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.
“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.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Debbie-Walker-from-Merry-Maids-of-Croydon-Awarded-Great-British-Franchisee-Status.jpg24281769Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2025-10-08 09:14:282025-10-13 10:55:02Debbie Walker from Merry Maids of Croydon Awarded Great British Franchisee Status
We are also continuing to attend specialist dementia information workshops for our business owners and their cleaners across the UK to deliver dementia-conscious cleaning services to people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, making us the only certified dementia-conscious cleaners in the UK.
And as part of our fundraising commitment, our businesses nationwide are again undertaking the Forget Me Knot Challenge.
But what is the Forget Me Knot Challenge? And how can you get involved?
This blog post has all the details.
What is the Forget Me Knot Challenge?
The Alzheimer’s Society is represented by the forget-me-not flower, long associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia due to its impact on memory loss.
The Forget Me Knot Challenge is a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from our businesses across the UK run, walk, or cycle the equivalent total mileage between each of our businesses, tying them together and raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society: creating the Forget Me Knot.
Or, if you’re one of our customers, please feel free to speak to our staff about donating.
Thank you for all your support!
To stay up to date with how we’re doing, stay tuned to our blog and social media channels over the summer.
Need a dementia-conscious cleaner?
If you know someone who is living with dementia, see how we can help to give them a better quality of life for as long as possible by finding your nearest Merry Maids business for a free, no-obligation quote on our services or booking online today.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20.png800800Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2025-07-22 15:59:332025-09-05 10:27:33Merry Maids UK’s Forget Me Knot 2025 for Alzheimer’s Society
Nicky Morris and her team have been recognised as Merry Maids’ Forget Me Knot Challenge Champions for 2024.
Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston have been awarded the title of Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion for 2024, for their exceptional contributions to our fundraising efforts over the last year for our charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society.
Our staff nationwide regularly clean for members of the public living with dementia and have been long-time supporters of Dementia Friends, which helps people become more aware of ways to support those living with dementia.
As we noticed we were encountering an increasing number of people living with dementia, whether themselves or caring for a loved one, we devised The Forget Me Knot Challenge to provide more ways to help by supporting Alzheimer’s Society and its mission.
The sponsored virtual relay tracks the distance covered by our business owners and staff as they walk, run, cycle or swim to travel the equivalent distance between each Merry Maids business nationwide.
Since then, we’ve raised a significant amount of money for Alzheimer’s Society, including £10,000 in the last year, all of which goes toward helping them provide help and hope to the over 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK.
Not to mention, over the last year, every Merry Maids cleaner across the UK has also attended exclusive dementia information sessions run by Alzheimer’s Society to recognise and bolster their knowledge of dementia, helping position them to provide informed care to the people we serve.
Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion
Each year, we recognise a Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion, who has gone above and beyond in their fundraising efforts. As the second-ever Forget Me Knot Challenge Champion, succeeding Mike Fargher from Merry Maids Sheffield, Nicky and the team at Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston were celebrated for their impressive donations, group activities, and vocal advocacy of the initiative across their social media platforms.
The team collected their award at the annual ServiceMaster Thrive in 2025 gala and has taken it back to the office to sit in pride of place in their trophy cabinet as a reminder and motivator for this year’s challenge, which is already underway.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Merry-Maids-Fylde-Blackpool-and-Preston-Recognised-as-Forget-Me-Knot-Champion-for-2024-scaled.jpeg24852560Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2025-07-21 14:14:292025-07-21 14:18:46Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston Recognised as Forget Me Knot Champion for 2024
The Merry Maids network includes many brilliant women who manage domestic cleaning businesses across the UK.
Each one of them brings something different. Be that the previous experiences leading them to where they are now or a unique outlook that helps them run a successful business.
Today, we’re spotlighting four of them.
Sue Smith – Merry Maids Tyneside:
Sue Smith has owned Merry Maids Tyneside for around 30 years after working in payroll for Safeway.
But with a young son aged three, Sue wanted to have her own business to manage her own time and childcare.
Merry Maids “was the perfect solution”, as Sue liked to clean and was able to incorporate this into her job.
Though she found Merry Maids and thought it was just right for her, Sue still had her reservations.
