Dish It Dirty Podcast

About Dish It Dirty Podcast

The Dish It Dirty Podcast is where the cleaning, hygiene, catering, and food packaging industries finally get a voice. Hosted by David from Charta Recruitment, this podcast brings together the people, businesses, and ideas shaping the sector. Each episode dives into real conversations with industry leaders, operators, and rising talent. We cover market trends, economic pressures, legislation, supply chain challenges, growth strategies, and what is actually happening on the ground.

Publisher

David Revell

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 May 2026

Latest episode

6 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Nov 2026

   From a £40 Cleaning Job to 40 Staff: The Reality of Building a Cleaning Business w/ Danielle Daines

   What does it really take to build a successful cleaning business?In this episode of Dish It Dirty, I'm joined by Danielle Daines, founder of Envirowise Cleaning and Heathstead, who has grown from her first £40 warehouse cleaning job to running two businesses employing 40 people.But it's been anything but straightforward.Danielle shares some of the biggest lessons she's learnt along the way, including losing around £15,000 in unpaid invoices, navigating rising employment costs, losing hospitality contracts and adapting her business to survive.We also explore some of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the cleaning industry today, including:- Why commercial cleaning and biohazard work can offer better profit margins.- The worrying gaps in biohazard cleaning training.- How Danielle uses LinkedIn to generate new business, with a reported 50% response rate.- Why recruiting and retaining good cleaners is so difficult.- The impact of AI and robotics on cleaning businesses and their employees.- Why competing on price can be a dangerous strategy.It's an open, funny and practical conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience and the realities of operating in the cleaning and hygiene industry.Whether you're running a cleaning business, supplying the industry or thinking about starting your own company, there's plenty to take away from this episode.Subscribe to Dish It Dirty for more conversations with the people shaping the cleaning and hygiene industry.00:00Introducing Danielle Daines02:04The £40 warehouse cleaning disaster04:51Losing £15,000 in unpaid invoices08:12Why checking your customers matters10:31How rising employment costs hit hospitality cleaning12:19Adapting the business and returning to domestic cleaning16:51Why attention to detail is so difficult to teach17:05Biohazard cleaning and specialist services20:01The worrying gaps in biohazard training22:40Where are the biggest cleaning profit margins?24:31Cross-selling cleaning and facilities maintenance25:33Using LinkedIn to win new customers27:19Personalised outreach versus AI spam30:09Building trust through LinkedIn content33:43Danielle's business development strategy35:40ChatGPT advertising and digital marketing40:28Why recruiting cleaners is so difficult41:31Keeping good staff and building a positive culture47:21Writing job adverts that attract applicants52:36Will robots replace cleaning jobs?57:11Using AI to run a cleaning business1:01:49The importance of human relationships1:04:57Cleaning technology and industry innovation1:08:21The opportunities and limitations of cleaning robots1:12:31Why AI still needs human judgement1:17:30The value of working with prestigious clients1:19:55Selling on value rather than price1:24:00Final advice and closing thoughts

2. 

