your van.

I take a folder to all my new quotes and it impresses the hell out of most businesses.

The FSB cert wont do nothing for you as well, it is nothing to do with the job. In my opinion It just shows your clients you are scared of a tax investigation so you are protecting yourself.

I am currently working on a £20k plus contract and the FED gave me a good hour on the phone guiding me through some complexities of the proccess.

Also last week I was given a lot of guidance by the Chairman on what I could and couldnt do on a ladder.

Like I have said in the past find any of the big guns websites and look at there badges, Coincidence that they have all got them, I think not, they all know they are essential.

[Moderator David@stives]

Have a look, see what they have all got in common, these guys are no fools


http://www.millardscleaning.co.uk/

http://www.jvprice.co.uk/accreditations.asp

http://www.allcleanservices.co.uk/

http://www.groveswindowcleaning.co.uk/gad.html

http://www.clearviewwindowcleaners.co.uk/

[Tosh]

Have a look, see what they have all got in common, these guys are no fools


http://www.millardscleaning.co.uk/

http://www.jvprice.co.uk/accreditations.asp

http://www.allcleanservices.co.uk/

http://www.groveswindowcleaning.co.uk/gad.html

http://www.clearviewwindowcleaners.co.uk/

Things they've all got in common? 

Aha, websites!   No no... they're all companies that've been in existance for many years?  Millards says it's 90 years old and JV Price took of his from his father when he retired I seem to recall.

Is that it?

[Moderator David@stives]

Badges at the bottom of the page

[Tosh]

Badges at the bottom of the page

I know I know! I was just being my usual pedantic self.

It's blowing a gale outside, and I'm dithering about getting my fat bottom out to work; or not.

[Rob_B]

Yes I have the badge on stationery etc. but if people haven't heared of them it doesn't matter.

Ok all the links above have the fed badge on their website as does mine. I have some large contracts NHS Hotel chains etc. the people I dealt with didn't know of and couldn't care that I was a member of the fed. I am pretty sure that the owners of these companies would be quite upset if it was claimed that they are as successful as they are because they are members of the fed.

I have just finished with safecontractor too for the same reasons.

The FSB I think has a bit more clout. OK its not window cleaning orientated, but there are many window cleaning companies as members, so will fight our corner if asked.
The tax investigation is a bonus as my accountant wants £100.00 + vat a year to cover this. that nearly pays for my subscription alone. Theres free banking which I know i can get without the FSB, but the coop bank seems to have less people complaining about it than the other free ones, which again is another saving £20.00 a month in my case. All this as well as help with risk assessments/method statements, 24 hr legal and up to date business news in general.

If it works for you great, I just can't see the benefit. I liked the badge on stationery etc. but I was paying just for that which was really more for vanity. As many people have said on here before - profits before vanity.

[david willis]

Touching note on what Dave has been saying about the FWC changing, click on link below
http://www.cleaning43.com/latest-news/latest-news-article.php?latestNewsID=677

[Moderator David@stives]

The NHS questions on all tender documents ask a series of questions.

In those questions they ask what relevent Accreditations ie

Details of current Quality Assurance processes and procedures including standards adopted and any  complaints procedure (with a copy of any relevant accreditation/certification)

Details of current Health & Safety processes and procedures, including COSHH and Manual Handling elements (and copy of any relevant accreditation/certification)

Confirmation that a programme of proposed window cleans and scheduled dates will be provided for each location in consultation with authorised officers, and details of contingency arrangements which can be implemented in the event of any emergency situation/s


Statement of monitoring procedures

Why do they ask for relevent accreditations, the fsb is just for your own personal piece of mind, if i presented it to a facilities manager they would just say "whats thais got to do with anything"

[Moderator David@stives]

David

A very good step forward for the Fed, I reckon i will be giving  Andrew a ring in the next couple of days for some more advice

[Terry_Burrows]

may be people will think a bot more of the fed they have been going for many years they have stayed the test of time.you tried and was not to be,
you go out of this with your heads high! I think the Fed is to pro like to be rubbing there hands with glee, just makes people think about how hard things can be, your support to them will not go a miss 

just my thoughts well done anyway