A clear vision for the future
June 1st 2009 Colin Brookes of Clear Cleaning started working as a window cleaner way back in 1978 – but things have changed a lot since then.Keeping on top of the game now involves staff training, customer communication and corporate branding
Colin Brookes (pictured) and Richard Emmanuel formed Clear Cleaning in 1994, building on an already successful partnership that began with an earlymorning interview. "Colin interviewed me at about 5.30am in a café somewhere in Deptford," says Emmanuel."I'd never cleaned windows before, but Colin took a chance, gave me a crash course, and dropped me at a school in Surrey with a two part ladder! It was scary stuff, but I managed.However, I'm glad to say Health and Safety is a much bigger factor in the business these days." In 1994 Brookes and Emmanuel, realising they could offer a better service than most of the companies they worked for, approached The Princes Youth Business Trust and asked for a loan of £3,500.
"We were given a dedicated business advisor," remembers Brookes,"and with honesty, hard work and the assistance of our long-term employees we gradually built up a thriving business." Their first office was a purposebuilt timber shed with a veranda at the back of Emmanuel's house.Many late nights were spent doing paperwork, following long days cleaning windows.A highlight of this time was taking part in a London Weekend Television documentary called dangerous jobs.
Health and safety demands
Dave Allen, a member of the London Weekend Television crew, introduced Brookes and Emmanuel to the issues of Health and Safety, and assisted them in the preparation of their first Risk & Method Statements.This was valuable experience, and it laid a solid foundation for their appreciation of the importance of safety.
"Today we employ the services of an external consultant who Audits the Met Police Authority," says Brookes."We also get a great deal of support from Andrew Willis, a working at height consultant for Time Consultancy. Willis sits on the Federation of Window Cleaners Safety Advisory Committee and is a trainer and NVQ2 assessor with Linden Management and Merton College."
A window on success
Brookes and Emmanuel believe that any company that wants to be successful must be motivated by the desire to provide quality work, and must have the ability to make profits."That has to be the foundation," says Brookes."We've put that philosophy into practice, and our growth has been steady throughout the years, and has always been self funded." For Clear Cleaning, the customer is king."It's hard work to attract and secure new business, so we treat our clients royally, and we never stop listening to them," says Brookes."That's one of my main messages: in difficult economic times like these,many MDs and CEOs become insular, ignoring customers and turning their focus to internal operational challenges. That's a huge mistake.As a result, they disconnect themselves from the best source of current revenue, and from future success." Brookes maintains that teamwork and staff development are also vital factors."We pride ourselves on being one big family, and we are dedicated to our team. We encourage everyone to aim for higher levels of achievement through Merton College's NVQ2 Window Cleaning Course, and this is already paying dividends. Everyone at Clear is now able to think of new ways to solve problems, and we've seen a significant improvement in staff attitude."
How to get ahead with advertising
During a recession,many small businesses cut back the amount spent on advertising. Brookes sees that as a fundamental error."All the signs point the other way. It's vital to maintain current spend, and advertising and promotional campaigns should be undertaken throughout the recession period.At Clear we make it a priority to demonstrate our company's value and stability at every opportunity, and you do that through advertising." Throughout 2009 Clear will continue to promote its new corporate branding and will keep customers informed of exciting developments such as the Rope Access Suspension Trolley – which the company believes is the first of its kind in the UK to be CE marked."When you reach more people, you get more customers,"says Brookes.
In 2009 Clear will move to new premises."This will give us more scope for growth and provide us with storage for the new systems and equipment that we are bringing onto line. It will also give us a firm base for further growth, so we can continue to provide our customers and principal contractors with the high standards of service they have become accustomed to, living up to our company motto:'you're only as good as your last job.'" More articles from Clear Cleaning Limited: | 
