About CleanTEC Services
Founded in 2000, CleanTEC Services is an employee-owned commercial cleaning company operating nationwide, with a strong presence across London, the South East and the Midlands. Employing more than 2,500 people, CleanTEC is recognised for delivering high-quality cleaning services while maintaining a strong commitment to employee engagement, retention and development.
The Challenge
CleanTEC Services was recruiting for school cleaning vacancies across Shropshire and later the wider West Midlands. A key challenge was filling roles in remote school locations, where reaching suitable local candidates could be difficult. The business also wanted to create opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment, including participants who are English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), while continuing to meet growing recruitment demands across the region.
The Solution
Serco worked with CleanTEC to address these challenges by connecting suitable local Restart Scheme participants with vacancies across Shropshire and the wider West Midlands, including harder-to-fill roles in remote school locations. Through collaboration with supply chain partners and local Restart Scheme teams, candidates were identified, prepared and matched to suitable opportunities.
To speed up recruitment, Serco hosted interviews through local offices and supported participants to complete onboarding documentation before or during interviews wherever possible. This reduced delays and helped create opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment, including ESOL participants.
The Result
The partnership has delivered significant outcomes for both CleanTEC and Restart Scheme participants:
- Almost 100 participants have started work with CleanTEC
- An impressive 85% retention rate has been achieved among Restart Scheme recruits
- Recruitment support has expanded from Shropshire across Birmingham, Kidderminster, the Black Country and Coventry
- The Restart Scheme is now CleanTEC’s preferred recruitment partner for school cleaner vacancies across the West Midlands
- Inclusive recruitment practices have created opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment, including ESOL participants
One participant to benefit from the partnership was Amar (pictured centre), who joined the Restart Scheme after being out of work for more than 10 years. With support from her Job Coach and the Employer Engagement Team, she secured a role with CleanTEC and later progressed into a supervisor position, demonstrating the long-term employment and progression opportunities the partnership can create.
“The Restart Scheme has given us the opportunity to get the right person in the right place. Candidates are pre-screened before interview, helping us fill vacancies efficiently with suitable local people.”
Cleantec Services Ltd, Area Manager