   28 Oct 2026

   Cleaning/Hygiene Industry October 2026 Recap

   UK Cleaning & Hygiene Industry News | October 2026 Recap What's been happening in the UK Cleaning & Hygiene industry this October? From a major acquisition safeguarding 1,200 jobs to impressive business growth, innovative cleaning products, sustainable packaging and the growing role of artificial intelligence, there's plenty to discuss. In this episode of the Dish It Dirty Podcast, I break down six of the biggest stories from across the Cleaning, Hygiene and Facilities Management industries. Here's what's covered: A major contract cleaning acquisition that could signal further consolidation across the industry. An independent cleaning company reporting 17% annual growth, £5.2 million in new business and 98% customer retention. New dissolvable cleaning products designed to reduce packaging, storage and transport requirements. Innovative bag-in-box packaging that could reduce plastic usage by up to 90%. A new international AI toolkit designed specifically for Cleaning and Facilities Management businesses. A new accreditation campaign highlighting the importance of independently verified quality standards. Whether you're a manufacturer, distributor, cleaning contractor, facilities management professional or supplier, this monthly roundup is designed to keep you informed about what's happening across our industry. 00:00 – Introduction: October Cleaning & Hygiene Industry News 00:46 – SBFM's First Acquisition: 1,200 Jobs Safeguarded 01:34 – Peartree Cleaning Reports 17% Growth 02:46 – Foremost's New LEAF Dissolvable Cleaning Products 04:54 – New Bag-in-Box Packaging: Up to 90% Less Plastic 06:20 – New AI Readiness Toolkit for Cleaning & FM 08:31 – CHSA Launches New Industry Accreditation Campaign Dish It Dirty is a podcast exploring the people, businesses, innovations and stories shaping the Cleaning, Hygiene and Facilities Management industries. Hosted by David Revell, Co-Founder of Charta Recruitment, the podcast features conversations with industry leaders, business owners and professionals, alongside monthly industry news roundups. Subscribe for more industry news, insights and interviews. #CleaningIndustry #HygieneIndustry #FacilitiesManagement #CleaningNews #DishItDirty

3. 

   14 Oct 2026

   The power of marketing in the cleaning & hygiene industry. w/ James Norgate

   Could your cleaning or hygiene business be leaving hundreds of thousands, or even millions of pounds on the table because of poor marketing? This week on The Dish It Dirty Podcast, I'm joined by James Norgate, founder of marketing consultancy NXRD, to discuss why so many businesses in our industry are failing to unlock the commercial potential of marketing. James has over 22 years of marketing experience, including senior international roles at SEKO and Lasatec Industrial Holding, working with manufacturers across the cleaning, hygiene, dosing and dispensing industries. During his time at SEKO, he helped grow the UK business from approximately £1.5 million to £8 million in revenue, while delivering some impressive marketing results: 280% growth in social media presence Over 300% growth in YouTube subscribers 124% increase in email marketing ROI £1.8 million in reported returns from a digital campaign costing approximately £1,000 Over £10 million in sales opportunity value generated through the website in his final year But this episode isn't just about those numbers. It's about how cleaning and hygiene businesses can use marketing to generate more leads, improve sales performance and accelerate growth. We discuss: Why marketing in the cleaning and hygiene industry is often outdated and ineffective How James helped transform SEKO's marketing and support its revenue growth Why your website should act as a 24/7 salesperson How to connect LinkedIn, YouTube, email, SEO and your website into one marketing system Why marketing and sales teams need to work together How to get more value from exhibitions and trade shows Why your marketing also affects your ability to attract employees Whether you're a manufacturer, distributor, business owner, sales director or marketing professional working in cleaning and hygiene, this episode explores the opportunities available when marketing is treated as a commercial investment rather than simply another business expense. 🎙️ The Dish It Dirty Podcast, bringing together the people, businesses and ideas shaping the cleaning and hygiene industry.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to The Dish It Dirty Podcast 02:37 The Power of Marketing in Cleaning & Hygiene 04:29 Why Your Website Is a 24/7 Salesperson 05:29 How James Helped Grow SEKO From £1.5m to £8m 07:02 Transforming SEKO's Website Into a Lead Generation Machine 09:21 £10 Million in Opportunities Generated Through the Website 10:03 LinkedIn, YouTube & the Power of Integrated Marketing 12:09 Turning Cold Prospects Into Warm Leads 14:12 How Much Revenue Would SEKO Have Lost Without Marketing? 16:08 Why Salespeople Need Marketing Support 18:05 What Should a Marketing Team Actually Do? 19:50 Getting More ROI From Exhibitions & Trade Shows 23:10 Why Marketing Strategy Can Feel Overwhelming 24:30 How Marketing Affects Recruitment & Employer Branding 27:53 What's Changed in Marketing Over the Last Five Years? 29:53 AI Search, Google & the Future of SEO 33:01 Why Original Content Matters More Than Ever 36:03 Getting Your Business Referenced by AI 38:18 Why Most Cleaning Industry LinkedIn Content Misses the Mark 40:38 The Long-Term Power of Personal Branding 44:05 Growing Your Company's LinkedIn Page 48:00 Voice Notes, Video & LinkedIn Outreach 50:00 Why Most Sales Messages Don't Work 52:44 Marketing to Human Needs, Not Just Products 57:00 Creating Clearer Marketing Messages 01:00:20 Measuring Marketing ROI 01:03:19 Automating Lead Generation & Sales Prospecting 01:09:11 Could AI Replace Parts of a Sales Team? 01:12:12 AI Video Tools & Content Creation 01:18:02 AI-Generated Content & Detection 01:24:01 Should You Use AI to Write LinkedIn Posts? 01:27:07 The Problem With AI Personalisation in Sales Outreach 01:30:02 Why AI Still Needs Human Judgement 01:33:03 How NXRD Helps Businesses Grow 01:34:34 Where Should Businesses Start With Marketing? 01:35:36 Closing

