As Derek Lancaster prepared to leave the RAF after almost 26 years’ service, he knew his next career move would involve him being his own boss.
The former chef looked at several opportunities before landing on oven cleaning franchise Ovenu – which caught his eye due to its training package and ongoing business support.
Now, 19 years after launching Ovenu Darlington, and 12,500 sparkling clean ovens later, he’s planning to retire when his current franchise agreement expires in 2025.
He said: “Ovenu gave me a proven business model, a recognisable brand, and a reputation for delivering exceptional service. Essentially, I had everything I needed for success.
“It allowed me to run my own business, while at the same time having the reassurance of a safety net of support. I never felt like I was on my own with advice and support just a phone call away.
“The oven valeting business has served me exceedingly well. It meant I could pay my mortgage off 15 years early and allowed myself and my wife Deb to go on a decent holidays two or three times a year.”
He launched Ovenu Darlington in 2003 and within a year, as booking numbers soared, he recruited Deb to provide extra support, cleaning grills and dealing with the administration.
Now 60, he added: “Since leaving the military, the business has served me very well. A normal day will see me clean two to three ovens, but there is the potential to expand by taking on a second valeter and operating an additional van.”
As well as the market town of Darlington, his territory takes in a scenic swathe of the northern fringe of North Yorkshire and south west County Durham.
Ranked in the Top 60 of Elite Franchises Top Franchises of 2021, Ovenu has helped more than 120 people across the UK launch their oven cleaning businesses.
Rik Hellewell, who founded Ovenu in 1994, ran a pilot scheme for five years to prove its potential before launching it as a franchise. Since then, Ovenu has gone on to become the UK’s largest oven cleaning operation.
An apprentice-trained mechanical engineer, he designed the heated dip tank assembly for cleaning all the removable oven parts, as well as sourcing its unique range of eco-friendly cleaning products.
He said: “Derek is one of our longest serving franchisees and has shown how easy and profitable the transition to civilian life can be.
“It’s the ideal business model for anyone considering a change of career or wishing to take control of their lives and is a great option for those preparing to leave the forces.
“An Ovenu franchise is designed to set people up for success compared to the very real challenges of establishing a start-up business in what are uncertain times.”