She was concerned that she was not the right sort of person to run a hands-on business, as she felt as though she lacked the confidence.
“I remember when I had to do the first callout it was terrifying,” she says.
But Sue found that she could do it, and has become confident running her business,
“I think the more you do it, the more you get used to it. If you push yourself, you can do these things, even when you think you can’t,” she adds.
Sue has also found herself becoming more and more involved with the local community and developing long-lasting relationships with clients.
“We’ve had some customers for years. I like dealing with it. Especially the older people who have always kept a nice house, and are now finding it difficult to do.
I think you get more satisfaction out of that kind of clean – when they’re so grateful for the difference you can make to their home.”
This coincided with her husband changing careers, having been in the military, and with the two of them moving to a completely different part of the country with a young child.
Having spent most of her career “in the corporate world”, Nicky wanted something new, for herself.
So, she did a lot of research into franchises, and having spoken to previous Merry Maids franchise owners, found that she was happiest with the brand and company.
There was also the question of timing around her move, but ServiceMaster (Merry Maid’s parent company) were happy to hold the business until Nicky was ready.
This meant that when her move was completed, Nicky was able to undertake her Merry Maids training academy and “hit the ground running after that.”
Though she’s had to put in lots of hard work, Nicky has found running her own business to be worth the challenge:
“It’s very rewarding to see what I’ve built up from nothing. When you initially start, like any business, you have to give it your all 24/7, especially for the first couple of years.
And moving to a new area with a young child was pretty difficult.
On the other hand, being my own boss gave me a bit of flexibility. It is your baby, really having a business and building it up. It is blood, sweat and tears that you’ve put into it.
So, it is different to a normal job. However much you might like the company you work for, it is very different.
When it’s your business, you do have an emotional attachment to it as well. But it’s worth it.”
Becky Hewitt – Merry Maids Sutton Coldfield:
Becky Hewitt of Merry Maids Sutton Coldfield is carrying on a long personal history with ServiceMaster and Merry Maids, now the sole owner of the business, having run it for years alongside friend Helen Bielby.
Back in the early 1980s, both of Helen’s parents worked in engineering and were made redundant around the same time.
So, they decided to pool their redundancy money and buy a ServiceMaster franchise – which used to involve our disaster restoration and clean brands under one umbrella.
The business stayed a family affair, with Helen and her nan helping out doing the cleaning. Her dad ran to the physical side of the business, whilst her mum handled the running and operation.
Then, in 1999, Helen’s mum decided that she wanted to buy a Merry Maids franchise as well.
At the time, Helen was at university and would still help out with the cleaning on her break days, and after university, she would help with the books alongside her job.
When Helen’s mum passed away suddenly in 2010, Helen had to handle both businesses:
“There was a point where we didn’t have any of the passwords to get into the ServiceMaster system. And ServiceMaster was great, and they sent people down from head office to help us get it all because we had to keep going.
And we had staff that we employed, we couldn’t close. So, you know, it was a nightmare, to be honest. I couldn’t run both businesses and have a foot in my full-time job. I could do Merry Maids because I’d done it for such a long time. But we realised we needed a secretary to help my dad do the admin on Service Master,” said Helen.
They found Becky, who was working part-time as a conveyancing at a solicitor’s office.
“[Becky] had just had her hours reduced, and she was looking for something to make them up,” Helen recalls.
“We met, and we hit it off from the start, we became best friends very, very quickly. It let me get on with concentrating on Merry Maids, but because they were run from the same office in the same room, she would help me out with Merry Maids as well, which was huge for me.”
When Helen’s dad then decided he wanted to sell the Merry Maids business, he suggested that Helen and Becky take it over together.
Last year, Helen stepped down from the business, with Becky taking up the helm to drive the business towards the years to come.
“What I love about Merry Maids of Sutton Coldfield is my team.
Merry Maids of Sutton Coldfield has 5 * reviews from both loyal and one-off customers because of the maid’s hard work and tireless, consistent efforts.
This paired with loyal, appreciative customers makes coming to work every day enjoyable,” says Becky.
Beccy Pope – Owner of Merry Maids North Sussex:
Beccy Pope’s journey into the world of franchising was completely unplanned.
She began her working life as a student with the goal of teaching. But, whilst working three jobs, Beccy realised she preferred to earn money.
