Training That Builds Better People

Behind every well-maintained building is someone who knows what they're doing, takes pride in their work, and has been given the training and support to do the job properly.

One of the things I've learned from my years in commercial cleaning is that the people doing the work make all the difference.

You can develop detailed checklists, invest in equipment, and create procedures for every cleaning task. But at the end of the day, it's the person walking into that restaurant, office, or commercial building who brings those standards to life.

That's why developing good people is such an important part of what we're building at Wake Tidy.

I want our Cleaning Technicians to feel confident in their abilities, understand the value of their work, and know they have a team behind them that genuinely wants to see them succeed.

And I believe that when we invest in our people, our clients benefit from that investment too.

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Cleaning Is a Skill Worth Learning

I've always enjoyed the hands-on side of commercial cleaning.

There's a real skill involved in properly cleaning a commercial kitchen, restoring a floor, maintaining restaurant equipment, or knowing how to care for different surfaces.

It takes knowledge, practice, attention to detail, and an understanding of the equipment and products being used.

Yet cleaning is sometimes treated as a job where someone can be handed a set of keys, shown around a building, and expected to figure everything out.

That's not how I want Wake Tidy to operate.

Someone may have years of cleaning experience, but that doesn't necessarily mean they've been taught the methods or standards required for a particular building.

At Wake Tidy, we want our Cleaning Technicians to understand what they're doing, why they're doing it, and what a properly completed job should look like.

That starts with proper instruction and continues throughout their development.

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Building Confidence Through Hands-On Training

One of the best ways to learn cleaning is by doing it alongside someone who knows the process.

A training video can explain a technique, but there are things you only begin to understand when you're working with the actual equipment, surfaces, and conditions you'll encounter on the job.

That's why hands-on instruction is such an important part of our training philosophy.

We want experienced team members and supervisors working alongside technicians, demonstrating procedures, answering questions, and helping them develop good working habits.

A new technician might need additional practice using floor equipment, learning the proper sequence for cleaning a washroom, or understanding the detailed requirements of a restaurant kitchen.

That's normal.

Nobody becomes great at something simply by being shown how to do it once.

Our goal is to give people the time, encouragement, and practical guidance they need to become comfortable with their responsibilities.

Confidence comes from knowing what you're doing and having the opportunity to do it well.

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Introducing the Wake Tidy Cleaning Academy

One of the projects I'm particularly excited about is developing the Wake Tidy Cleaning Academy.

The vision is to build a dedicated learning resource that supports our Cleaning Technicians throughout their time with the company.

Rather than relying entirely on someone remembering instructions from their first training shift, I want our team to have access to information they can return to whenever they need it.

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A Library of Practical Training Videos

The Academy is being designed around prerecorded training segments that demonstrate specific cleaning skills and procedures.

These could include everything from proper restroom cleaning and floor care to commercial kitchen detailing, equipment cleaning, chemical safety, and using specialized cleaning machines.

Each lesson would focus on a particular task, breaking down the procedure into clear, practical steps.

The idea is to make training consistent, repeatable, and available for review.

If someone hasn't performed a particular cleaning procedure in a while, they should have a resource they can use to refresh their knowledge.

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A Growing Knowledge Base

Alongside the video lessons, we're planning a library of cleaning information, procedures, equipment guidance, and reference materials.

We want team members to be able to learn about different floor surfaces, cleaning methods, products, equipment, and the reasons behind our procedures.

It's also a place where we can share lessons learned from our cleaning operations and improve our training materials as we gain experience.

The Wake Tidy Cleaning Academy is a developing initiative, but the vision is clear: make learning easier, more accessible, and part of the way we work.

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Training Shouldn't End After the First Week

I don't believe training should be something we complete when someone is hired and then forget about.

People improve through repetition, feedback, practice, and continued learning.

We're building our approach around several forms of ongoing development.

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One-on-One Coaching

Sometimes a technician needs individual attention to work through a particular cleaning task or develop confidence with a piece of equipment.

One-on-one coaching allows a supervisor or experienced team member to work directly with that person, demonstrate an improvement, and help them practise it.

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Group Training and Learning Days

We also want to bring our teams together for shared learning experiences.

As Wake Tidy grows, our vision includes company-wide learning days, practical workshops, and Cleaning Technician events.

These could involve equipment demonstrations, hands-on cleaning exercises, discussions about common challenges, or opportunities for experienced technicians to share what they've learned.

Just as importantly, they give people an opportunity to connect with teammates they might not normally work alongside.

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Ongoing Supervision

Training and supervision should support each other.

When supervisors inspect completed cleaning work, they're also gathering information that can help us become better trainers.

If a particular procedure isn't producing the expected result, we can review the method, demonstrate a better approach, and make sure the technician has what they need to improve.

The goal is to build good habits and help people become increasingly capable and independent.

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Creating a Culture Where Feedback Is Encouraged

Feedback is one of the most useful tools we have for helping people improve.

But how that feedback is delivered matters.

If someone makes a mistake or misses part of a cleaning task, I don't want the conversation to stop at telling them what went wrong.

