Tag Archive for: merry maids dudley

Debbie Walker from Merry Maids of Croydon Awarded Great British Franchisee Status

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Merry Maids business owner Debbie Walker achieves coveted Great British Franchisee Award.

Debbie Walker, the owner of Merry Maids of Croydon, has been recognised at whichfranchise.com’s Great British Franchisee Awards 2025 for excellence in franchising.

This blog post has all of the details.

The Great British Franchisee Awards 2025

This coveted award, now in its fifth year, recognises the best of the best of British franchising and is only awarded to a handful of franchisees across the whole country annually.

As a winner, Debbie proved excellence in her franchisee stability, business experience, growth and performance, staff retention and care, customer satisfaction, community involvement, franchise brand investment and inspired leadership.

Achieving this coveted spot, Debbie stands as one of seventeen exceptional franchisees awarded this year, alongside Fiona Perks, from Merry Maids UK’s sister brand Rosemary Bookkeeping.

She also joins her fellow Merry Maids franchisees, Nicky Morris, Tom Jackson, and Siva Kugathas, who have achieved the accreditation in previous years.

“The quality of candidates was remarkable once more this year. It’s wonderful that this extraordinary group of franchisees is being acknowledged for exceeding “the norm.” Their enthusiasm and dedication to their brand truly shone in their applications. They are genuine ambassadors for franchising,” says Suzanne Melville, Head of Marketing, whichfranchise.

The judges were impressed with Debbie’s excellent involvement with her community and franchisor as a true advocate of the Merry Maids brand, as well as her growth over the past few years, brilliant business strategies to sustain and improve growth and create value for her customers; going above and beyond to make sure that their needs are met.

Debbie says she is thrilled to be recognised:

“Winning the Great British Franchisee Awards means a great deal to me. I’ve been in business for over 20 years, providing dedicated services for my community. My mission has always been to be a business with a heart, providing an exceptional standard of cleaning for the people we serve while creating a place where my staff can thrive and we can give back through philanthropy and community support. This award is a recognition of all that, and how it’s essential to what makes a great franchise. I’m so proud to be among the best franchise business owners in the UK!”

Need a new cleaner?

See how Debbie and her award-winning business can support you with all manner of professional cleaning services by calling 0208 663 3268 to arrange a free, no-obligation quotation.

Or, nationwide, book online or find your nearest Merry Maids business today to connect with your local cleaning experts.

Merry Maids Dudley Awarded for Support to Peers and Brand Advocacy

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Tom Jackson from Merry Maids Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford has been recognised for working hard to support the Merry Maids brand and his fellow business owners.

Merry Maids Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford business owner Tom Jackson was recognised for going the extra mile to support his peers and brand, taking home two coveted and prestigious awards at the ServiceMaster Thrive in 2025 conference and gala evening.

North Star Recognition Award

The recognition award spotlights those in the Merry Maids network who have been exemplary in following the brand’s model and values, have actively contributed towards the best interest of the network of businesses and generally been a credit to the brand on a national level over the last year.

Tom was recognised as the worthy winner for not only following the business model but also for encouraging others to do the same. He takes great pride in his business and has great dedication to doing things the right way, making him a valued franchise partner within the Merry Maids brand.

Collecting this award, Tom said:

“Being a network is the best thing about Merry Maids, and supporting others is really important. If we’re doing fantastic, you can pick our brains and look at what we’re doing; if we’re doing something that’s wrong, again, let us know. And we’re looking after each other, whether it’s Mercy that’s newer or the guys who have just bought Lincoln, we can give them a call and say, ‘How are you doing?’ and try to encourage people. I think it helps the network. If they’re doing well, the network’s doing well.”

North Star People Award – Best Support to Peers

This award recognised Tom’s generosity and leadership, which have made a real difference across the brand. He has openly shared his own successes to help others achieve similar results and has gone above and beyond to support new franchisees, helping them build stronger, more successful businesses. Always ready with guidance and encouragement, he is a true pillar of support within the Merry Maids community.

Need a new cleaner?

If you’re in Dudley and would benefit from premier home cleaning services from a team of friendly and compassionate experts, contact Tom and the team at Merry Maids Dudley on 01384 242 809 today.

Or nationwide, find your nearest Merry Maids business or book online to see how we can help give your home a new standard of clean, tailored to your lifestyle.

Merry Maids Stafford Manager raises over £400 for Alzheimer’s Society through charity boxing event

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Ashley Weston from Merry Maids Stafford has raised over £400 for Alzheimer’s Society through a charity white collar boxing match.

