Dry cleaning/laundry manager

Dry cleaning/laundry managers supervise assistants who carry out the cleaning operations. They might also carry out management duties within a dry cleaning shop or laundry.

Also known as

• Laundry manager

Work activities

Dry cleaning managers work in dry cleaning shops and laundry managers usually work in industrial laundries. They supervise the work of dry cleaning and laundry assistants and make sure that the business runs efficiently, safely, profitably and within current legislation. A manager’s day-to-day work depends on whether they work in a dry cleaning shop or an industrial laundry. In a shop, there will be fewer staff to supervise and frequent direct contact with customers. The manager could have a more hands-on role, doing the same things as the other staff.

In an industrial laundry, the manager might have many more staff to supervise and to organise into shift systems. Most of their contact with customers and suppliers is likely to be by phone or email. They are unlikely to have face-to-face contact with customers. In large laundries, managers might specialise in areas such as production, transport, work scheduling, training or general management. However, managers in both types of workplace will have the following duties in common:

• Administration.
• Accounts and budgeting.
• Customer care.
• Staff recruitment and selection.
• Training.
• Work scheduling.
• Health and safety.
• Control of chemical use.
• Complaints handling.

The work environment can get hot, humid and sometimes noisy, so you’ll need to be prepared to cope with these conditions.

Personal qualities and skills

As a dry cleaning/laundry manager, you need:

• Good communication and leadership skills.
• To be well organised and able to make decisions.
• The ability to plan things and carry them through.
• Customer service skills.
• Good knowledge of cleaning and laundering processes.
• To use cleaning chemicals and solvents correctly and safely.
• Knowledge of handling different types of textiles and fabrics.
• Numerical skills to cope with accounts, book-keeping and budgeting.
• A good level of fitness.

If you have any allergies, breathing problems or skin complaints, you should find out first whether the chemicals would affect you.

Cleaning companies operate in a very competitive market. They must meet customer demands and maintain standards, while, at the same time, cutting costs. The following future skills needs have been identified for the cleaning sector:

• Management and leadership.
• Literacy, language and numeracy.
• English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
• Technical skills.
• Customer service skills.

Pay and opportunities  

Pay rates for dry cleaning/laundry managers vary depending on the type of operation and the level of responsibility. The pay rates given are approximate. Dry cleaning/laundry managers earn in the range of £16,500 - £22,000 a year.

Dry cleaning/laundry managers work a 39-41-hour week. In dry cleaning shops, they normally work Saturdays with a day off in the week in lieu. In laundries, they normally work Monday to Friday, though some work shifts.

Employers are dry cleaning shops and industrial laundries, handling commercial laundry services. Opportunities for dry cleaning/laundry managers occur in towns and cities throughout the UK. Industrial laundries tend to be in larger towns and cities. Some laundry managers work in hotel or hospital laundries.

There are opportunities for experienced managers to open their own business. However, this normally involves considerable financial investment.

What’s happening in this work area?

Cleaning is regarded as an essential service, no matter what the economic conditions. The sector is expected to grow steadily over the next few years, providing plenty of opportunity for employment.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on job boards, in local newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. You could also approach possible employers directly to ask about vacancies.

Entry routes and training

In this industry, it is quite common for people to work their way up from the shopfloor to a management position. Graduates might be recruited for specialist management posts.

The Guild of Cleaners & Launderers (GCL) has a Qualification Star Scheme, which provides qualifications on many aspects of dry cleaning and laundry, including supervisory certification. The GCL suite of qualifications covers all skills in this business sector, including dry cleaning/laundry management. The Textile Services Association (TSA) also runs occasional relevant training courses and seminars. Full-time and part-time foundation degrees in management are also available. Dry cleaners and laundries that use solvents in their work need to be registered and hold a permit. They need to fill in forms and keep records to show how much solvent is being used. Staff need to be trained in operating and safety procedures.

Alternatively, you could do a level 2 apprenticeship in the role of commercial laundry operative, and work your way up to the role of manager.

Some managers move into area or regional management positions. Some people set up their own businesses. If you work for a large company or part of a national group, there might be the chance to move into other management fields. A few examples are research and development, customer services, human resource management, and sales and marketing.

Qualifications

Entry requirements vary. Some people enter a management training course with a degree; others are promoted from dry cleaning/laundry assistants. A good general education is helpful – GCSEs in English, maths and science are particularly useful. Some management training schemes accept candidates with A-levels or equivalent.

For entry to a degree course in any subject, the usual minimum requirement is:

• Two to three A-levels
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects.

Alternatives to A-levels include:

• Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

To do an intermediate apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your apprenticeship programme if you don’t already have them.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some applicants have gained relevant supervisory skills or have a background as a dry cleaning/laundry assistant.

Related careers

• Dry cleaning assistant
• Garment technologist
• Laundry assistant
• Manager
• Product manager