Clean break from TV

Mar 31 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

AN enterprising Dales woman is set to clean up in the market after adapting to the recession by using the media skills she learnt at college.

Ex-Darlington College media student Felicity Hopkins had hoped to pursue a career in television - until global recession pulled the plug.

Undaunted she has launched a new business in the Yorkshire Dales proving where there’s muck there’s brass.

Business for Dusty Spring Clean, which she has launched with her mum Kay, is currently booming with plans to recruit staff and expand as a franchise across the country.

And Felicity is being able to use all the skills she learnt on the media course at Darlington College to design promotional and marketing material for the high quality cleaning business - including a video for the website.

“It’s important to adapt to the current situation,” said Felicity, 21, of Spennithorne, Wensleydale. “It’s no use sitting around waiting for the recession to end when I have skills and ideas that can be put to good use elsewhere.”

Kay added: “People like the name and the idea behind the business which is to bring back the personal touch to cleaning.”

Dusty Spring Clean has already built up a network of private clients, along with holiday and residential lets, cleaning for builders and pre and post-party clean-ups.

Felicity said: “We are trying to create the 1950s ideal housewife scenario so people can enjoy their own homes.

“Customers say it is like coming home to a freshly cleaned hotel room. They say we have transformed their houses.

“For many people there aren’t enough hours in the day and with our help they will use the fire and the cooker because they know someone will clean up afterwards.”

Business has become so busy that they have just started cleaning at weekends and are urgently looking for at least four staff, as well as planning to franchise the name nationally.

“Word of mouth has been incredible,” said Kay. “I have run businesses before but never experienced anything like this.”

Darlington College media tutor John Gibb said: “Felicity has shown the true strength of the courses we teach and how to develop confidence and skills that are transferable.

“It is great to know that we are helping foster the next generation of self-reliant, adaptable entrepreneurs.”

FELICITY is just one of a growing number of entrepreneurs on Teesside who are turning setbacks into opportunities. Are you thinking of doing the same? If so, you could be in with a chance of becoming one of the “Faces of Entrepreneurship” for the region.

The If We Can, You Can campaign, now in its second year and backed by nebusiness, sets out to find the most dynamic business ideas. Log on to www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk to find out more.