Ovenu's environmentally friendly valeting service involves dismantling key components of an oven including the door, interior panels, fan and shelves. These parts are then placed into design-registered equipment, which uses non-caustic products to clean the oven parts. The whole process takes about three hours and leaves the oven, hob and exterior in immaculate condition.

Kevin said: 'I wanted to develop my career further and also decided that I would like to start my own business. I had heard of the Ovenu franchise and knew they were proving to be hugely successful in the UK so decided that was the route I wanted to follow.

'Managing my own business means I can currently work part-time as an Ovenu franchisee until I retire from my current role. It also gives me the opportunity to establish myself in the area, meet new people and also prepare for my business to expand in the future.'

Rik Hellewell, managing director of Ovenu, said: 'People just don't have the time to carry out mundane tasks such as cleaning the oven. This need has been highlighted by our success in other areas of the UK and I'm sure that the Blackburn public as well as schools and letting agents will take up the service.'

Ovenu

Ovenu, which is based in Wokingham, Berkshire, was set up in 1994 and started franchising in 1999. With almost 100 franchisees covering different areas across the UK, the business is predominantly an oven cleaning and valeting service but also uses its expertise to clean other items such as barbecues and bako-liners. Since 1994 Ovenu has cleaned over one million items.

The company was recently accepted as a full member of the British Franchise Association, which is the prestigious umbrella organisation that covers the UK's leading franchisors. Ovenu has well in excess of 100,000 clients across the country and last year the franchise network had a turnover approaching £3million.

Published: 12 June 2006

Back to news