"The decision to continue to invest in the Humber region was an easy one. Having been based in Hull since 1850, Lightowler has access to a skilled labour supply here and we have always had great business support in the area" Peter Dorsett

Lightowler is a long-established, family business specialising in commercial cleaning, painting and facility management services that set up six generations ago, in 1850. Today, Lightowler continues to grow by remaining dynamic, reinvesting in its facilities and new technology, as well as expanding its business offer.

With a multimillion pound annual turnover, Lightowler attributes much of its success to a commitment to providing outstanding customer service – with 90% of their customers retaining its services being proof that this approach is the right one.

With over 160 years’ experience in dealing with a broad range of clients, Lightowler has developed to meet the exact needs of its customers, with every job being tailored to the clients’ specific requirements.

The commercial cleaning arm of the business offers everything from daily cleaning services to one-off deep cleans and will work with all types of buildings including; leisure facilities, offices, showrooms, restaurants, pubs, educational establishments, healthcare facilities and building sites – quite simply, there’s nothing Lightowler won’t clean. Lightowler is also an industry leader in painting projects of all sizes and specifications, which includes commercial, domestic and heritage work. In addition, Facilities Management Services are provided by a multi-skilled team.

Lightowler is proud to work with some of the region’s biggest brands including; MKM building supplies, Saint Gobain Group, G . F Smith, Stratstone BMW and Volvo. It has also provided services for exceptional buildings, such as Castle Howard in North Yorkshire – a renowned stately home often used as a film and television set.

Embracing new technology and becoming a skills based organisation has been paramount in the company’s growth. In recent years, Lightowler has invested heavily in its site and services, including developing The Ideal Business Park - an exclusive development of 11 Hybrid commercial units., costing £3 million. Currently based at the Park, they’ve spent £500,000 on a warehouse and head office space for themselves. The company has also invested in the latest digital software, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge of technological advancements. This includes online management systems that allows customers to see real time information on the work Lightowler are doing for them – from what time staff will arrive, to updating job progress and quality control.

After outgrowing premises in Harpings Road, Lightowler explored the market for somewhere to relocate to but couldn’t decide on anywhere that met the company’s needs. It was at this point Lightowler decided to invest into a new development. In just six months, this dream became a reality, as the company succeeded in gaining financial support from the European Regional Development Fund and were able to move into the new development on National Avenue, Hull, in March 2015 to meet the demands of the expanding business.

Phase two of the development was realised in January 2017 when Lightowler welcomed their first tenants, Reach Resourcing Group Ltd, to The Ideal Business Park. 

Peter Dorsett said:

“The decision to continue to invest in the Humber region was an easy one. Having been based in Hull since 1850, Lightowler has access to a skilled labour supply here and we have always had great business support in the area. It’s also an ideal time to grow the company locally – particularly with the positivity surrounding Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and the multi-million pound investments the region is benefiting from, such as Green Port Hull and Siemens”.

Lightowler continues to support the Humber’s economy by working closely with local suppliers and recruiting locally whenever possible. The business is committed to reaching the highest possible standards and focuses on investing in training and new technologies to ensure field-based staff have the knowledge and equipment to be empowered in their work.

We are continually investing into our business – recent investments include marketing, developing a client portal and professional training videos.

Peter Dorsett said:

“We are proud to announce that we have three members within our admin team that have racked up a combined 65 years’ service at Lightowler between them. And they are all under 45 years of age.”

As a company, it is clear Lightowler is incredibly proud of its history and the reputation it has developed with its customers and staff – a foundation which will continue to propel the business forward into its next chapter.

If you require a quotation for our services please contact Vicky Roberts on 01482 308519

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