I want us to understand why it happened.

Was the procedure unclear? Did the person need more training? Was the equipment appropriate? Was there something unusual about the building that evening?

Sometimes the answer is as simple as taking a few minutes to demonstrate a better technique.

Our supervisors, managers, and ownership team should be approachable, willing to listen, and actively involved in helping people succeed.

That also means recognizing good work.

When someone takes initiative, receives positive client feedback, masters a difficult skill, or consistently delivers excellent results, I want that effort to be noticed.

Accountability and encouragement belong together.

People should know what's expected of them, receive constructive feedback when they need it, and feel appreciated when they're doing a great job.

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Encouraging a Growth Mindset

One of the things I've spent a great deal of time studying over the years is personal development.

I've learned that the willingness to keep learning can make an enormous difference in someone's professional life.

That's something I want to encourage at Wake Tidy.

Not everyone joins a cleaning company with the same experience, confidence, or long-term goals.

Some people may be looking for dependable work and the opportunity to master their responsibilities.

Others may discover an interest in specialized cleaning, equipment operation, training, or leadership.

Both are valuable.

What matters to me is creating an environment where people feel encouraged to ask questions, learn new skills, accept feedback, and take pride in their progress.

I want our technicians to see themselves as skilled professionals whose knowledge and abilities can continue developing.

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Investing in Better Tools and Technology

Training is only part of the picture.

People also need appropriate equipment and tools to perform their work effectively.

I've worked with enough cleaning equipment over the years to appreciate how much difference the right machine, cleaning product, or tool can make.

Our goal is to keep investing in professional equipment and practical cleaning technology as the business grows.

That includes equipment suited to the surfaces and cleaning challenges we're working with, as well as technology that supports scheduling, documentation, communication, and accountability.

We're also interested in incorporating equipment demonstrations and specialized operational training into our education programs.

I want our team to understand how to use equipment correctly, maintain it properly, and work safely.

Better tools don't replace skilled people.

They help skilled people do their jobs well.

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Learning From the Wider Cleaning Industry

There's a tremendous amount of knowledge available within the professional cleaning industry, and I believe we should take advantage of it.

As Wake Tidy develops, we want to create opportunities for team members and leadership to pursue relevant external education, safety training, and professional credentials.

Some of the programs and qualifications we're interested in include:

• ISSA education: Professional cleaning practices, industry knowledge, and management development.
• WHMIS education and workplace training: Understanding hazardous products, labels, safety data sheets, and appropriate workplace procedures.
• First Aid: Developing practical safety knowledge through recognized workplace training.
• Registered Building Service Manager (RBSM): A professional designation for building service management.
• Certified Building Service Executive (CBSE): Advanced professional development for leaders in the building service industry.
• Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT): Specialized education covering carpet cleaning methods, materials, and equipment.
• Sunbelt Rentals equipment training: Relevant operator training and qualifications for specialized equipment where required.

These represent areas of professional development we want to explore as our team and services grow, rather than credentials we're claiming everyone currently holds.

The goal isn't to collect certificates simply to display them.

It's to help our people build practical knowledge that makes them more capable, more confident, and better prepared for the work they perform.

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Creating Opportunities to Grow

When I think about the future of Wake Tidy, I don't just think about the number of buildings we'll clean.

I think about the people who will help build the company.

I'd like to see technicians who begin by learning the fundamentals eventually become experienced team members who can train and support others.

Some may develop specialized skills in floor care, kitchen cleaning, or equipment operation.

Others may be interested in becoming team leaders, supervisors, or account managers.

As the company grows, I want us to develop opportunities for people to take on additional responsibility and continue learning.

Those opportunities need to be earned through demonstrated skills, reliability, good judgment, and the ability to work well with others.

And they need to be supported with the right training.

I learned during my earlier years in commercial cleaning that building a strong company requires developing people who can take ownership of their responsibilities.

That's an important lesson I'm bringing into Wake Tidy.

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Better People. Better Cleaning. Stronger Relationships.

Everything we're building around training has a purpose.

We want Cleaning Technicians who understand their work and take pride in doing it well.

We want supervisors who know how to support their teams.

We want managers who communicate clearly, provide useful feedback, and help people improve.

And we want our clients to feel confident in the people responsible for looking after their buildings.

That confidence is built over time through consistent work, good communication, and a team that continues learning.

I'm excited about what the Wake Tidy Cleaning Academy and our future training programs can become.

But more than anything, I'm excited about the opportunity to help people develop skills, gain confidence, and discover what they're capable of accomplishing.

Because when we invest in the people behind the cleaning, we're investing in the quality of everything we do.

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Grow With Wake Tidy

If you enjoy working with your hands, learning new skills, and taking pride in a job well done, we'd love for you to learn more about Wake Tidy.

We're building a commercial cleaning company in Kelowna that values training, teamwork, accountability, and the people who make great cleaning possible.

Explore Careers at Wake Tidy to learn more about joining our team.

Brandon Grass
Founder, Wake Tidy

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