Why did you decide to join the WFBSC?

I think there are many reasons why an organization would want to join the WFBSC. First and foremost for me is the access to a community of industry leaders from around the world who openly share their knowledge and experiences with each other. WFBSC creates an environment to network with individuals with whom you can discuss industry challenges, share insights and can provide future business opportunities.

In addition to this, the formal events are extremely informative and educational, and provide interesting insights into relevant topics from well-respected speakers from all around the world. We find that membership is invaluable.

Can you discuss your hopes for the organization?

Principle was started over 30 years ago and is now the leading independent cleaning company in the UK. We have always been a people-centric business and had a clear strategy of providing world class cleaning services to high end offices and buildings in London, and as we move forward on our next 5 year plan, we will continue on this path.

Since we started our window cleaning division around 12 years ago, it has gone from strong to stronger and is now the second largest in the UK. We want to develop this even further and move into new markets that can help facilitate this growth. More recently we have taken on an Operations Director to lead our specialist cleaning division, and this is a sector where we see many opportunities. We have used a wide range of contractors to undertake the majority of specialist cleaning work in the past, however we will be bringing this in house over the next year which will widen our capabilities and also support our bottom line growth plans.

People have always been fundamental to our business and will play an even more important role as we are now employee owned. Our recent exciting announcement has been extremely well received by all of our 2,300 members of staff, and we feel will be a real game changer in the BSC industry.

How will Principle’s transfer to employee ownership positively impact the future of the company?

We believe that employee ownership secures the long term future of Principle. We wanted to preserve the legacy of the business that Douglas Cooke started over 30 years ago, and this was the best way to achieve that while giving us an effective platform for future growth.

Our culture has always been a major strength of ours, and something that Douglas and the Board remain committed to retaining as we grow, so continuing the ethos of the company, that puts our people at the very heart of everything we do was integral to this decision.

Since making the announcement the response has been overwhelmingly positive from our teams, our clients, and the industry as a whole. We believe that businesses want to work with organizations that care about their people, and that employee ownership will be a huge USP for us retaining and winning new contracts in the future.

Additional benefits of employee ownership include increased productivity from team members, while it also encourages loyalty and helps attract and retain talent in a time where there are labour shortages.

In the next 10-15 years, where do you see the BSC industry, specifically on a global scale?

It promises to be an exciting time for the BSC industry, but one that comes with a lot of questions and certainly some challenges. We have now emerged from a pandemic which has fundamentally changed the way in which people are viewing work. Some businesses and leaders feel that flexibility and hybrid work patterns are the future, whereas others want their teams back in the office 5 days per week. We are in a situation where there are labor shortages and many younger people are demanding more flexibility, so it appears to be more of an employee’s market and companies will need be very wary of that when trying to attract and retain the best talent. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, but my guess would be that there will be some flexibility for people in certain roles in the future. This also affects the way in which property developers and owners are viewing their assets. We are seeing in London that there is a shift to mixed use schemes to reflect this change, where residential, food and beverage, and entertainment all sit alongside traditional commercial space. Contractors will need to use data to flex to these changes and advancements in technology and robotics will play a big part in that over the longer term.

However, people are still our greatest asset and they will continue to be key to everything we do.

What career accomplishments are you most proud of?

There are 2 career accomplishments that I am most proud of.

First, becoming CEO at Principle. When I started out in the industry 20 years ago it was always my aim to lead a business and to be able to do that at such a highly respected company with amazing people around me is a fantastic feeling. It has taken a lot of hard work, but I have to thank Douglas for giving me the opportunity, and my predecessor and mentor Peter Smith, as well as the Board and senior team at Principle who have been so supportive. I am extremely excited about the role and the future of Principle as a whole.

Second, is the recent decision to give ownership of our company to our employees through the employee ownership trust. Douglas was the catalyst behind this, however I am extremely honored to be the CEO of a business that cares so much for its people that it would go down this route, and as a shareholder myself it makes me proud to be a part of something so positive.

What is the best piece of advice you have received throughout your career?

“Never burn your bridges” is a phrase that has always stuck with me since I began my career, and I would advise anyone starting out in business now to do the same. Principle operates predominantly in London, where the whole facilities industry is very close and it seems as though everyone knows everyone. This means that if you're doing the right things then you can grow and be successful through word of mouth; however, if you do have any clients with negative experiences then this will also spread far and wide. I strongly feel that if you act professionally and transparently in everything you do, while building and maintaining key relationships over the longer term then this will bring success to you and your business. And, if you do ever have to exit from a relationship, then do so in the right way, as you never know where that client may end up next!