Page 38 - link magazine

Nick hopes to clean up at awards Advertising feature
Nick Dee Shapland, owner of ServiceMaster Clean Contract Services has Swindon Silicon Systems
reached the finals of the prestigious BFA (British Franchise Association) building on 35 years of
HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards supported by Express Newspapers. success
Nick, who runs for major contracts It might come as a surprise, but Swindon
the business from which just wouldn’t has a high technology business that started
Newbury, under- happen if you started in a similar way to Apple and Microsoft.
takes commercial up in business by Whilst the giants of computing miniature controllers or ASICS
contract cleaning in yourself.” originated in garages in California, - Application Specific Integrated
addition to cleaning According to the Swindon Silicon Systems started in Circuits. These are the tiny ‘brains’
the carpets, curtains 2012 British Fran- 1978 from an old Scout hut in the that now control electrical appliances
and upholstery of chise Association/ town centre. from washing machines to mobile
both domestic and NatWest survey, And when it was time to expand phones, car engine management to
commercial custom- franchising con- in 1985, founders electronics special- hearing aids, SatNavs, electronic
ers across North and tributed £13.4bn to ists Andy Brittain, Alan Richardson, cameras, MP3 players and blood
South Berkshire, the UK economy in Graham Fletcher and Ron Towns, sugar monitors.
Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and North 2011/12, an increase of 8% on the decided not to move to an industrial In 1999 production was moved
Hampshire. previous year. park, but remained in the town centre to a new facility just along Radnor
Since buying the franchise in 1991, Nick commented: “Franchising is a setting up its research and production Street on a site originally occupied
Nick has built a multi-million pound huge industry, from the man-in-a-van centre in the redundant Clifton Street by the West Swindon Working Men’s
business with over 450 staff, currently operations to ours which turned over School, an old Victorian redbrick Club which burnt down in 1923.
holding over 250 contracts with hous- £4million in 2012. building in Radnor Street. It was subsequently rebuilt and the
ing associations, financial institutions, “To win the award would mean an Swindon Silicon Systems makes company had it completely refitted
medical practices, schools and car acknowledgement by the industry the components that control the after the club closed.
retailers. that we operate a highly professional equipment we use every day. Back in Managing director Geoff Hall, left,
Looking back Nick said: “I was business; I know it would give all my 1978 lots of these devices didn’t even says that the company’s birthday will
drawn by the fact that ServiceMaster staff a huge boost. exist. Those that did, such as transistor mark new growth. “We now employ
was a global company and a brand “It’s an honour that ServiceMaster radios, relied on electronic circuits 88 people with a turnover of £21m
leader in the cleaning market. Own- Limited has put our business forward made up of individual components and are fast outgrowing Radnor Street
ing a franchise means you can call on for this prestigious award.” soldered together. “We’re looking
expertise if required and being part Winners will be notified at a gala Although silicon for new premises
of a huge brand means you can bid dinner on Thursday 3 October. chip technology in Swindon where
was being devel- the business can
oped for computer grow and we can
The clean you expect processors, mak- expand our local
® ing a chip to do just workforce. It will be
The service you deserve what you wanted a fitting celebration
was thought to be for our thirty-fifth
far too expensive. anniversary.”
The company Find out more at
led the way in the www.swindonsili-
development of con.co.uk

Biomass plan goes on the back burner
Developers of a biomass plant at Cheney Manor Industrial Estate are
revising plans for the site to produce animal bedding, whilst dropping
their original proposal for an energy producing incinerator.
The Link first revealed in the July a 30 metre high chimney will not be
edition that Pure Green, a company part of the planning application
set up by Belgian animal bedding The company will now propose
manufacturer Hippofan, had applied to process virgin timber to produce
10OFFVOUCHER to build a plant to process and incin- animal bedding at Cheney Manor
%
3 in 1 clean For details: Please phone our free phone number erate waste wood to generate power using conventional power sources.
to dry material for animal bedding.
Pure Green chief executive Peter
Cleaning your soft furnishings with Fibrefresh The public rose up in anger at the Vandeputte said the company would
inadequate level of consultation about be investing in a low carbon industrial
Guarding your furnishings against bacteria with Hygienilac
the plan and concern that burning activity in the town as well as jobs.
Protecting your furnishings from stains with Fabritec waste wood would generate pollution Instead of wood being transported
We provide a wide range of cleaning services and unknown risks from chemical by truck to Belgium for processing
and particulate fall-out in nearby and then exported back to the UK,
Free Phone 0800 783 7713 residential areas. it will be brought direct to Swindon.
The planning application due to be
Pure Green will be required to carry
Your Local ServiceMaster Clean Franchise heard in September was withdrawn out an improved public consultation
and Pure Green have announced the to explain their plans before it reaches
Email: [email protected] www.homefabriccare.co.uk
production of renewable energy and Swindon’s planning committee.
38 swindonlink.com • October 2013

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