4. 

   6 Oct 2026

   How I generated £1m new business in the cleaning industry in 18 months from £0 /w Leon Turner

   Everyone wants young people in cleaning. So where are they? This week on The Dish It Dirty Podcast, I'm joined by Leon Turner, a young sales professional who's relatively new to the cleaning, hygiene and FM industry, but has already made a serious impact. Leon joined Foremost after working in other markets and went on to generate more than £1 million in annual revenue, win Salesman of the Year and build a name for himself within the industry. But this episode isn't really about Leon's sales numbers. It's about the next generation of our industry. Why do so many people simply “fall into” cleaning and FM rather than actively choosing it as a career? And if companies genuinely want to attract ambitious young people, what actually needs to change? We talk about: • Why Leon fell into the cleaning industry almost by accident • His first impressions of cleaning and FM • Why the industry could actually be a brilliant place for ambitious young people • The career progression and stability the sector can offer • How Leon used LinkedIn and personal branding to build his reputation • Why most people consuming your content will never like or comment on it • Why cold calling could be making a comeback • AI-generated outreach and the growing value of genuine human interaction • What younger people actually want from employers • Why training and development are so important • Why companies can't say they want young talent if they're unwilling to invest in them • How the industry needs to market itself differently to the next generation • AI, robotics and what the cleaning industry could look like over the next 5 to 10 years It's a conversation about sales, recruitment, technology and the future of cleaning and FM, from the perspective of someone who's actually joined the industry recently. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 02:57 How Leon Fell Into the Cleaning Industry 05:17 Descaler, Petrol & Cleaning Disasters 06:19 How Leon Found Success in Cleaning & FM Sales 08:23 Building a Personal Brand in the Industry 08:32 Leon's First Impression of Cleaning & Hygiene 10:03 Why Would Young People Choose Cleaning Over Tech? 12:36 Career Progression in Cleaning & FM 14:00 The Cleaning Industry Community 15:24 The Power of LinkedIn & the People Lurking 16:55 Leon's Approach to Creating Content 19:18 Using Personal Branding to Build Relationships 20:39 What Surprised Leon About the Industry 24:02 Is Cold Calling Making a Comeback? 25:23 Why People Are Craving Human Connection 27:23 AI, Social Media & the Return of Old-School Sales 28:41 The Problem With AI-Generated Outreach 31:28 Finding the Middle Ground Between Automation & Human Sales 32:20 Why Video & Voice Notes Work 37:19 How Do We Actually Attract Young People Into Cleaning? 38:09 What Young People Want From Job Adverts 40:13 Why Training & Development Matter 43:09 Do Companies Really Want Young Talent? 43:50 The Best Sales Training Leon Ever Received 45:38 Why Young Hires Need Time to Succeed 47:53 What Else Can Cleaning Offer Young People? 49:00 Showing the Next Generation a Way Up 50:43 Stability & Job Security in Cleaning and FM 51:21 The Opportunity to Build a Business in Cleaning 52:24 Could AI Make Cleaning a More Attractive Career? 53:47 The Next 5-10 Years of the Industry 54:04 Robotics & the Future of Cleaning

5. 