So, she made a leap of faith, taking a job in the forensics industry doing finance and admin.
After building this business from the ground up along with the owner, she was headhunted as an Operations Director selling military software.
These two roles gave Beccy a good sense of the processes involved in running a company, and she found she loved building a business and running it how she wanted.
In 2017, Beccy had her daughter Isabelle and was faced with a choice as she was worried she was missing out on too much of her daughter’s early life due to the job she was in.
“I could be the mum that I wanted to be or the career person that I wanted to be, and nothing in-between. It wasn’t doable for me to do my job, and to be a good mum.”
So, in August 2019, Beccy purchased Merry Maids North Sussex. Though she faced some difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the birth of her son Finley, Beccy is now both the businesswoman and mum she wants.
“I can be the mum I want to be, and I have the work that I enjoy.
I love going and meeting people. I met a mum a little while ago who just wanted us to go and hoover her floors and mop them because she couldn’t find the time. And that’s real life, isn’t it? My team leader Alex, she’s also got two little boys, and between us: We’re sailing this ship.”
As the newest of these women to the Merry Maids franchise, Beccy says she has received invaluable help and support from the other women in the network like Nicky and Helen, who have helped Beccy with various things during the setup of her business, even though online during the pandemic:
“Helen talked me through how she runs her online shop and was really friendly and positive. She was happy for me to use some of her work if I chose and to call her if I had any problems during or after set up.
Nicky has sent me a few letter templates which have saved me a lot of time too. Considering I haven’t even met these ladies, they have been very supportive!”
Beccy can also be found on her YouTube channel, Beccy Cleans, which showcases Beccy in action running her business, looking after her family and, of course, providing lots of useful cleaning tips.
Want to find out more?
As a leading British franchise, people are at the heart of what we do.
The women of Merry Maids have each brought unique contributions to our franchise network.
This month is all about celebrating them and shedding light on what they do. So, we hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about the women that make up the Merry Maid’s network.
And if the stories of these women inspired you to make a fresh start, get in touch with our franchise recruitment team to learn more about Merry Maids business opportunities near you.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Untitled-design-1.jpg800800Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2025-03-06 15:06:012025-03-06 16:24:10The Women of Merry Maids UK
The benefits of a professional spring-cleaning service.
We don’t know about you, but we’re ready for spring.
It’s when nature washes away the cold of winter and freshens up for a brighter year ahead.
The flowers start to bloom, and the temperatures begin to rise. What’s not to love?
Preparing for spring also means it’s time to start thinking about your spring cleaning.
It may not always be pleasant, but the practice of getting down and dirty to clear out the clutter and the cobwebs of the past year is a vital part of the springtime.
Though the adage often cited is ‘if you want a job done properly, do it yourself,’ we’re here to tell you there is another way.
In this blog post, our cleaning experts walk you through the benefits of hiring a professional cleaning service for your spring cleaning.
What’s involved in spring cleaning?
Spring cleans are a deeper and more comprehensive cleaning than a regular maintenance clean and are all about clearing out the house at a deeper level to prepare for the year ahead.
Regular cleaning keeps your home in top condition, while deep cleaning gives that extra oomph and sparkle to make your home truly SHINE.
Our expert deep and spring cleans are ideal when moving in or out of a property, preparing your home to sell, having the in-laws visiting, in the aftermath of building or renovation works or needing a complete freshen-up.
Cleaning inside and or defrosting fridges and freezers
Washing internal doors and window frames
Moving heavier furniture to clean behind (where possible)
How do the professionals spring clean your home?
Professional cleaning services like those at Merry Maids use experienced professionals trained to deliver excellent-value home cleaning with a tried and tested methodology and products to produce the best results.
On every visit, your Merry Maids team will dust, wash, sanitise and vacuum your home using our equipment and specially formulated products.
We operate a strict cleaning process that utilises coloured cloths for different areas of the home to avoid cross-contamination.
All our maids are trained in Health and Safety regulations and procedures* to use our products and equipment
*Practices may vary by area due to area-specific considerations.
How much does it cost to have my home professionally cleaned?
There is no standard pricing index used to determine domestic cleaning service fees.
