Paul puts fresh start on the menu with Ovenu Shrewsbury
Paul Skelton has called last orders on a career in the pub and club trade to launch oven cleaning service Ovenu Shrewsbury.
The 48-year-old has finally fulfilled a long-held ambition to run his own business after spending the past 12 years working for pub chain Wetherspoons. He spent his final 13 months as kitchen manager at The Wilfred Owen in Oswestry, having previously worked as a shift leader at The Shrewsbury Hotel.
“I’ve always worked in hospitality, so keeping kitchens and ovens spotless is nothing new to me,” he joked of his new venture. “I’d thought about setting up my own business for some time and reached a point where I thought, ‘If I don’t do it now, I never will.”
Before joining Wetherspoons, where he undertook a variety of general management roles, Paul worked for several pub and bar operators, including Bar Med and Yates, at locations around the country.
He eventually settled in Shrewsbury, where he met his partner, and has now lived in the market town for 20 years. The couple have a 19-year-old son and a daughter who is preparing to take her GCSEs.
He’s now looking forward to leaving the unsociable hours of the pub trade behind and having greater control over his working week.
“One of the big attractions of working for myself is being able to organise my own diary and no longer finishing after midnight! It’ll mean I can spend more quality time with my family – and hopefully find a bit more time to get to the gym as well.”
He chose the franchise route with Ovenu as it gave him the freedom to work for himself without starting completely from scratch, with training, practical support and an established brand behind him.
Paul will initially focus on building a loyal client base, adding: “I know it will take a little time, but I’m prepared to work hard to establish a good reputation. Eventually, I’d like to grow the business to the point that I can take on another oven technician.”
Ovenu Shrewsbury covers the SY1 to SY3 postcodes, which includes Shrewsbury, Castlefields, Greenfields, Mount Pleasant, Monkmoor, Abbey Foregate, Sutton, Uffington, Bayston Hill, Bicton Heath and surrounding areas.
Ovenu founder and managing director Rik Hellewell said: “Paul has spent much of his working life in hospitality, where customer service, high standards and attention to detail really matter, which will stand him in good stead.”
The Ovenu process involves dismantling key oven components before cleaning them using specialist equipment and non-caustic, biodegradable products. The service also covers hobs, extractor hoods, microwaves and range cookers.