Trevor cleans up thanks to job loss push

A former maintenance engineer made redundant this year has launched his own outdoor cleaning business and filled the order book within months.

Trevor Francis, 58, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, launched Annual Cleaning Solutions in April after he was made redundant by his previous employer, a large pharmaceutical company.

The maintenance engineer had longed to set up his own business for years and being made redundant, he says, finally gave him “the push he needed.”

Four months later, and Annual Cleaning Solutions’ orderbook is full for the next two months and projects are pencilled in for clients across the North East and as far afield as London.

Trevor said: “I worked in my previous role for ten years but had toyed with the idea of setting up my own business for a good few years.

“I’d read up on it quite a bit and knew it was something I would love to do, but it was being made redundant which proved the kick I needed. I put part of my redundancy package into starting up and haven’t looked back.”

Specialising in external cleaning and maintenance, Annual Cleaning Solutions provides gutter clearing, pressure jet washing, roof moss removal, soffit cleaning and tarmac restoration for commercial and domestic clients.

Trevor had no experience of running a business prior to setting up Annual Cleaning Solutions so he sought advice and support from the North East BIC.

The BIC provided him with a dedicated business adviser, Helen Wardropper, as well as a grant for new equipment to help increase service offering and places on workshops covering a range of topics, from marketing to book-keeping and setting up his business.

Trevor added: “The BIC supported with additional training on finance and marketing and helped me get a grant for a scaffold tower.

“I received £1,500 towards the tower, which was around £2,300. It was going to cost me £4,500 to hire one each year, so it was a huge help.

“Helen Wardropper has been fantastic too as she is always on hand. I just have to text or ring and she is always at the other side of the phone.

“You think starting from scratch is going to be incredibly difficult but they just made it all so easy. The support really has been second to none.”

The start-up support from the BIC forms part of the Enterprising Sunderland project which has received £1,271,885 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, managed in Sunderland by Sunderland City Council on behalf of the Sunderland Partnership.

Helen, business adviser at the BIC, said: “It has been a real pleasure working with Trevor on his business plan and seeing Annual Cleaning Solutions come to life.

“He has a real passion for his work and is incredibly driven, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that he is already going from strength-to-strength and I’m sure he’ll continue in that vein as it continues to grow.”

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