Some businesses charge by the hour, while others will charge for the scope of the cleaning involved.
Either way, professional cleaning services will determine their prices based on the following factors:
Size
Layout and number of rooms
Style of home
Number of residents
Factoring of children and pets
Frequency of cleaning
Location and travel distance from business location
To see the value of professional spring-cleaning services in your area, contact your nearest Merry Maids business for a free, no-obligation quotation.
Why pay when you can do it yourself, you ask.
We’ll tell you…
Professional spring cleaning saves you time and effort
There’s no doubt about it… spring cleaning is a massive undertaking.
Especially if you’re already juggling family and childcare responsibilities, work, and the basics like socialisation and a good amount of rest.
Whatever your idea is of time well spent, we know it doesn’t involve doing the cleaning.
Entrusting your spring cleaning to professionals can save you hours of effort and give you time to focus on what matters most.
The bespoke and professional touch
At Merry Maids, we love to clean. It’s what we do.
Over our 30 years of delivering home cleaning expertise, we have refined the experience had by our customers to a fine art.
We know that each home and each individual we clean for is unique.
So, we go above and beyond to ensure you get the clean you deserve, not just the clean you expect, and work with you to understand the specific needs of you and your home and work tirelessly to ensure that you’re more than happy with gleaming results – at a time that suits you.
Professional cleaning staff like ours are trained with the latest (and often exclusive) products, tools, and best practices to make every room in the house sparkle.
Professional spring cleaning is good for your health
Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefit, a good spring cleaning is also good for your health!
According to Verywell Mind, a cluttered and dirty environment can be harmful to your mental health, as it has been scientifically linked to higher rates of stress, depression and anxiety, as well as decreased rates of focus.
In addition, studies have shown that having a clean home typically is the mark of healthier inhabitants.
Cleanliness in the home has even been found to be a better predictor of good health for the residents than the walkability of its neighbourhood!
Cleaning can also improve the air quality of your home.
This is extra vital in the spring as the winter often involves more time spent inside with less fresh air in the home – causing more dust on the property.
The equipment used by professional cleaners is designed to eliminate harmful dust in the home and can benefit your health and air quality.
Professional support with additional health requirements
We know that people aren’t always able to clean for themselves.
Following our successful Forget Me Knot Challenge last year – where our businesses across the UK raised over £4000 for the Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends in a matter of weeks – Merry Maids UK have this year become an official partner in aid of Alzheimer’s Society.
At Merry Maids, our staff understand the specific requirements of the over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK and ensure their homes are clean, healthy places for them to live, maintained by friendly, local people who support them with any additional requirements that come with dementia and other conditions – even if that means being someone to make a cup of tea and have a chat with.
Why hire Merry Maids to spring clean your home?
Put the spring back in your cleaning with Merry Maids.
The springtime is for enjoying, not cleaning.
Get a cleaner, fresher home faster and reclaim your free time with the expert help of your local cleaning professionals.
Are you tired of spending your free time hunched over to clean cobwebbed corners rather than enjoying the sunshine?
Your springtime is sacred.
Booking your spring cleaning with your local professionals now could be the saving grace you’ve been waiting for.
At Merry Maids, we’ve been experts in home cleaning for over 30 years, providing professional and bespoke services as one-off, regular or deep cleans and taking the hassle out of your spring cleaning.
Naturally, you might not love cleaning, but we do. It’s what we do best!
Contact Us
To start saving time and energy on your spring cleaning, book your spring cleaning with the experts at Merry Maids now by finding your nearest business or booking online today.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Why-should-I-get-my-home-professionally-spring-cleaned.jpg650650Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2025-02-17 14:57:172025-02-18 11:22:29Why should I get my home professionally spring-cleaned?
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.
Or, book easily online in select locations through our online shop.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Valentines-Day-From-Merry-Maids-with-Love.jpg428760Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2025-02-14 09:00:592025-02-28 17:07:37From Merry Maids with love
This is a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from Merry Maids businesses across the UK run, walk, or cycle the equivalent total mileage between each Merry Maids UK business, tying them together and raising funds for Dementia Friends/ Alzheimer’s Society: creating the Forget Me Knot.
Last year, as part of the challenge, we shared the story of Angela from Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston, who had a long history with the disease, which has impacted both her parents and mother-in-law.
