Staff development helps Warwickshire cleaning business thrive

A Rugby-based cleaning business, which has put an emphasis on upskilling staff and training, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by eyeing further growth.

Sarah Parrin started Solutions Services Ltd in a small office on Spring street. Now, it is headquartered at Glebe Farm industrial estate, boasts 108 customers across Coventry and Warwickshire, and employs 63 with plans to bring on ten more staff.

READ MORE: Rugby businesses meet to discuss key issues for the region

"Our partnership with Adam Plumb from the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub has been invaluable," said Parrin.

"He regularly informs us of available funding opportunities that support our focus on staff development. It’s crucial for me to ensure that everyone has the chance to improve their skills, whether they continue with us or move on to other opportunities.”

Thanks to the Warwickshire county council apprenticeship levy share programme, the firm's payroll administrator Sarah Peabody is undertaking a multi-media marketing course, while contract manager Kate Hutt is pursuing an NVQ Level 5 in operations management.

HR manager Stacee Callaghan is also embarking on her second apprenticeship, working towards an NVQ Level 3 in HR management with Warwickshire Skills Hub providing further support with an apprenticeship progression payment of £1,000.

Parrin added: "The apprenticeships that Stacee, Sarah, and Kate are pursuing will bring valuable new skills to our business.

"Currently, we don’t have the funds for external marketing services, so having Sarah develop her marketing expertise is critical to our growth plans. We aim to grow by 20 per cent over the next year, and the Apprenticeship Levy Share Programme is instrumental for a business of our size."

Cllr Martin Watson, the portfolio holder for economy at Warwickshire County Council, noted: "We want Warwickshire to have a thriving economy and it’s great to see local businesses like Solutions Services utilising the range of support available to help them grow their skills and workforce.

"Solutions Services is also part of our Fair Chance Employment Programme which was set up to support employers in their recruitment process to be more flexible, inclusive and reduce any barriers to anyone wanting to gain skills and employment," he added.

Adam Plumb, account manager for Rugby at the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said: "SMEs are crucial to the growth of any local area, and Solutions Services has steadily expanded over the last 20 years to employ people from Rugby and the surrounding area.

“One of the biggest areas of concern that we hear from businesses is around skills and it is fantastic that Sarah places such an emphasis on upskilling her staff which also leads to high staff retention because employees are happy working there and know they have career progression."