ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Derrycourt considers its staff to be its greatest resource – which is why the company has won the European Cleaning & Hygiene Award for Investment in Training for the second year running. Learning and development manager Laura Keogh talks us through Derrycourt’s ethos.

Derrycourt is a European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards veteran, having won awards every year since the inaugural event in Barcelona in 2016. However, the company was particularly delighted to receive the Investment in Training accolade in 2019 for a second consecutive year.

“It is always good to win an award because it showcases the quality of service we provide,” said the company’s learning and development manager Laura Keogh. “This award, however, is incredibly special to us. We put so much of our time and resources into training that it’s brilliant when this effort is recognised.”

Derrycourt views its staff as its greatest resource, says Keogh. “We invest hugely in education and in motivating staff to ensure the highest level of customer service,” she said. “We believe in providing comprehensive training to employees in all areas of the business because by fielding a skilled and educated workforce, we are able to continuously improve the service we provide to clients.”

Courses are offered for all levels of employees and besides company induction these include modules on manual handling, infection control and supervisory and management training. This focuses on soft leadership skills such as communication, managing performance and respect and dignity at work.

“On top of this we offer role-specific training such as good manufacturing practice and HACCP Levels 1 and 2 for catering staff,” said Keogh. “And our healthcare employees are trained and assessed to the British Institute of Cleaning Science standards using the CPSS suite.”

Having a well-trained and competent workforce is particularly essential in the healthcare sector, she says. “Derrycourt has worked extensively with clients to develop and implement a robust training system which ensures that we have a high calibre of trained, competent and capable staff,” she said.
“The growing skills gap and an increased need to compete in today’s economy mean that training is more important now than ever before.”

Derrycourt is constantly developing its learning offerings, says. Keogh. “Each year we incorporate new initiatives such as e-learning, sponsorship and management development training,” she said. The company’s Sponsorship Programme gives employees the opportunity to attend courses and schemes that are directly beneficial to their position. “This provides them with skills that can be transferred into the workplace,” said Keogh.

“Our system has been designed to create a smarter workforce and to yield the best results possible. And as well as offering in-house courses and client site-specific training from our dedicated on-site BICSc approved training centre, we also offer additional courses designed to meet site-specific requirements.”

All Derrycourt employees were invited to apply for the company’s trainee management programme which began In January of this year. “This programme is designed to develop employees to enable them to become part of our supervisory and site management teams,” she said. “Successful applicants selected from the recruitment and assessment centre will complete a series of training modules to include employment law, customer service and finance for non-financial managers among others.

“And each candidate will then complete an assessment where members of our senior management team will act as their mentors.”

Derrycourt thrives on nurturing talent to drive forward its mission of service excellence, says Keogh. “This in turn helps to enhance our employee and customer satisfaction levels,” she said. “Learning and development is critical to the continued success of our people and business.”

Besides twice winning the ECJ Investment in Training Award, the company has also twice won the Greatest Individual Contribution to Driving Up Standards within a Cleaning Operation award as well as the Excellence in client/contractor partnership award.

Keogh says the company is “incredibly proud” to have received yet another accolade from ECJ. “The European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards is a fabulous event,” she said. “Each year the standard becomes higher and this drives all companies to continuously improve. Derrycourt is now looking forward to 2020 and we hope to have further success in the years to come.”

www.derrycourt.ie