Angela has since left Merry Maids but has permitted us to keep sharing her story to raise awareness of the reality of living with dementia.
“I’m doing the Forget Me Knot challenge because I’ve been through dementia experiences three times so far, and I’m just about to go through my fourth with my dad,” she says.
The conditions that Angela and her family have faced have varied.
From Alzheimer’s to frontal temporal and vascular dementia, the experiences and maladies were “completely different” each time.
“It’s devastating,” she says. “The person you once knew changes into somebody else.”
“They don’t die… straight away. It’s a long process. But they change. They’re unrecognisable as the person you once knew.”
Why Supporting Alzheimer’s Society Matters
Angela describes the experience and how frightening it is, particularly in the early stages, where the family had little information about what was happening to their loved ones.
“You need to talk to people,” she says. “You need people to help you, so you haven’t got to be afraid to ask for help.”
Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends do just this.
They are there to support and inform members of the public about Alzheimer’s and its varying forms so that we can all be prepared should we encounter the disease.
Dementia Advisers from Alzheimer’s Society provide critical support to people throughout their experiences with dementia, allowing people living with the condition and their carers to access expert support.
Our support means they can invest in ground-breaking research into better ways of treating and caring for people with dementia.
Dementia Friends, as a subset of Alzheimer’s Society, trains people and businesses like ours to interact with people with dementia.
At Merry Maids UK, we often serve members of the public living with dementia and ensure that through Dementia Friends, our staff are trained to provide care and support while cleaning their homes – as they often cannot do it for themselves.
Whether making them a cup of tea or being a friendly and recognisable face, there are many ways to be there for those who need it.
As Angela says:
“You have to be kind to one another. You have to talk. Don’t bottle things up, and listen.
“Listen to the person who is ill because they are just as confused as you are.”
“It’s really important that we help them to feel as normal as possible for as long as possible. We have to try and find some kind of way of making this illness easier to live with.”
How you can support us and Alzheimer’s Society
As Angela says:
“It’s very important that we raise awareness and help raise money to develop new medication to help slow this process. Because it really is devastating. It really is.”
The Merry Maids UK Forget Me Knot challenge will continue to run throughout the summer months – with our teams nationwide getting involved in the virtual relay.
You can support our teams by sponsoring us in this endeavour via donations to our JustGiving page.
All proceeds will be donated to Alzheimer’s Society.
If you or a loved one knows someone who is struggling with dementia, see how we can help to give them a better quality of life for as long as possible by finding your nearest Merry Maids business or booking online today.
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Alzheimer’s is commonly misunderstood to be part of getting older.
However, it is a deadly neurological disease that is currently the UK’s biggest killer, estimated to affect 1 in 2 people in the UK in our lifetimes.
Throughout 2024, at Merry Maids UK, we’re working closely with our friends at the Alzheimer’s Society to raise £10,000 as part of our commitment to supporting them in their cause.
We are also working with them to train our business owners and their cleaners across the UK to deliver dementia-conscious cleaning services to people with Alzheimer’s and dementia – making us the only specially-trained dementia-friendly cleaners in the UK!
As part of our fundraising commitment, our businesses nationwide are again undertaking our Forget Me Knot Challenge.
But what is the Forget Me Knot Challenge? And how can you get involved?
This blog post has all the details.
What is the Forget Me Knot Challenge?
The Alzheimer’s Society is represented by the forget-me-not flower long- associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia due to its effects on memory loss.
The Forget Me Knot Challenge is our is a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from Merry Maids businesses across the UK run, walk, or cycle the equivalent total mileage between each Merry Maids UK business, tying them together and raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society: creating the Forget Me Knot.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Social-Graphics-800-x-800-px-3.png25002500Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2024-07-03 11:47:252024-07-03 12:12:17Merry Maids UK kicks off Forget Me Knot 2024 in support of Alzheimer’s Society
Merry Maids Dudley won a coveted recognition award for Franchisee of the Year for their business growth and development during this year’s ServiceMaster Spring Forward event.
The day was packed with informative sessions from Team Academy on how owners and staff can utilise their natural superpowers to create an impact in their businesses.
The day was rounded off with a gala dinner and awards evening that saw franchise business owners from both brands awarded for their accomplishments over the last year.
