Few companies can match TWO Services’ track record in terms of long serving team members.
The business recently shone a spotlight on Sales Executive, Robert Grenda, employed by TWO Services soon after he moved from Poland to the UK back in 2008. Starting out as a part-time cleaner, he has since lent his hand to various departments within the business before taking on the role of Sales Executive last year.
You can read Robert’s full article here, but here’s a quick insight into what he had to say about his working background and his career with TWO so far:
“I finished high school in my home country, then decided to work as a waiter in Italy for four months, during their high season. It was an interesting experience, but I felt like the culture in Italy was very much focused on work, with no time for a private life – so I moved to the UK searching for a better work/life balance.
“I got a job as a waiter in a Polish restaurant, and I told my mother I’d only stay for three months. But 15 years later, I’m still here – and a lot of that is down to TWO!
“I started work at TWO back in 2008, as a driver and a part-time cleaner. Most of my time in this job was spent on carpet cleans and floor cleans, but I had the chance to try out all aspects.
“At the same time, I also held down a role as a Room Attendant, and later Supervisor, at a hostel. I was busy, and I enjoyed the variety of my work, but I knew I needed a new challenge at some point.
“I didn’t feel like I was ready for the next step, but my former Operations Manager pushed me to think about what was next for me. When the company’s Area Supervisor resigned, I was offered the role, and I went for it. About six years ago, I was promoted to Operations Manager, and in 2022, Barry and Oliver asked if I would like to move over to the sales department.
“I have since gone on to become the company’s Sales Executive, meaning I am now mostly involved with visiting potential customers at their sites and providing them with quotes for their projects.
“I feel like the directors trust me in my newest role, and I’m very happy to have the opportunity to progress my career with TWO in this way. I have a good knowledge of our business and our clients, and I like to think I’m a likeable person, so all these things ensure I get on well with our prospects and can help them find the best solution, regardless of the challenges they are facing.”
What’s TWO’s secret?
What’s somewhat unusual about TWO is that its management team has a real knack for holding onto top talent.
There are plenty of other long-standing employees to mention, all of whom have contributed a great deal of time and energy to the business in different ways. George Baffoe, now TWO’s much-loved Operations Director, was one of the first people on board when founder Alan Osborn initially advertised for a cleaning supervisor in 1987.
Sammy Donker, who still cleans for TWO today, entered the fold around the same time.
Margarita Dickson, now the firm’s North Division Director, joined the company well over 15 years ago and played an instrumental role in increasing TWO’s presence in a new targeted region. There are plenty of employees at the company’s original HQ in Essex who can say they have been with TWO for years, if not decades.
And, of course, the sons of founder and Chairman Alan, Barry and Jon, have both been working within the family business since the late 80s.
Read interviews with each of these valued team members, and you’ll find that, although they may have come from all kinds of starts in life, they all have one thing in common: they appreciate the fact that TWO will pull out all the stops to look after all colleagues.
In fact, in his own profile piece, Robert himself hit the nail on the head with this poignant soundbite:
“It’s true when people say that working for TWO is like being part of one big family – this is something I have experienced over the years. It’s the community that makes working for TWO so enjoyable and so comfortable. Everyone within the business is very helpful, which I appreciate.”
With the catering, hospitality and facilities management industries all struggling to retain staff in recent times – particularly since the pandemic – perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from the way TWO run things.
From timely wage increases and regular team bonding days to going above and beyond to support team members in their next career moves, TWO has proven its dedication to nurturing a strong, hardworking, and – above all – happy community of cleaners and maintenance engineers who take pride in their work and always strive for the best results.
There have been bumps along the way, of course. Alan would be the first to admit that it hasn’t all been plain sailing throughout the last 35+ years as far as hiring and retaining people is concerned.
But a long-term commitment to peoples care and wellbeing – even when the business has been going through tough times – appears to have paid dividends. In a post-Covid world where employee turnover elsewhere is high across the board, TWO’s team members continue to stick by the company, because they enjoy their work, they are met with frequent opportunities for advancement, and they know their management team will always be in their corner.
Those who partner with TWO certainly benefit from this approach, too. TWO consistently receives positive feedback from projects, with many customers commenting on the friendly nature of its employees and their ability to complete even the most difficult of jobs with a smile on their face.
Discover the TWO difference for yourself
Visit the website for more information on TWO’s services, or email sales@two-services.com to discuss your company’s commercial cleaning and maintenance requirements in more detail.
