Service assistant

Service assistant is a vocational qualification that gives you professional competence in facility services — everything that makes a building and workplace function in everyday life. As a service assistant you are the one who makes things run smoothly: you ensure clean safe and well-functioning surroundings in among other places hospitals companies and public institutions. It is a versatile service trade with many different tasks throughout the day.

A service assistant's day is varied. You perform professional cleaning according to professional methods help with practical service tasks around the building and contribute to hygiene and indoor climate. At a hospital for example you might combine cleaning with patient-related service tasks and logistics. You often work closely with other professional groups and are an important part of the place functioning safely and efficiently.

• 01You get professional competence in facility services and become widely applicable on the job market.
• 02You learn professional cleaning, hygiene and practical service tasks.
• 03You work with people and are part of a team that keeps everyday life going.
• 04The education is practice-oriented — you learn by doing the real work.
• 05You get a trade with high demand and stable employment.
• 06You start with stage 1 as a cleaning technician and can build on to stage 2.

Service assistant is a vocational programme lasting 2 years to 2 years and 6 months incl. the basic course; as an adult with experience from the industry you can have the programme shortened. You start with a basic course at a vocational school and continue with a placement in a company, where you are paid during your training. The programme is built in two stages: stage 1 is cleaning technician, and it gives access to stage 2, where you choose hospital service or company service.

As a qualified service assistant you can work in hospitals, service companies, institutions and private companies. You can specialise in hospital service or company service at stage 2, take more courses and, with experience, move towards roles such as team leader or work planner. Skilled service workers are in demand, and it is a trade where you are always needed.

“No one notices the service assistant when everything works – and that's the point.”