Brilliance in Business at Merry Maids Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford
This included the team from Merry Maids of Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford, who won the prestigious recognition award to commemorate the expansion of their business to aid growth in the last year and for business owner Tom Jackson’s overall contribution to supporting the network.
After winning these awards on the night, Tom said:
“It feels great [to win]. Any award is fantastic, but it’s great to be recognised by your peers.”
“We’ve always been proud of Merry Maids because we’ve been doing it for 20 years, so I think, for me, it’s about helping new people come along, trying to work it as we grow, they grow. I think that’s how we’re going to grow the network.”
Congratulations to the team at Merry Maids Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford for their hard work delivering excellence and supporting Merry Maids to thrive.
We wish them continued success in the years to come!
Want award-winning home cleaning?
If you’re in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Stafford and the surrounding areas and would benefit from professional home cleaning services from an award-winning business, contact the Merry Maids team on 01384 242809/ 01902 489420 / 01785 255299 or find your nearest Merry Maids business to see how we can help you today.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Merry-Maids-Dudley-Wolverhampton-and-Stafford-wins-coveted-Franchisee-of-the-Year-Award.jpg467700Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2024-04-24 11:53:322024-04-24 11:57:26Merry Maids Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stafford wins coveted Franchisee of the Year Award
Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston won multiple awards for their employee engagement and performance during this year’s ServiceMaster Spring Forward event.
The day was packed with informative sessions from Team Academy on how owners and staff can utilise their natural superpowers to create an impact in their businesses.
The day was rounded off with a gala dinner and awards evening that saw franchise business owners from both brands awarded for their accomplishments over the last year.
Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston – A great place to work
This included the team from Merry Maids of Fylde, Blackpool and Preston, who won the prestigious Great Place to Work award as a recognition of the investment they have made in their staff by putting initiatives in place to increase employee engagement and retention and who invest in their people to enable a successful business structure that keeps them competitive in the local market space.
As proof of employee engagement in action, Office Manager Debbie Worrall was awarded Employee of the Year – out of all employees across every Merry Maids business in the UK!
After winning these awards on the night and collecting Debbie’s award on her behalf, the business owner of Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston, Nicky Morris, said:
“Winning this award is fantastic because it’s not really for me, and Debbie is going to be so pleased when she finds out tomorrow – she doesn’t even know she’s been nominated!”
“Debbie has been an asset to my business since she joined two years ago; she looks after the staff, she’s got a big sales role as well as admin, and she’s good with customers as well. She can stand in for me at any time!”
Congratulations to the team at Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston for their hard work delivering excellence and creating a great place to work in their local community.
We wish them continued success in the years to come!
Want award-winning home cleaning?
If you’re in Fylde, Blackpool, Preston and the surrounding areas and would benefit from professional home cleaning services from an award-winning business, contact the Merry Maids team on 01253 401756 / 07450 612923 or find your nearest Merry Maids business to see how we can help you today.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Merry-Maids-Fylde-Blackpool-and-Preston-wins-coveted-awards-for-employee-engagement.jpg400600Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2024-04-24 11:19:432024-04-24 11:19:43Merry Maids Fylde, Blackpool and Preston wins coveted awards for employee engagement
The Merry Maids UK Forget Me Knot Challenge has raised over £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends.
At Merry Maids UK, we are a nationwide cleaning franchise that has long had our heart in care and the community.
When, in 2014, a friend of the Croydon-based franchise, Debbie Walker, was researching a PhD thesis on dementia patients and told her about Dementia Friends, we began to work closely with the charity and have never looked back.
Our Merry Maids business owners provide care across the UK through compassionate and professional home cleaning services.
This often means they encounter members of the public living with dementia and struggling with the disease.
This year, we took our dedication to giving back a mammoth step further by undertaking the Forget Me Knot Challenge – which has raised over £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society.
The Forget Me Knot Challenge
The Forget Me Knot Challenge – named in reference to the tying together of Merry Maids businesses and the small blue flower that has long been associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia – was a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from Merry Maids businesses across the UK ran, walked, or cycled the equivalent total mileage between each Merry Maids UK business.
