COME CLEAN; Make your mark in an industry that's recession-proof.

Byline: LAURETTE ZIEMER

THE cleaning industry is one of the few areas bucking the recession with around 45,000 jobs available at any one time.

In fact the number is more likely to be 60,000 when factoring in parttime domestic jobs.

"The cleaning industry has an advantage when there's an economic downturn - after all - it is essential," explains Andrew Large from the Cleaning and Support Services Association.

"No matter what happens you still need clean hospitals, schools and offices.

"With the presence of swine flu too, the importance of hygiene is becoming more and more apparent.

"It's no longer a case of keeping things clean just for appearances, it's for the health of the nation."

The cleaning industry employs at least one million people, meaning the number of vacancies is naturally high as people come and go.

From a careers perspective there are opportunities galore. "You can realise your life's ambitions in this industry," says Andrew.

"I know one man who started out as a carpet cleaner in his teens and now has a pounds 50million business. If you're prepared to work hard there are plenty of opportunities."

It's also a good sector if you want a stable and steady job or career.

If you clean premises like office blocks and hospitals, you'll usually be employed by a cleaning contractor.

Some of these are huge companies, like Rentokil Initial, which employs more than 45,000 people (www.rentokil-initial.com). There are jobs to suit most people, regardless of the hours you need to work or the skills you have to offer.

There is a vast range from domestic, office and hospital cleaning to specialist jobs such as clearing up after fires, floods or building work, crime scene cleaning, industrial cleaning of new buildings and house and squat clearance.

Where are the jobs?

Recent Government figures with Jobcentre Plus (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk) show that, while numbers fluctuate monthly, at the beginning of this month there were 46,907 jobs available. These ranged from supermarket cleaners to community cleaners, in places from Land's End to John o' Groats. Hours and rates of pay vary from the minimum pounds 5.73 per hour to a cleaning manager at Asda in Liverpool earning pounds 21,000 a year. Many firms prefer people with experience but just as many are happy to accept applications from anyone willing to learn and work hard.

NHS 

WHILE many hospitals rely on outside contractors for cleaning there are still many who like to employ their own cleaners.

Check out www.jobs.nhs.uk or your local hospital. Cleaners can earn from pounds 13,233.

SCHOOLS

SCHOOL couldn't function unless they were cleaned. Local councils usually fill these jobs many of which are posted on Local Government Careers at www.lgcareers.com. Ask at local council offices and at the schools you're interested in, to see whether they have any vacancies.

There's usually great flexibility working in schools, particularly for those who have school-age children and may struggle to find childcare. We found a job for 10 hours a week during term times in East Sussex paying pounds 11,995 to pounds 12,376 pro rata.

CONTRACTORS

CONTRACTORS employ hundreds of thousands of people so it pays to check them out for vacancies. Often they will advertise jobs locally, sometimes at the premises which they clean.

Big guys include www.uk.issworld.com which employs 45,000 people, as does Rentokil Initial (www.rentokil-initial.com); OCS (www.ocs.co.uk) which employs 14,000 people; and www.lccss.co.uk which cleans for big corporations nationwide.

PART-TIME

CHECK out, or advertise your skills, locally in shop windows or newsletters. Websites such as www.gumtree.com are useful too. We found a company looking for "reliable, punctual, presentable, flexible and hard working" people to clean up after big events.

Salaries

Full-time cleaners can start on between pounds 11,000 and pounds 12,000 a year. Earnings are higher for supervisors and specialist cleaners. Part-time cleaners are usually paid by the hour with rates ranging from the minimum (pounds 5.73) to pounds 10 an hour depending on where you work.

TRAINING

MOST companies have training programmes covering health and safety, using cleaning equipment, and how to identify suitable equipment You may have the chance to complete qualifications including NVQ Level 2 in Cleaning and Support Services or the British Institute of Cleaning Sciences (www.bics.org.uk) Cleaning Operators' Proficiency Certificate.

If you supervise other staff you can work towards the City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Cleaning Services Supervision. See careers advice.direct.gov.uk.

HOURS

DOMESTIC cleaning jobs can allow you more flexibility. It may be possible to negotiate termtime working with employers.

You may have to work when buildings are closed, for example, in the evenings, early mornings, or at weekends.

You could work part-time or on a casual basis, although the number of availble full-time jobs for 35 to 40 hours a week is continuing to rise.

CAPTION(S):

TOP OF THE MOPS 45,000 work placements being offered