There are many ways to raise money for charity. And though it may seem unorthodox to do so by stepping into the boxing ring, Ashley Weston from Merry Maids Stafford, Dudley, and Wolverhampton has joined Merry Maids Inverness’  Matt Cooper in taking part in one of Ultra White Collar Boxing’s charity boxing events.

These black-tie events are held in over a hundred cities across the UK, where volunteers like Ashley train for eight weeks to step into the ring and raise money for charity.

Ashley’s efforts contribute to fundraising for our charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society, which we have fundraised for over the last two years through our annual Forget Me Knot challenge.

After eight weeks of training and a team evening out to cheer him on, Ashley had a great fight and raised £470 for the dementia charity, which will help them in their mission to provide help and hope for those living with dementia across the UK.

“All the donations, big or small, were so appreciated. A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into these eight weeks of solid training to raise money for such a great charity,” said Ashley after his match.

Discover the value of a cleaner who cares

If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate, regular or one-off, home cleaning service from the local experts at Merry Maids, contact Merry Maids Stafford on 01785 255299 for a free, no-obligation quote.

Or nationwide, find your nearest Merry Maids business or book online today.

From Merry Maids with love

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Our business owners share the love this Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Merry Maids UK!

It’s a day for sharing the love, whether with your significant other, your friends and family, or just indulging in your passions.

At Merry Maids UK, we love cleaning. It’s what we do. But we know it’s not for everyone. That’s why we do it for you!

Through our regular or one-off cleans, we give you the time to focus on the things you love, not the cleaning.

And in the spirit of focusing on the things you love, we’ve been speaking to some of the cleaning experts who own and operate Merry Maids businesses up and down the country about what they love about Merry Maids.

What our business owners love about Merry Maids

Merry Maids of Croydon

Debbie Walker, the owner of Merry Maids of Croydon, loves that her business is people-oriented. This means that she gets to work with people all day long and in ever-changing dynamics.

She says she takes great pride in building positive relationships with staff and customers.

From celebrating life events with staff like birthdays and anniversaries to developing a rapport with clients and providing care and support to vulnerable clients with dementia and other illnesses, people are at the heart of what we do.

Through providing bespoke and top-quality services and through local initiatives like a Food Drive for a local charity, Debbie has formed a business with a heart that supports her staff and those in need and shares in the day-to-day: what life is all about.

Lynne, the Office Administrator at Merry Maids of Croydon, adds that she loves everything about Merry Maids and that it would be hard to single any particular thing out.

But she notes she loves the variety that Merry Maids brings to her routine and being amongst the company of the team’s friendly staff.

Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool:

Having spent 30 years building a thriving cleaning business, Nicola Morris from Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool seconds this, saying she loves working as part of a network of like-minded business owners across the UK who support one another in running their businesses.

“What I love about the Merry Maids brand is working together with a fabulous group of fellow Merry Maids owners all helping each other!”

Merry Maids Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford:

Tom Jackson from Merry Maids Dudley and Wolverhampton and Stafford agrees, saying what he loves about his Merry Maids business is the support from our network:

“The best thing about being a franchisee is the support and teamwork you get from the other people in your network.

Whether it’s solving a problem or just ‘how’s your business getting on?’ there is always another franchisee at the other end of the phone or WhatsApp.

Borrowing ideas from Bill in Inverness or asking Nicky in Blackpool what she is doing about a particular issue is invaluable.”

Merry Maids Sutton Coldfield:

Becky Hewitt, owner of Merry Maids Sutton Coldfield says what she loves about Merry Maids is the people, whether customers or staff.

“What I love about Merry Maids of Sutton Coldfield on Valentines day and every day, is my team.

Merry Maids of Sutton Coldfield has 5 * reviews from both loyal and one off customers because of the maids hard work and tireless, consistent efforts.

This paired with loyal, appreciative customers makes coming to work every day enjoyable.”

Show your home some love

Share the love this Valentine’s Day by giving your home some TLC with a clean from your local experts.

For a free quote on our services or to learn more, find your nearest Merry Maids business or call 0800 021 3072 today.

Or, book easily online in select locations through our online shop.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Merry Maids owner in West Midlands recognised as Great British Franchisee

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A cleaning company boss who offers rare job security and long-service awards to the people he employs in the West Midlands has won a major industry accolade.

