Cleaning and Support Services Skills (7648)

Last Updated: 06 Jun 2023
Important Update: All awarding organisations are required by external regulators and funding agencies to regularly review performance and take-up of their products and services. Following a review City & Guilds has come to the difficult decision to no longer offer qualifications in Cleaning and Support Service Skills.  
 
When we carry out reviews, there are a wide range of factors that are considered, including the number of learners taking the qualifications, assessment needs, funding, and government plans.  Some qualifications are being retired, which means the published last learner registration date will not be extended. Some qualifications are being withdrawn, which means we will be bringing forward the last registration date for learners. We will of course continue to fully support our customers and learners throughout the life of the qualifications and certification activities.

Please review the revised end registration dates on our website and catalogue.

Show you're a properly skilled cleaner or can supervise a cleaning team with these flexible cleaning qualifications. You'll learn and be assessed at work, and you can choose a qualification that suits you - from short Awards to in-depth Diplomas. There are options for all kinds of people - if you've just started out you might take a Level 1 or 2 cleaning qualification, while experienced supervisors can go straight to Level 3.
These cleaning qualifications are for anyone who works as a cleaner or cleaning supervisor. You don't need any previous qualifications to get started, but you need a current job or work placement in the cleaning industry.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

At Level 1 you'll cover basic health, safety and hygiene, plus cleaning skills such as:

  • Choosing the right cleaning method for a surface
  • Using electric cleaning equipment
  • Dealing with recyclables.

At Level 2 you'll cover things like teamwork and communication, plus your choice of specialist cleaning skills.

At Level 3 you'll cover the skills you need to supervise others, things like planning, training and assessing risks.

To gain your cleaning qualification you need to show you've got a particular set of skills. You usually work with your training provider to review your current skills and find the best way to gain new ones - perhaps by trying new things at work, or by studying.

You'll be assessed at work. For each unit your assessor watches and asks questions as you perform a task, or looks at a portfolio of work that you've built as formal evidence of your learning. Then they confirm you've got the skills to do the job well.

Which Level is right for me?

Level 1
You have a junior job in cleaning or support services and want to gain confidence in your role. You'd like a basic qualification covering teamwork, safety, hygiene and simple skills. This might be your first qualification.

Level 2
You're a more experienced cleaner and need to broaden your skills or specialise in one or more areas - perhaps cleaning streets, floors or windows. You may already have a Level 1 qualification.

Level 3
You're a supervisor in the cleaning industry. You want recognition for your more advanced skills - things like managing a team, training others and controlling resources.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

The Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Cleaning and Support Services Skills can help you succeed in lots of different cleaning roles, including:

  • Cleaner
  • Industrial cleaner
  • Street cleaner
  • Window cleaner.

The Level 3 Cleaning Supervision Skills helps you develop in your role as a cleaning supervisor, managing a team.

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Local Environmental Services (7729)
  • Level 3 Certificate in Facilities Management (7724).
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications, you need qualified assessors - you can train internal members of staff or recruit specially.

You must make sure learners can access all the resources they need to complete the qualification.

You'll deliver these qualifications in the workplace and assess your learners on evidence from real work tasks.

To find all the resource requirements for assessment and delivery, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

You can get fast-track approval for Level 1 if you offer Level 1 NVQ in Cleaning and Support Services (7696).

You can get fast-track approval for Level 2 if you offer Level 2 NVQ in Cleaning and Support Services (7698).

All learners must be working in cleaning or support services. Level 3 learners must be in a supervisory role.

Level 1

Level 1 will suit you if you have a junior job in cleaning or support services and want to gain confidence in your role. You'd like a basic qualification covering teamwork, safety, hygiene and simple skills. This might be your first qualification.

There are two qualifications to choose from at this level: a shorter award and a longer certificate. For both the award and the certificate, you complete two core units:

  • Maintain personal hygiene standards when cleaning
  • Reduce risks to health and safety in the workplace.
p>You also choose one optional unit, or more for the longer certificate, that suits your job role. For a full list of optional units, download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

The Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Cleaning and Support Services Skills can help you succeed in lots of different cleaning roles, including:

  • Cleaner
  • Industrial cleaner
  • Street cleaner
  • Window cleaner.

The Level 3 Cleaning Supervision Skills helps you develop in your role as a cleaning supervisor, managing a team.

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Local Environmental Services (7729)
  • Level 3 Certificate in Facilities Management (7724).
Level 1 Cleaning and Support Services Skills (7648-01)
Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2023

Level 1 Award in Cleaning and Support Services Skills

  • Accreditation No: 500/9760/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 7 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 53 - 53 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 70 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2024 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £57.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2

Level 2 will suit you if you're a more experienced cleaner and need to broaden your skills or specialise in one or more areas - perhaps cleaning streets, floors or windows. You may already have a Level 1 qualification.

There are three sizes of qualification available at this level:

  • Level 2 Award in Cleaning and Support Services Skills
  • Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning and Support Services Skills
  • Level 2 Diploma in Cleaning and Support Services Skills.

Depending whether you choose the shorter award or the longer certificate or diploma, you complete between one and three core units. You also choose between one and nine optional units from a broad range that includes:

  • Clean and maintain internal surfaces and areas
  • Clean and maintain external surfaces and areas
  • Clean high-risk areas
  • Clean and maintain soft floors and furnishings
  • Carry out maintenance and minor repairs.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

The Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Cleaning and Support Services Skills can help you succeed in lots of different cleaning roles, including:

  • Cleaner
  • Industrial cleaner
  • Street cleaner
  • Window cleaner.

The Level 3 Cleaning Supervision Skills helps you develop in your role as a cleaning supervisor, managing a team.

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Local Environmental Services (7729)
  • Level 3 Certificate in Facilities Management (7724).
Level 2 Cleaning and Support Services Skills (7648-02)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2024 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning and Support Services Skills

  • Accreditation No: 500/8104/4 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 18 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 129 - 180 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 180 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £102.50 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2 Award in Cleaning and Support Services Skills

  • Accreditation No: 500/8105/6 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 6 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 42 - 64 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 60 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £69.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

Level 3 is ideal if you're a supervisor in the cleaning industry. You want recognition for your more advanced skills - things like managing a team, training others and controlling resources.

There are three sizes of qualification to choose from at this level:
  • Level 3 Award in Cleaning Supervision Skills
  • Level 3 Certificate in Cleaning Supervision Skills
  • Level 3 Diploma in Cleaning Supervision Skills.

Each qualification comprises core and optional units. Optional units include:

  • Maintain a sustainable environment in cleaning
  • Train and develop cleaning staff
  • Support equality, diversity and individual rights in the workplace
  • Monitor and solve customer service problems.

For a full list of units and details about requirements, download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

The Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Cleaning and Support Services Skills can help you succeed in lots of different cleaning roles, including:

  • Cleaner
  • Industrial cleaner
  • Street cleaner
  • Window cleaner.

The Level 3 Cleaning Supervision Skills helps you develop in your role as a cleaning supervisor, managing a team.

You might also be interested in these qualifications:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Local Environmental Services (7729)
  • Level 3 Certificate in Facilities Management (7724).
Level 3 Cleaning Supervision Skills (7648-03)
Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2023

Level 3 Diploma in Cleaning Supervision Skills

  • Accreditation No: 500/9338/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 37 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 227 - 244 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 370 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £139.20 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Additional information for centres

Learning Assistant

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

Learn more about Learning Assistant >

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form