From lockdown launch to local success: Ovenu Petersfield marks five years in business

In 2020, after contracting the virus, the former baker was rushed to hospital for oxygen therapy, and it was during this time that he resolved to finally achieve his long-held ambition of running his own business.

For a man who had spent more than three decades in the baking industry, developing products for major high street names including Starbucks, Pret a Manger and Costa Coffee, being forced to pause and evaluate everything proved life-changing.

“Thankfully, I made a full recovery,” he said. “Being in hospital really makes you stop and reassess things, and since becoming my own boss, I’ve never looked back.”

In early 2021, with the UK still in the grip of strict Covid-19 restrictions, Rob took a leap of faith and launched his franchised oven cleaning business, Ovenu Petersfield, covering an area including Petersfield, Waterlooville, Liphook, and the Meon Valley.

At the time, the future felt far from certain. Starting any business during a global pandemic would be daunting, let alone one that involves going into clients' homes. But five years on, the 57-year-old is celebrating a milestone that even he could not have predicted.

For Rob, who lives near Waterlooville, has just taken on an additional oven technician Freddie Muir to cope with the rising demand.

“The last five years have gone incredibly quickly,” he said. “Since starting the business, I’ve built up a client base of more than 2,300 people and received 763 maximum five-star reviews. A large proportion of my work now comes from repeat customers, which is something I’m really proud of.”

What began with a modest goal quickly snowballed.

“When I started out, my aim was to do two oven cleans a day. But demand grew quickly and I was sometimes doing three to four jobs a day, plus Saturdays, because I just didn’t want to let anyone down.

“It became clear this wasn’t sustainable, which is why I’ve just taken on Freddie, who is a family friend and was himself looking for a change of career. If things continue as they are, then a third van on the road isn’t far off.”

The addition of 29-year-old former teacher Freddie has enabled the business to reduce waiting times, which had stretched to four or five months.

Rob has also extended his franchise agreement, underlining his confidence in the future.

The Ovenu process involves dismantling key oven components, such as doors, panels, fans and shelves, before cleaning them in design-registered tank equipment using safe, non-caustic and biodegradable products. The service leaves ovens in near showroom condition and also covers hobs, extractor hoods, microwaves and range cookers.