   23 Sept 2026

   The cleaning industry finally has a book about the stuff nobody talks about /w Martin Schuster

   Download Martins Book 'It Was Clean When I Left' here -> https://indd.adobe.com/view/07548683-e15b-4012-abf7-d4f7b4389cc7 Episode summary David sits down with Martin Schuster, Sales Manager at CleanManager and author of It Was Clean When I Left, to explore the side of the cleaning industry most people never see. Martin talks about starting his career as a cleaner before moving into operations and management, and how those experiences inspired him to write a book about the people, problems and bizarre situations behind everyday cleaning. They discuss everything from 6am emergencies, missing keys and alarm codes to vodka-filled cupboards and cleaners accidentally discovering hidden drugs. The conversation then moves into one of the industry's biggest challenges: attracting cleaners is one thing, but keeping good cleaners is much harder. Martin explains why companies that genuinely understand their employees' lives, provide flexibility and create a culture where cleaners feel valued can have a major advantage. The discussion then looks at how the industry is changing. Customers increasingly expect digital reporting, audits, time-and-attendance data and greater transparency, forcing cleaning companies to modernise. Martin briefly explains how CleanManager helps cleaning businesses reduce repetitive administration such as payroll and invoicing, freeing managers to spend more time supporting staff and customers. Finally, David and Martin explore AI, data, robots and cobots, why technology should solve genuine problems rather than simply exist for the sake of innovation, and how the role of the cleaner could change over the next decade. They finish by returning to the central message of Martin's book: cleaners don't need to be treated like heroes, but perhaps we could start by learning their names and recognising the work they do. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:11 Why Martin Wrote the Book 05:07 From Cleaner to Management 07:31 Missing Keys, Alarm Codes & Communication Disasters 09:55 Martin's Favourite Cleaning Stories 13:46 The Crazy Things Cleaners Find 15:46 Why Is It So Difficult to Retain Cleaners? 19:00 How to Keep Good Cleaners 22:10 The Recruitment & Retention Cycle 26:16 Trust, Theft & the Risks Cleaning Companies Carry 29:06 How the Cleaning Industry Has Changed 30:56 Customers Want Data, Not Just Clean Buildings 32:32 How COVID Changed Cleaning 34:12 What Is CleanManager? 35:14 Automating Payroll & Invoicing 39:07 Using Data to Run Better Cleaning Businesses 40:53 AI in the Cleaning Industry 44:47 Robots, Cobots & the Future of Cleaning 47:12 Cleaning With Your Eyes 48:14 How Cleaning Jobs Could Change 50:05 Data Security & the Future of Cleaning 51:31 The Reaction to It Was Clean When I Left 53:12 What It's Really Like Writing a Book 55:35 Is This the First Cleaning Book of Its Kind? 57:26 The Message Behind the Book 59:29 David's Biggest Takeaway 01:01:06 Closing

6. 

