Spotless cleans up on the back of economic downturn

Published on Sunday 14 June 2009 21:42

SPOTLESS Commercial Cleaning has reported a 10 per cent rise in turnover as the recession forces more businesses to put cleaning contracts out to tender.

The Edinburgh-based cleaning firm, which employs about 1,000 people throughout the UK, said revenues in the year to 12 October reached 7.7 million, up from 7m.

Pre-tax profit rose from 95,100 to 154,711 on the back of new deals, including winning the contract to clean the National Galleries of Scotland.

Roger Green, chief executive of Spotless, said: "Tough economic times have the effect of shaking businesses out of complacency and contracts being put out to tender.

"The marketplace is more competitive, and this has created opportunities for us to win new contracts."

Spotless – which recently achieved Investor in People status – is marking its 20th anniversary this year.

Green started the firm to fund his degree at Edinburgh University, choosing to study Swedish and metaphysics because the academic timetable allowed him to clean in the mornings.

The company – which also counts Baillie Gifford and VisitScotland among its clients – has expanded to service more than 600 locations from its bases in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle and London.

Green still has ambitious plans for the company – he wants to break through the 100m turnover barrier in his lifetime.

He said that motivating his staff was a key factor in the financial success of the firm and said he was looking at ways in which to offer employees shares in the business.

Green added: "Historically, cleaning has been regarded as a Cinderella vocation. We aim to pull the industry up by the bootstraps through investment in people and recognising hard work with decent pay, and prospects."