In 2018, Jerome Prosser joined Birmingham City Council as an agency worker and successfully secured a place on the Council’s trainee programme, taking the first step towards building a long-term career.
Upon completing the programme, Jerome secured a Grade 2 position within the Estate Services Directorate. Recognising the value of continuous learning and professional development, he was determined to gain the skills and knowledge needed to progress further.
His dedication soon led to promotion into a Grade 3 Area Neighbourhood Caretaker role, where he took on responsibility for managing a team. Moving from a hands-on cleaning position into a supervisory role required him to develop expertise in both operational service delivery and people management.
Understanding that further development was essential, Jerome embraced a range of learning opportunities, including internal training programmes delivered by Birmingham City Council and the ILM Level 3 Diploma in Leadership and Management, delivered by Environmental Excellence Training and Development. Successfully completing these qualifications provided him with the confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills needed to progress into a Grade 4 Compliance role.
Speaking to the British Cleaning Council about his career journey, Jerome highlighted the impact that learning has had on both his professional and personal life:
“I have a young family and, practically, I needed secure employment but wanted something that my family could be proud of. I wanted to be able to make a difference in what I did. I knew that to secure a role I needed to do more learning.
The learning gave me so much confidence. It enabled me to have a career and progress in this career. Economically, it has contributed to a better life for me, and I am able to provide a better life for my family.”
Jerome is also passionate about raising awareness of the importance of the cleaning profession and the vital role it plays within communities:
“As a profession, cleaning is not really recognised, but it is one of the most important activities that takes place in any building. By cleaning correctly, you are contributing to the sustainability of a building.
I know that I am providing a vital service to my tenants, making sure best practice is followed and keeping my team safe whilst working. I also know that my team and I contribute to creating a safe environment for all the residents of the buildings we are responsible for.”
Jerome’s career progression has continued, and he has recently been appointed to the position of Grade 5 Compliance Manager. His achievements demonstrate how investment in learning and development can create meaningful career opportunities and support long-term professional growth.
Environmental Excellence Training and Development has been delighted to support Jerome throughout his learning journey and is proud to have played a part in his success. Today, as a manager himself, Jerome actively encourages members of his own team to take advantage of professional development opportunities, that EETD offer, recognising that continuous learning is key to individual growth, organisational success, and effective succession planning.
Jerome’s story is a powerful example of how ambition, commitment to learning, and the right support can transform a job into a rewarding and successful career.
So what’s next?