Tom Jackson, owner of the Merry Maids franchises in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Birmingham South, Solihull and Stafford, has won a Great British Franchisee Award, one of the most prestigious honours in the highly competitive franchise sector.

“It’s common for a high frequency of staff turnover in the cleaning industry,” Tom says, “but that’s not the case in my business.

“I offer long-service awards because, generally, many of our staff stay with us for a long time.

“Two of the admin support staff have been with me for 15 years and nine years respectively – each having started as cleaners.

“And even the original two members of staff that I employed 20 years ago still work for us.

“I believe our staff stay with us because we care about them, and they can feel it, but also because many have been part of our journey and have seen the business grow from just two staff into what it is now.

“I also think people are drawn to the job security that a business established for 20 years brings.”

The Future of Merry Maids

Tom, a former bingo firm manager, is proud, too, that some of his customers have been using the company for 18 years, and one has even had the same cleaner continuously for all that time.

He also actively supports the rest of the Merry Maids network and mentors new business owners like Mercy Ikeji (pictured) when they join us.

“I’ve grown my Merry Maids business from a zero turnover virgin business to, what is currently, the biggest Merry Maids franchise in the UK with 60 staff,” he says.

“It’s a far cry from when I started with myself and two staff using a spare office – but I’m not content to rest on my laurels.

“I’ve set challenging goals for the next three years of growth with a target to be the first Merry Maids with a £1 million turnover.”

Tom is not the only one who thinks he will achieve that.

“Tom is a real asset to the franchising world,” says Merry Maids Brand Leader Vikki Donnachie.

“He is passionate about everything business, from his customers to his staff, as exemplified by his industry-defying levels of staff and customer retention.”

Contact us

If you’re in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Birmingham South, Solihull, Stafford and the surrounding areas and would benefit from a compassionate and professional home cleaning service, find your nearest Merry Maids business to receive a free, no-obligation quotation from Tom and his dedicated teams today.

Merry Maids Award winner Tom Jackson shares his secrets for success

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We sat down with Tom Jackson of Merry Maids of Dudley, who was recently awarded the coveted Merry Maids Recognition Award.

The Merry Maids Awards are back!

And they spelt victory for Merry Maids of Dudley owner Tom Jackson.

Why?

Well, not only has Tom, who is celebrating 20 years in business and the acquisition of new territory in Stafford, but he is also the proud winner of the prestigious Recognition Award.

The award is a credit to Tom’s hard work, dedication and commitment to the Merry Maids brand and his business and staff.

Merry Maids Brand Leader, Vikki Donnachie, said when presenting Tom with his award.

“[Tom] always has a smile on his face and is always there to support not only his team but his peers too. He’s very supportive and works really hard, showing commitment to his team members, including inviting them to Merry Maids events and meetings. Despite some challenges, his positivity, passion, and desire to grow are always at the forefront of his mind.”

She added, “He also often gives me a call from time to time just to see how I’m doing. Which I think says everything about him.”

Following his win, we sat down with Tom to discuss what it meant to him and to share his secrets for success.

Congratulations on your award! How does it feel to be a Merry Maids Award winner?

“Really great! It’s fantastic to be recognised by ServiceMaster and the network of Merry Maids and receive the first recognition award.

In the 20 years since I started Merry Maids of Dudley, I have tried to look forwards and help Merry Maids head office by making sure I attend all the regional and marketing meetings, be a part of the Merry Maids representation at head office and also make sure where possible I help out other newer franchisees.”

Have you done anything to celebrate your win?

“As we have recently purchased the Stafford and Shropshire area, it is a manic time for us looking at recruitment for those two licences.

But I have a senior staff meeting planned this month where I will ensure I thank my team for their help and support.”

How did your staff react to your win?

“The team thought it was well deserved as they can see the effort we put into our business and helping other Merry Maids throughout the network.”

In your view, what has been the basis of your recent success?

“I think the success is down to my drive to be the biggest and best Merry Maids in the UK.

And my desire to keep growing and pushing the limits of a Merry Maids business in the country.

The team have taken on board my ethos and desire to grow and be successful.”

Leave the cleaning to the professionals

You have more important things to do than cleaning.

If you’re in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Stafford and their surrounding areas and would benefit from 20 years of cleaning expertise, or would like to work for a business that puts its staff development at the forefront of their work, call Tom on 01384 242809.

Or, nationwide, get a free quote on our services today by finding your nearest Merry Maids business or book online in select locations.

