From Dragon's Den Rejection to £25M Cleaning Empire: Dominic Ponniah's Incredible Journey

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dominic Ponniah, co-founder and CEO of Cleanology, as he shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey. Discover how Dominic turned early setbacks, including rejection on Dragon's Den, into fuel for success, building Cleanology into a £25 million turnover sustainable cleaning powerhouse.

In this episode of Field Service Stories, we dive deep into:
• Dominic's resilience after Dragon's Den and how it shaped his future success
• The challenges and triumphs of scaling Cleanology across 25 UK cities
• Why paying a Living Wage isn't just ethical, but smart business strategy
• How Cleanology's commitment to sustainability wins both clients and top talent
• Exciting innovations reshaping the cleaning industry, from robotics to big data
• The impact of COVID-19 on the cleaning sector and how Cleanology emerged stronger
• Dominic's thoughts on proposed changes to UK employment law and their potential effects
• The importance of diversity in leadership and how it's benefited Cleanology

Plus, learn about Cleanology's passionate support for The Hygiene Bank charity and how you can get involved in their upcoming fundraising event.

🎬 Chapter Markers
00:00:00 - Start
00:00:03 - Coming Up
00:00:30 - Introductions
00:01:01 - How did you get Cleanology off the ground?
00:02:10 - Rickshaw Ride hailing – before Uber even existed
00:04:25 - So much passion – your business becomes a hobby
00:05:29 - BBC’s Dragons blew Dominic off his rickshaw
00:07:18- Why start a cleaning business?
00:08:36 - Getting ready to double the size of the business
00:09:49 - How do you double the size of a Cleaning business?
00:10:34 - We’re now cleaning in 25 different UK cities
00:11:41 - No staff made redundant during COVID
00:14:07 - Does the cleaning industry have enough sex appeal?
00:14:34 - Diversity has been a winner at Cleanology
00:15:09 - People want to work in a business that represents their values
00:15:35 - Cleanology is not your average cleaning business
00:16:43 - Cleaning meets Sustainability
00:17:50 - Sustainability wins us business
00:18:22 - The Living Wage; paying people fairly
00:18:51 - You don’t get a Ferrari for the price of a Ford
00:19:39 - How can people survive if they’re not paid a Living Wage?
00:22:00 - Not every employer is a good employer, not every employee is a good employee
00:22:43 - Day one unfair dismissal rights make employers risk averse
00:23:31 - Zero risk for the employee and all the risk on the employer
00:24:27 - Is the cleaning industry innovating?
00:25:02 - Data is a big thing now
00:26:24 - The right job management technology for Cleanology
00:27:06 - How do you use BigChange in your business every day?
00:28:15 - Are clients becoming more demanding?
00:29:54 - Government regulations and interference
00:31:18 - Unwavering support for The Hygiene Bank
00:32:19 - 3.1 million adults in the UK live with hygiene poverty
00:33:25 - Cleanology Fundraising Event
00:34:11 - Ending

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a field service professional, or simply interested in sustainable business practices, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration. Don't miss this fascinating conversation with a true innovator who's proving that with vision, grit, and ethical practices, you can build a thriving business in any sector.