Former garden centre manager 'plots' business success story in Bristol
A Bristol man is hoping that his newly-launched oven valeting firm will ‘blossom’ into a thriving small business, following a successful management career in horticulture.
Dave Manning has swapped his 30 year career at a garden centre, where he worked his way up from the age of 18 to become manager, to start out in business as owner of Ovenu Bristol East.
By becoming his own boss and venturing into self-employment, Dave, 48, has fulfilled one of his lifelong ambitions.
“I had thought about going down the route of self-employment for quite some time, so I am delighted to have been given the opportunity with Ovenu. To be able to work to my own schedule and the flexibility that comes with the role was too good to refuse and I am looking forward to starting this next chapter in my life. My vast customer service experience, together with the management qualities I have honed over the years, will put me in good stead and I can’t wait to build a rapport with my customers and get to know them. The ceiling is high and hopefully, in the future, I can grow the business to the extent where I have the capacity to hire a sub-contractor and get an additional van on the road.”
Dave Manning, Bristol Ovenu franchisee
Ovenu Bristol East provides an environmentally-friendly oven valeting service to homes and businesses throughout East Bristol.
Rik Hellewell, Managing Director and Founder of Ovenu, said: “Dave possesses all the qualities and experience necessary to create a successful small business. I would like to welcome Dave to Ovenu and wish him all the very best for the future.”
Ovenu is a franchise network made up of more than 100 businesses owned by men and women working throughout the UK.
The Ovenu valeting process involves dismantling key components of an oven such as the door, interior panels, fan and shelves and placing them into design-registered tank equipment, which uses safe, non-caustic products to clean the oven parts. The whole process takes around three to four hours and leaves the oven, hob and exterior in immaculate condition.