From Met Police detective to a career in the cleaning industry
A former Metropolitan Police detective who swapped crime scenes for cleaning rotas is urging others not to overlook the opportunities in the cleaning industry.
When Northamptonshire-based mum of twins Ann Brebner needed extra income to cover childcare, she decided to start a small business on the side. Twenty years later, that side hustle has grown into two successful companies – and a completely different life.
Ann is now Managing Director of Orchard Home Cleaning, which connects clients with a network of around 100 vetted domestic cleaners, and Workplace Cleaning Solutions, which provides commercial cleaning services via a team of 18 cleaners.
“I had a lot of transferable skills from my time in the Met,” Ann explained. “Good organisational skills, dealing with the public, staying calm and polite under pressure – all of that translated really well into running a business.
“It was a bold move, but I could see the possibilities. The phone was ringing off the hook and I was frantically trying to keep up. I had to stay focused and work hard, but it paid off.”
What began as a way to pay for childcare has evolved into a respected local brand.
“I’m so proud of how the business has grown and the respect it has gained across Northamptonshire,” she said.
“Success has been about dialogue, good communication and really listening to people. We’ve created a community – I’m trying to help people, not just sell a service.”
That success has also given Ann something many people dream of: freedom over her time.
Thanks to the systems and teams she has built, Ann now works one morning a week in the business, giving her space to focus on two big passions – competing in Hyrox fitness events and, along with two friends under the name of Jam Helping Out, raising over £38,000 for local causes.