Car wash company launched on campus

A car-cleaning service has started on campus to help unemployed locals find work.

UniValet, which launched last week, aims to provide paid on-the-job training for local people who have been without a job for some time or who may have never worked.

The University has teamed up with Rochdale-based charity Petrus, and alongside working for UniValet, the employees will attend The Works, a training and advice centre set up by the University, to help them find long-term employment.

UniValet’s services will be available in car parks across the campus to University staff members, who will use an online booking system to have their vehicles cleaned while they are at work. Prices start from £10.

The car wash team will use an environmentally-friendly waterless system and will offer wash and wax services.

The University’s Assistant HR Director Steve Grant said: “UniValet is the first in a number of programmes that the University is developing in support of the Greater Manchester Commitment to Youth Employment. For many of the people who join this training programme it will be a step onto the first rung of the jobs ladder.

“This is not simply training people to clean cars; we are training them to go to work. We’re giving unemployed people in Greater Manchester the opportunity to learn about customer services, team work and punctuality and all of the other skills and attributes employers expect. Job seekers without his kind of basic experience face real barriers getting into work.”

While working for UniValet, the employees will be trained to Level Two NVQ.

UniValet’s Team Leader Darren Vickers was homeless and unemployed for 18 months before seeking help form Petrus. He said: “We’re all very excited about this new initiative and it’s great to see somewhere like the University of Manchester opening its doors to support local people in this way.

“Hopefully, this scheme will really take off, and then expand to include other big employers across the city.”