Merry Maids Dudley are supporting Beacon Centre for the Blind

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All about our partnership with Beacon Centre for the Blind.

At Merry Maids, we do more than clean houses. We love cleaning, but a big part of what makes our work special is the work we do within the communities we support. That’s why Merry Maids of Dudley has partnered with local charity Beacon Centre for the Blind to raise money and awareness for their cause.

Beacon Centre for the Blind is local to the territory covered by Tom Jackson and his team at Merry Maids Dudley and is well known to its residents – including the Merry Maids team, who have a history of cleaning for residents in the Dudley Beacon Centre apartments. But what is Beacon Centre for the Blind, what do they do, and how can you show your support for their cause?

About Beacon Centre for the Blind

The Beacon Centre prides itself on its long history of helping those living with sight loss. “From teaching blind people to read and write through braille in the 1800s to training in modern manufacturing techniques today, [The Beacon Centre helps] people in the Black Country and Staffordshire to live well with sight loss.”

It began in 1875 as the Wolverhampton Society for the Blind and has since evolved greatly. Since it started over 140 years ago, Beacon Centre for the Blind has expanded to own multiple spaces where blind people could live and work with spaces in Dudley and Sedgley, and in 1896 was one of the first charities in the UK to open a charity shop to support its funding. The Beacon Centre was opened in 1963, and later began a residential fund to build a residential home for local people who were living with sight loss. In March of 1973, Beacon House was opened, adding 15 bungalows for residents in 1976, and most recently has expanded with the opening of a new Beacon Centre in 2009.

How they help:

The charity offers its support to the blind and those living with sight loss, as well as members of the local community. From support at home to courses, activities, respite care, extra-care housing, and a telephone befriending and support service, the Beacon Centre offers a multitude of services to help support its residents and community. This goes hand in hand with providing community information, to aid and inform about how we can all play our part to support people living with sight loss.

Our partnership

Merry Maids Dudley has partnered with the Beacon Centre as part of its summer raffle, and we will be continuing to offer our support throughout the year. The raffle is run both online and through Beacon’s seven retail stores in Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Penkridge, Bloxwich, Cannock, Halesowen, and Bilston. The raffle is open to anyone over the age of 16 and is open until 12 pm on Sunday 4th of September. Tickets cost £1 per ticket and allow you one number each. The winning numbers will be drawn at random the following Thursday 8th of September. Entrants have a chance to win one of 10 prizes, including the top prize: a £100 voucher to use on internal domestic cleaning services from Merry Maids Dudley!

To purchase tickets online and see a full list of prizes, check out the raffle’s JustGiving page.

Terms and Conditions:

Tickets cost £1 for a ticket containing a single number. Entrants can buy multiple tickets for £1 each. For example, you can pay £20 to purchase 20 numbers. When entering online, please give your email to raffle@beaconvision.org so that your number/s can be sent to you. This email is NOT generated automatically, someone from Beacon will allocate and send a number or numbers to you manually. As a result, please allow two working days for the email containing your number/s to be sent to you. If, after this time, you have not received your number/s, please double-check your junk email. If you still have not received your number/s following this, please email raffle@beaconvision.org. Please note that you must provide all of your contact details to take part otherwise Beacon will not be able to send your number/s to you or your prize if you win. If you are one of the lucky winners, you will be contacted by email on or after Thursday 8th September 2022. The closing day for entries is Sunday 4th September 12:00 PM.

A Word document outlining the full list of terms and conditions can be downloaded here.

How else can you help?

The work that the Beacon Centre for the Blind does is vital. Their support helps people living with sight loss to do so more independently, build renewed confidence, and find new skills to improve their employment opportunities. Across the West Midlands, the number of people living with sight loss is forecast to grow by almost 30,000 in the next three years! In supporting the Beacon Centre, your donation or fundraising will go help support people with visual impairments to lead a better, more independent life with the support that they need. Advocacy starts with knowledge, and the Beacon Centre provides a whole host of information to help you learn more about different types of sight loss. There are also many other ways you can offer your support to Beacon Centre for the Blind. Whether it’s a donation, through the Wolves Lottery, corporate support, legacy giving, or volunteering, you can make a difference today.

Join us in helping out today, with the chance to win money from a professional and bespoke domestic cleaning service from Merry Maids Dudley.

To get in touch with Tom and the Merry Maids Dudley team, and book a one-off or regular clean, visit the website or call 01384 242809. Or find your nearest Merry Maids business to schedule a clean today.

Written by Tom Page, Digital Content Writer