September 2021 - Unexpected Challenges
Back in April we were on top of the world... The winter lockdown was over, schools had reopened and the team were once again out and about working together. We were really looking forward to a summer of uninterrupted work. Oh if only we'd known!!!
As work started picking up again with lots of B&Bs, hotels and shops reopening, we started to look for a 3rd team member to help us with the workload. We weren't expecting this to be so hard and we soon found ourselves as one of very many businesses struggling to find employees. We were slipping behind in our schedule and took the difficult decision to not take on any new customers until we had successfully recruited someone, so that we could focus on delivering a reliable service to our existing customers.
Then disaster struck and two became one! Carl has been off work since the end of June and Beccy has been doing her best to keep working through the round alone... not ideal at any time, practically impossible during the school holidays.
So where are we now? We're behind. VERY behind. We're well aware that there are many loyal customers that have been waiting a very long time for their next clean and all we can do just now is apologise and keep on trying to get through the work. In an attempt to be more efficient we have reorganised the round so that all "regular" jobs are on the same frequency. This will simplify the round and reduce the time we spend travelling. We now go to each place on our round, do all the jobs in that location and then don't return again until we have been to all the other places on the round. Once we are back up to full staffing, we plan for the round to be a 6 weekly rotation for all customers.
We do also have good news. Carl is planning to return to work by October and we have finally struck gold in our search for staff. More on all that coming soon!
In the meantime, thank you all for being so patient and for the kind words from those of you that have seen me at my lowest over the last few months. I have always prided myself on offering a reliable service and to not be able to do that has been devastating. Onwards and upwards!
April 2020 - Covid-19
During these unprecedented times we have had to make some significant changes to how we run the business to keep ourselves and others safe, and to comply with government rules.
Beccy is currently doing admin from home and looking after her young son who obviously can’t go to school, childminders or friends’ houses at the moment. Going from working 6 days per week to zero in the blink of an eye has been hard to adjust to, but she is trying to make the most of this extra time with her son and build some lovely memories together.
Carl is currently working alone. He is working outdoors only and missing any windows that require access through a property. He is regularly sanitising his hands and maintaining a 2 metre ‘social distance’. He would be grateful if all customers and passers-by could help him by also keeping to the 2 metre rule. He will absolutely not be offended if customers do not come to the door to say hello!
We are trying to keep cash transactions to an absolute minimum and would encourage everyone who possibly can to make payment by Direct Debit or bank transfer. This will continue to be our preference after the pandemic as the imminent closure of our local bank will create considerable challenges for the business and electronic payments are easier to track from an accounting point of view.
Back in April we were on top of the world... The winter lockdown was over, schools had reopened and the team were once again out and about working together. We were really looking forward to a summer of uninterrupted work. Oh if only we'd known!!!
As work started picking up again with lots of B&Bs, hotels and shops reopening, we started to look for a 3rd team member to help us with the workload. We weren't expecting this to be so hard and we soon found ourselves as one of very many businesses struggling to find employees. We were slipping behind in our schedule and took the difficult decision to not take on any new customers until we had successfully recruited someone, so that we could focus on delivering a reliable service to our existing customers.
Then disaster struck and two became one! Carl has been off work since the end of June and Beccy has been doing her best to keep working through the round alone... not ideal at any time, practically impossible during the school holidays.
So where are we now? We're behind. VERY behind. We're well aware that there are many loyal customers that have been waiting a very long time for their next clean and all we can do just now is apologise and keep on trying to get through the work. In an attempt to be more efficient we have reorganised the round so that all "regular" jobs are on the same frequency. This will simplify the round and reduce the time we spend travelling. We now go to each place on our round, do all the jobs in that location and then don't return again until we have been to all the other places on the round. Once we are back up to full staffing, we plan for the round to be a 6 weekly rotation for all customers.
We do also have good news. Carl is planning to return to work by October and we have finally struck gold in our search for staff. More on all that coming soon!
In the meantime, thank you all for being so patient and for the kind words from those of you that have seen me at my lowest over the last few months. I have always prided myself on offering a reliable service and to not be able to do that has been devastating. Onwards and upwards!
April 2020 - Covid-19
During these unprecedented times we have had to make some significant changes to how we run the business to keep ourselves and others safe, and to comply with government rules.
Beccy is currently doing admin from home and looking after her young son who obviously can’t go to school, childminders or friends’ houses at the moment. Going from working 6 days per week to zero in the blink of an eye has been hard to adjust to, but she is trying to make the most of this extra time with her son and build some lovely memories together.
Carl is currently working alone. He is working outdoors only and missing any windows that require access through a property. He is regularly sanitising his hands and maintaining a 2 metre ‘social distance’. He would be grateful if all customers and passers-by could help him by also keeping to the 2 metre rule. He will absolutely not be offended if customers do not come to the door to say hello!
We are trying to keep cash transactions to an absolute minimum and would encourage everyone who possibly can to make payment by Direct Debit or bank transfer. This will continue to be our preference after the pandemic as the imminent closure of our local bank will create considerable challenges for the business and electronic payments are easier to track from an accounting point of view.
