[Simon Gerrard]

I notice someone started a topic entitled 'I need Experience.' First of all, good on ya mate for having that level of awareness of you're own shortcomings and being prepared to do something about it.

With all this talk of new association and with it the supposed need for better training in this country, which I think is total bunkum.
What we actually need on the training front is a mentoring scheme.
There are lots of highly skilled professionals in this industry who I am sure would be only too happy to act as a mentor to a less experience, less skilled newbies. It goes without saying that EVERYONE entering this business should attend a recognised training course and learn the basics, but from there they are generally on their own and have to learn the practical side of the carpet cleaning trade 'on the job' where they can make many mistakes and harm their future prospects.
But if those people put their names forward and were then give a local ( but not local enough to be considered a competitor) mentor with similar equipment who they could spend a few days a month with while they applied the practical knowledge learned at their training course and got on the job tuition  from their mentor and thereby help make them a better, more rounded professional.
This wouldn't cost anyone anything, but the results of such a scheme could be invaluable, not just to the individuals concerned, but to the industry as a whole?

Simon

[Paul_Ashworth]

Good post Simon for once i agree with you its a Great Idea   

Are you going to be the first to offer your services ?? (Not to me as your to close)

Paul

[Simon Gerrard]

Yeah, I'm up for it.

Simon

[Glynn]

You won't be the 1st though, Iv'e had a few out with me.

Simon.

[Mike Osbourne]

Seek and you shall find.

Doesn't this happen anyway? The people who want to learn make the effort to find a Mentor. These people are generous with their time and knowledge and has to be respected.

This is a positive aspect of the forums because it brings people together who might not otherwise meet.

[Simon Gerrard]

Agreed, some people actively seek out someone to mentor them, but what about making it more widely known that such a scheme is available. Don't forget we are all quite wary of would-be competitors. If we had an properly organised scheme we may encourage many more to come forward.

Simon

[derek west]

is this idea patented mr G or can i nick it for tacca

bladdy good idea.

derek

[Paul_Ashworth]

Its not just about going out cleaning carpets with somebody else is it ? Its the help with adverts, Leaflets, telling them were to advertise and technical help like pricing, what equipment to buy and just being at the other end of the Phone for when the need Help or to let off steam.

Glynn that posts not having a go at you either i know you have helped a lot of people with Truckmounts repairs, Training and Pricing if only there were more people willing to help each other like you.

Paul

[Mike Osbourne]

Simon

Grasshopper, when you can pick up the bloody phone and have the balls to ask for help, it will be time for you learn.

Who knows Simon, give it a go, it may work well.  

[derek west]

need Help or to let off steam.

Paul

 
you crack me up paul

derek

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

another forum had a mentoring scheme but it never really got going.

Lot's of CC's have offered help to newbies in the form of days out on the job.

I even pass on surplus work to a new local CC, although I do know him from a club we both use.

Maybe CIU, as the largest forum, could try a mentoring scheme but who is going to run it ?

Cheers

Doug

[chrisjohn]

Its a great idea,but when i posted for some help about 6 weeks ago,i got a nil response which was really disapointing.Im a newbie,and had to go out on my own,hope other new cc's are more lucky.

[Simon Gerrard]

Doug,
Surely all that is required to get this going is to recruit a sufficient number of willing Mentors who have say 3 - 5 years experience in the business. They would need to be people with both portable and Truck Mounted equipment so they could paired trainees with the same equipment. The list of mentors around the country could be held on a sticky subject at the top of the board where people looking for a mentor can simply click and look for a mentor near them.
Then all that is required is a mass email to all members of the forum advertising the service. We will do the same on the Truckmounter's forum.
What do you think.

