The British Institute of Cleaning Science is the largest independent, professional and educational body within the cleaning industry. Founded in 1961, its mission is ‘the raising of status and standards of the cleaning industry, through education’.

BICSc, as it is known, is an independent body with members in all areas of the cleaning industry, including Local Authorities, Contract Cleaners, Manufacturers, Suppliers, Trainers and by no means least, cleaning operatives themselves. The membership currently stands at 575 Corporate Members together with 4,000 Individual Members and the Institute's reach is global.

The Institute’s Awarding Body, Education, Strategy and Finance Committee sets the standards and develops the skills programmes necessary for the Institute’s range of cleaning qualifications.
BICSc is a joint Awarding Body for NVQ Levels 1 and 2 in Cleaning and Support Services and Level 2 Carpets, Food Premises, Windows, Public Transport Vehicles, Caretaking and Highways and Land (which encompasses street cleaning as well as graffiti removal). It is also responsible for a range of other qualifications delivered through a network of 450 training centres.