Engineer cleans up with new venture

A former maintenance engineer has turned redundancy into opportunity with the launch of his own outdoor cleaning business.

Trevor Francis, 58, from Washington, launched Annual Cleaning Solutions in April [2024] after he was made redundant by his previous employer.

Formerly a maintenance engineer for a large pharmaceutical company, he had longed to set up his own business for years, however it was being made redundant which finally gave him "the push he needed."

Fast-forward four months and the decision has proven a shrewd one, with its orderbook full for the next two months and projects pencilled in for clients across the North East and as far afield as London.

"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," Trevor said.

"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 it increase its service offering and places on workshops covering a range of topics, from marketing to bookkeeping and setting up.

"The BIC supported with additional training on finance and marketing and helped me get a grant for a scaffold tower," he said.

"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 Wardropper, 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."

Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: "The Enterprising Sunderland programme was set up to help businesses start up and grow in the city and Trevor is a great example of the positive impact it is having.

"To be in a position after just four months where he is already seeing his orderbook overflow and working on projects across the region and beyond is fantastic and I can't wait to see how the company continues to grow from here on out."

For more information on the North East BIC, visit: https://www.ne-bic.co.uk/