The results
Cleaners, business owners, customers and head-office staff from across the UK put forward donations, helping raise over £4,000 – achieving more than double their initial £1000 donations and 2345 mileage targets.
Collectively, the Merry Maids franchise network has walked 4796.14 miles – the distance between London and Dallas, Texas!
Our stories
With over 900,000 people estimated to be living with dementia or Alzheimer’s in the UK today, it is likely that we all know or have known someone affected.
Each participant had their reasons for taking part.
Like Mike Fargher of Merry Maids in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, who racked up 1186 miles and generous donations by cycling and pledging £1 per mile.
“Our Merry Maids business has had many encounters with Dementia over the years,” says Mike.
“We have some long-term clients that did not have dementia when we started to clean for them but sadly now have it. We also take on new clients where they, and their families, wish to remain in their own homes and, with the support of ourselves and other outside agencies, can do so.”
“Sometimes a client wants to chat over a cup of tea, to tell you about their life, family and other interests. The Maids may have heard the same stories several times but will listen as if it was the first time they heard it.”
Or the team in Fylde, Blackpool and Preston – including maids Angela and Bernie – who each has had multiple family members live with the disease.
“I’m doing the Forget Me Knot Challenge because I’ve been through dementia experiences three times so far, and I’m just about to go through my fourth with my dad,” Angela said back in July.
“It’s devastating. The person you once knew changes into somebody else.”
“They don’t die… straight away. It’s a long process. But they change. They’re unrecognisable as the person you once knew.”
“You have to be kind to one another. You have to talk. Don’t bottle things up, and listen. Listen to the person who is ill because they are just as confused as you are.”
“It’s important that we help them to feel as normal as possible for as long as possible. We must find ways of making this illness easier to live with, raise awareness and money to develop new medication to help slow this process.”
Learn more
To learn more about Merry Maids UK and our work with Alzheimer’s Society, call 0800 021 3072.
If you or someone you know would benefit from a professional and compassionate, regular or one-off, home cleaning service from the dementia friends at Merry Maids UK, find your nearest Merry Maids business or visit our online shop today.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Merry-Maids-UK-‘Forget-Me-Knot-Challenge-Raises-4000-for-Alzheimers-Society.jpeg405405Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2023-09-21 14:21:392024-03-18 11:46:20Merry Maids UK ‘Forget Me Knot Challenge’ Raises £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society
Learn more about Merry Maids UK’s Forget Me Knot Challenge for Dementia Friends.
With over 850,000 people in the UK estimated to be living with dementia right now, we have likely all experienced the impact of dementia in some capacity at one time or another, with research suggesting it will affect 1 in 2 people in our lifetimes.
This means that, at Merry Maids UK, we regularly encounter clients and family struggling or living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Dementia Friends is an initiative that trains businesses and organisations and the people who work for them in the right ways to interact with people with dementia.
Merry Maids UK began working alongside Dementia Friends in 2014 when a friend of Debbie Walker, the owner of Merry Maids of Croydon, started looking into the charity whilst researching for her PhD on the health of older adults.
Our duty of care to our customers is something we value deeply, so we jumped at the chance to receive training from Dementia Friends to aid our cleans.
Soon, we were becoming dementia friends nationwide.
What is the Forget Me Knot Challenge?
This year, we wanted to do more.
That’s why we have created the Forget Me Knot Challenge.
Alzheimer’s Society is represented by the forget me not, a small blue flower that has long been associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia due to its effects of memory loss.
This is a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from Merry Maids businesses across the UK will run, walk, or cycle the equivalent total mileage between each Merry Maids UK business, tying them together and raising funds for Dementia Friends/ Alzheimer’s Society: creating the Forget Me Knot.
How to support us?
With the challenge now underway, our businesses will be undertaking the task of covering 335 miles each to raise money over the coming months.
If you would benefit from regular or one-off cleaning services from one of our teams, across the UK, contact your local cleaning experts today by finding your nearest Merry Maids business or book online through our online shop.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FORGET-ME-KNOT-LOGO-WITH-LOGOS-TRANSPARENT-11.jpg20002000Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2023-06-27 11:21:362024-03-18 11:46:35Merry Maids UK kicks off Forget Me Knot Challenge in aid of dementia charities
The team at Merry Maids Fylde & Blackpool are celebrating their 20th anniversary.
