LSC Live

Cleaning and Environmental Services

This Intermediate Level Apprenticeship has two pathways: the first covers many areas of professional cleaning from mechanised street cleaning to the maintenance of hard floors; the second (Local Environmental Services) covers professional cleaning of external areas and basic horticulture, from clearing of sites for planting to the maintenance of sports turf.

There’s more to cleaning than most people realise – cleaning staff can sometimes work at crime and accident scenes, or for the National Health Service ensuring cleanliness of hospital wards, waiting rooms and offices. They might even take charge of a large-scale clean-up, like on a festival site. Local Environmental Services apprentices are key to ensuring that public places are clean, safe and look good. You will find yourself undertaking a variety of horticulture skills working in parks and countryside recreation sites.

Training is an important part of this career because cleaners deal with hazardous chemicals, and sometimes with large machinery. They also need to have the right customer care skills as cleaners are often in contact with customers.

As an apprentice, you’ll learn a range of cleaning techniques and skills including health and safety, working effectively with customers and others, and communication skills. Depending on your employer, you might learn how to clean food areas, confined areas, high-risk areas or the inside of passenger transport vehicles.

There are even more specialised skills. For instance, you might learn how to operate a street cleaner, or how to carry out maintenance and minor repairs. You might clean specialised electronic equipment, or use a water-fed pole system to clean windows and building façades. A huge range of things need cleaning, so you could find yourself working in a variety of places.

Job Roles