Frances and Tracey complete national scholarship programmes

Two colleagues have been awarded certificates recognising their completion of national scholarship programmes.

Frances Paterson, an Assistant Area Officer in the Facilities Management team, was honoured for her success in the ASSIST FM Cleaning Scholarship delivered by the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS).

Frances helps to support and manage catering, janitorial and cleaning staff in facilities in primary and secondary schools, libraries, community centres, and Crookston Care Home in Tranent.

Tracey McConnachie, Area Officer of Nutrition with Facilities Management, completed the Learning to Lead Scholarship delivered by We Are Extraordinary Training. Part of the ASSIST FM Scholarship initiative, the course is aimed at developing leadership capabilities among staff in Scotland’s local authorities.

Frances and Tracey were presented with their certificates at a ceremony which welcomed future leaders from councils across the country in catering and cleaning services.

Frances, who has worked with us since 2021, said: “The BICS scholarship gave me a better understanding to the world of cleaning which I can pass on to our staff to achieve a higher level of cleaning within our establishments.”

Her six-month course was a mixture of training days, home study and assessments covering an array of topics including environmental awareness, greenwashing, building inspections, cleaning science and cleaning inspections.

Tracey has been a valued member of the service since 2002 and began her career as a Catering Assistant. Committed to developing her skills and knowledge, she attended college for two years to attain her Catering SVQs.

Progressing into the role of Cook Supervisor, which she held for 17 years across several schools, she advanced to the position of Assistant Area Officer before being appointed Area Officer where she continues to provide strong leadership and operational oversight.

Tracey’s scholarship programme combined in‑person and online learning with a focus on key subjects including employee engagement, team resilience and mental health in the workplace

Vanessa Sanal, Service Manager with Facilities Management Services, said: “Tracey has gained valuable tools to support her continued development and effectiveness as a leader through the scholarship. She now feels better equipped to guide, support, and strengthen her teams, applying her new skills to enhance both wellbeing and performance across her area. Frances’ achievement not only broadens her personal expertise but also helps us embed best practice across our cleaning teams. She is equipped to lead, support, and strengthen her team’s knowledge, applying her new skills to enhance the service.”

Congratulations to Frances and Tracey.