Simon

[robert meldrum]

Without meaning to be cynical. WHY would you offer to mentor someone who wishes to start up a business when they could, after a short time put you out of business, or significantly reduce your market share?
Mentoring has been available for 15 - 20 years through local Business Gateway type initiatives and anyone starting up in any business should have found that out for themselves!
Sure, it's nice to be nice...............but it's a bu**er trying to remove these knives from your back a little while later.
There's been some publicity on here about a form of mentoring being offered and it sounds fine on the surface, but the outcome is likely to be damaging to existing organisations who already provide the industry with training and products.
Also.............
There are likely to be legal implications should any incident / accident take place while offering such a service. From recent posts on here newstarts are having no difficulty finding adequate training to start up in carpet cleaning.
More advanced training is a different issue and there is room for someone to set up a co ordination between existing training providers rather than attempt to start up a new organisation.
Unless, of course they intend turning it into a business.
 

[Joe H]

I have received a lot of help from fellow cc thro the forums and phone calls and appreciated it.
I have also given a lot of help the same way, only this week I received a call from someone wanting help who has posted on this thread.

However, I am in agreement with Robert in as much as when it gets formal then other implications kick in, as he states in the previous post.

[GWCS]

I notice someone started a topic entitled 'I need Experience.' First of all, good on ya mate for having that level of awareness of you're own shortcomings and being prepared to do something about it.

With all this talk of new association and with it the supposed need for better training in this country, which I think is total bunkum.
What we actually need on the training front is a mentoring scheme.
There are lots of highly skilled professionals in this industry who I am sure would be only too happy to act as a mentor to a less experience, less skilled newbies. It goes without saying that EVERYONE entering this business should attend a recognised training course and learn the basics, but from there they are generally on their own and have to learn the practical side of the carpet cleaning trade 'on the job' where they can make many mistakes and harm their future prospects.
But if those people put their names forward and were then give a local ( but not local enough to be considered a competitor) mentor with similar equipment who they could spend a few days a month with while they applied the practical knowledge learned at their training course and got on the job tuition  from their mentor and thereby help make them a better, more rounded professional.
This wouldn't cost anyone anything, but the results of such a scheme could be invaluable, not just to the individuals concerned, but to the industry as a whole?

Simon

Very good idea,

However you will need to ensure your insurance cover this extra person at least for 3rd party risks.

[Simon Gerrard]

Guy's, guy's, guy's, come on, focus a little. This is a very simple, straightforward proposal. We get a number of willing mentors to post their names, phone numbers, type of equipment and location on a sticky topic entitled Mentoring Scheme (or whatever) at the top of this and the Truckmounters forum. Anyone interested in having a mentor can make contact with someone in their area / region. No one but a complete idiot is going to mentor someone so close to them that they could be training a competitor. I, for instance wouldn't take someone on inside of a certain radius of where I am and it would be up to the mentor to decide whether or not to take the person on.
There's no contract, no legal obligations, you're just taking a guy out with you for a day or two and speaking to him on the phone, you're just doing the guy a favour. People still do favours for people, don't they, or is that infringing their human rights or something? (probably knowing this pc world of ours)

Simon

[jasonl]

Ok , can I start?


I offer........  training to anyone more than 50 miles from  Dorset/south Hants  mentoring in , Low moisture cleaning, using pad/buffer, fire and flood restoration, database marketing, general cc business tips 17 years experience.

I seek........ Training in the use of a HM 421 truckmount.

[gwrightson]

Simon,

I know a number of c/c who have mentored other interested parties, including myself  for a couple of members on here, and in fact I myself was mentored by M.Halliday who is only a mere few miles away along with lots of advice, lots of help and even equipment, I dont think Mike is too worried about his business been affected. I also know he has helped many others in the same way. One of the first things i remember him saying too me when we first met was " Enough work for decent cleaners in the area " and "come and spend some time with me, find out if you like it first".

Thats the beauty of a mentor, you can decide before committing.

Make your mind up time.

Geoff

[clinton]

I too had the fortune to learn from a c cleaner or two who were in my area many years ago and still get work and pass work and help another c cleaner who is 5 mins away from me(roger dr carpet)

Maybe geoff we were lucky i guess

Noticed the newbies have not even put any details on there profile so guess people are reluctant to take it any further for any help