Virgin chief's advice is just the job for Wendy

Sep 1 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A NORTHUMBERLAND entrepreneur has taken advice she once received from Sir Richard Branson into the world of holiday cottage cleaning and maintenance.

Former sales and marketing professional Wendy Jennings, who met the tycoon while working as a regional sales manager for Virgin Cosmetics, says she has followed his tip to always treat everyone with respect and treat everyone the same no matter who they are. Ms Jennings, from Newbiggin-by- the-Sea, set up her own business Sparkles at the start of the summer holiday season to provide cleaning, housekeeping and maintenance services for holiday homes.

She was inspired to go it alone after working for a national holiday company, where she was trained by Visit Britain to carry out holiday home gradings.

“First impressions really do count,” said Ms Jennings.

“We know that sometimes getting the small things right can make all the difference, it’s having an eye for detail that’s important and we walk the extra mile to provide this service, whether it’s working light bulbs or polished door handles nothing gets overlooked by our team.”

Her business is now looking after around 20 holiday homes from Berwick in the north of Northumberland, down to Blanchland and across to Beamish in County Durham.

Sparkles is a real family affair and as well as support from her son – who designed the business’s eye-catching logo – and her sister, who looks after housekeeping checks, her long-term partner Kevin George has also joined the team.

Mr George, who recently left Northumbria Police, has taken on responsibility for maintenance and emergency repairs with the business.

He said: “I see my role as that of a facilities manager.

“If the job is too specialised for me to do it myself, I will call upon a bank of local tradesmen and experts to ensure that the holiday- maker’s don’t suffer due to something out of their control.”

Ms Jennings received free one-to-one advice on growing her business from Go Wansbeck enterprise coach Graeme Trotter, who also helps entrepreneurs with the initial stages of starting up their firms.