Family affair at Optimus

Two siblings have roped in family members as their cleaning business enjoys rapid success in its first year.

Jayne Brotherton, operations director and founder of Optimus Commercial Services, and sister, Karon Boddy, finance director, have employed five more members of their family in order to fulfil work in and around the Pendle area.

The business achieved a £250,000 turnover in its first year and is set for high growth as it widens its search for targets contracts in commercial businesses within East Lancashire.

Jayne, of Nelson, said: “After 12 months planning and preparation we finally launched Optimus and straight away landed our first big contract with leading telecoms firm, Daisy Group, in Nelson.

“We had already recruited a team of 12 staff in order to be able to fulfil the contract and it came as welcome news that our confidence in our ability had paid off.

“What began as a cleaning contract with the company has grown into a full maintenance package and all the time, we were winning further contracts taking our staff to 18 in a short space of time.”

Optimus prides itself on providing a professional tailored service on site to its customers while retaining the family feel of the business; and there is a lot of family to talk about.

Danny Atkinson, Jayne’s son, is the company’s service relationship manager, responsible for generating new business, which will be a key activity this year.

Vanessa Whitehead, Jayne and Karon’s sister, is site supervisor at Daisy, Andy Taylor, Jayne’s nephew, is responsible for the company website and SEO, Jason Blackburn, Jayne’s brother, is builder/handyman, contracted for larger maintenance projects and Charlotte Goodall, Jayne’s niece, assists in decorating contracts.

Jayne said: “Between us we have the right skill sets for the whole package and it has been great to work with them all. Other members of our team have commented on how good it is to work for someone who makes work enjoyable, and they too are a vital part of the Optimus family.”

Emily Molloy, Head of Facilities at Daisy, said: “The Optimus team is both trustworthy and friendly and what started out as a cleaning contract has seen them become one of our trusted service partners. As well as day-to-day cleaning activity, the company is now responsible for procuring and managing goods and services on Daisy’s behalf; even down to the decorating of the company’s Nelson site.” The company is looking to establish new business relationship in the start of this, its second year’s trading and sharing news of its successes throughout 2015.