Wigan sisters launch domestic cleaning franchise

Two North West entrepreneurs have launched a domestic cleaning franchise in the Wigan area.

Sisters Trish Malley and Mandy Ascroft have taken over Merry Maids of Wigan, which has access to around 170k potential customers in the Wigan area. The firm will operate from its Adlington office and is hoping to take on new staff as it develops its customer base.

Mandy, who has been in the cleaning industry for more than 16 years, said: “I’ve got the knowledge and experience of the cleaning industry but have never been in a position to start my own company.

“Partnering with Trish means we can work together, support each other and build a successful local business.”

Her sister, Trish, left an NHS career spanning 35 years to team up with Mandy in the new business venture. She commented: “I was looking for something different, where I could manage my own time and be independent from a large organisation.

“We looked at franchising options and chose to invest in Merry Maids. We have big plans for the business and want to grow our team quickly, bringing more jobs to the area and offering a very high level of service.”

A franchise of ServiceMaster Ltd, there are almost 70 Merry Maids businesses operating in the UK.

Catriona Berry, Merry Maids’ operations brand manager, commented: “Mandy and Trish already have the skills and knowledge to run a successful cleaning business and with the support of ServiceMaster, they are sure to exceed all expectations as franchisees.

“We are looking forward to celebrating their achievements over the coming years.”