It’s been all smiles and celebration at Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool as business owner Nicola Morris and her team of cleaning experts celebrate the 20th anniversary of the business.
About Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool
Nicky Morris established Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool in 2002 after moving to the area with her husband and young child.
Following a career in the corporate world, Nicky knew she wanted to do something for herself.
And when reflecting on her own experience of struggling to find quality and reliable home cleaning, she recognised that first-rate cleaning services were in short supply.
Knowing there was a need for cleaning services, Nicky started her Merry Maids business and has provided first-class and professional domestic cleaning services in Fylde, Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Kirkham, Poulton le Fylde, Thornton Cleveleys and Freckleton ever since.
Celebrating 20 years
To celebrate her 20th anniversary, Nicky held a surprise party for her team. And what do you need for a good surprise party? Commemorative Merry Maids cupcakes and balloons, of course!
This was a lovely opportunity to socialise, spend time together as a team and ensure all of the new staff who recently joined the Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool family could get to know everyone.
Giving back
Nicky says she also wanted to give back to the people who made her time in business special: her staff and customers.
To say thank you to her customers, Nicky and her team delivered Merry Maids cupcakes to everyone they cleaned for that day.
And for two extra-special customers who have been loyal Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool supporters for Nicky’s 20 years in business, the team delivered bouquets as a token of their gratitude.
One of these customers, from Lytham St Annes, started using Merry Maids as cover for a previous cleaner’s absence and is still with us two decades later!
“I first used Merry Maids 20 years ago for full house spring cleans or as cover for my cleaner’s holiday and was always delighted with the results,” she says.
“When I was looking later for a replacement cleaner, I chose Merry Maids as a regular replacement – and I have been with them ever since.
It was a sensible choice, as holidays or other absences were always covered, so the cleaning is done regardless of circumstances.”
We’ve been with this customer through changes in their life and have supported them by customising our services seamlessly.
“When our daughters were still living at home, the visits were weekly. But as they flew the nest and our needs changed, we adjusted schedules to fortnightly.
Ad hoc changes were readily accommodated – a few more hours before and after Christmas and reduced hours if necessary when we were away.”
“It is lovely to come back home after the ladies have been – the house is always clean and tidy,” she says.
And over this time, they have built up a lasting relationship with the team:
“If we are at home when they visit, we enjoy a quick catch-up whilst they crack on.
[The maids] are reliable, hardworking, trustworthy and cheery.”
And “A particular well done and thank you to Debbie, my ‘regular’ Merry Maid,” she adds.
As the anniversary was in December, Nicky participated in the spirit of the season by taking on the role of St Nicky and giving her staff a £20 Morrisons gift card each to mark each of the years they’ve been in business.
That way, the staff could choose to use it for fuel, Christmas food shopping, or to treat themselves!
Nicky says the anniversary was “the highlight of the year” and was thrilled to celebrate her achievement with her team.
“Celebrating 20 years in business is a fantastic achievement, not only for myself but all the dedicated people who have worked for Merry Maids along the way and all our lovely loyal customers who continue to support us.
I put our success down to being lovely, trustworthy people who care about doing the best we can for our customers – at the highest standard of cleaning.”
Need a high-quality and reliable cleaner?
If you’re in the Fylde and Blackpool area and need a cleaner backed by 20 years of experience cleaning homes in your community to the highest quality, get in touch with Nicky and the team today.
As experts in cleaning, Nicky and her brilliant team can carry out a range of cleaning services at premium quality.
Whether you need regular or one-off deep cleans, Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool have you covered.
Benefitting from 20 years of local experience and over 30 years of expertise as part of the nationwide Merry Maids franchise, our staff are trained to the highest possible standard so that no dusty surface or messy home is a match for our maids.
To speak to Nicky and the team, call 01253 401756 / 07450 612923 for a free, no-obligation quotation.
https://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Merry-Maids-Fylde-and-Blackpool-Anniversary.jpeg13852560Aron Yopphttp://merrymaids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-512-x-512-px-422-x-100-px-1-400x95.pngAron Yopp2023-03-01 09:22:422023-03-06 09:36:16Celebrating 20 years of Merry Maids Fylde and Blackpool
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