   10 Aug 2026

   The Cleaning Show UK - What You Don't See /w Paul Sweeney

   What REALLY goes on behind the scenes at The Cleaning Show?In this episode of The Dish It Dirty Podcast, I sit down with Paul Sweeney, Event Director at Quartz Business Media and the man responsible for delivering The Cleaning Show.We lift the curtain on one of the biggest events in the UK cleaning and hygiene calendar and talk about what it actually takes to bring thousands of industry professionals together under one roof.Paul shares some brilliant behind-the-scenes stories, including the logistical nightmares that can happen days before a show opens, the huge amount of planning involved and why running an exhibition is about far more than selling stand space.We also discuss:• The plans for The Cleaning Show 2027• What makes the cleaning and hygiene industry different• How The Cleaning Show is evolving• The growth of robotics, software and technology• How AI could impact the cleaning and hygiene sector• Why exhibitions still matter in an increasingly digital world• How companies should think about ROI from exhibiting• What the best exhibitors do differently• How to get more customers and prospects onto your stand• And where Paul sees The Cleaning Show going in the futureIf you're a manufacturer, distributor, supplier, contractor, FM business or simply work within the cleaning and hygiene industry, this episode gives you a fascinating look at the event that brings the sector together.00:00 Introduction to The Dish It Dirty Podcast02:01 The Cleaning Show 202705:03 What It Takes to Run The Cleaning Show09:26 When Things Go Wrong Behind the Scenes15:01 What Makes The Cleaning Show Different?20:13 How The Cleaning Show Is Evolving24:24 The Future of The Cleaning Show24:56 Robotics, Software & Technology27:02 AI in the Cleaning & Hygiene Industry34:22 The Human Side of Exhibitions35:22 Can Exhibitors Really Measure ROI?39:16 Why Exhibitions Still Matter42:50 Understanding What Exhibitors Actually Need50:34 What Successful Exhibitors Do Differently52:10 Getting Customers to Visit Your Stand60:00 Final Thoughts

7. 

   30 May 2026

   May 2026 Cleaning/Hygiene Industry Update: CHSA Leadership Changes, Lifetime Recognition & Awards Winners

   Episode Summary In the first-ever monthly industry roundup on the Dish It Dirty Podcast, David Revell breaks down the biggest stories shaping the cleaning and hygiene sector in May 2026. From major leadership changes at the CHSA to industry recognition at the Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards, this episode highlights the people, organisations and achievements making headlines across the industry. CHSA appoints its first permanent Chair Nick Thompson's vision for the future of the CHSA Lorcan McEtarian recognised with Life Vice Presidency The impact of CHSA accreditation schemes on industry standards Winners from the 2026 Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards Recognition of outstanding cleaning companies and individuals across the UK Why industry standards, professionalism and recognition matter more than ever 00:00 Introduction to the first monthly industry roundup 01:15 CHSA appoints Nick Thompson as its first permanent Chair 04:30 Nick Thompson's background and priorities for his first 100 days 07:15 Why CHSA accreditation schemes matter to the industry 09:00 Lorcan McEtarian awarded Life Vice Presidency 11:30 Lorcan's legacy and leadership through COVID-19 15:00 What Lorcan's recognition means for the industry 17:00 2026 Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards 19:00 Healthcare, Education and Office Cleaning Award Winners 22:00 Retail, Hospitality and Manufacturing Award Winners 24:30 Sustainability, Social Impact and Diversity Awards 26:30 Cleaning Team, Supervisor and Operative of the Year 29:00 Why industry recognition matters 31:00 Final thoughts and June preview Key Topics Covered:Podcast Chapters

8. 

   11 May 2026

   Growing a Hygiene Manufacturer from £1m - £8m in 3 years /w Ali Sharp

   In Episode 2 of Dish It Dirty Podcast, David Revell sits down with Ali Sharp — one of the cleaning & hygiene industry’s most impressive emerging commercial leaders. Ali’s journey is anything but conventional. Starting out in agricultural commodities trading during the 2008 financial crisis, he developed a deep understanding of markets, pricing, supply chains and commercial decision-making before moving into the cleaning & hygiene sector with Kimberly-Clark Professional and later WEPA Professional. During his time at WEPA, Ali helped grow the UK & Ireland business from roughly £1M to £8M in just 3 years, helping build distribution from scratch during one of the most volatile periods in modern business history: COVID Brexit disruption Energy crises Supply chain chaos Inflation & global instability In this episode, we discuss: How WEPA built national distribution from the ground up What separates average salespeople from elite performers Leadership, autonomy & accountability The importance of processes, data & attention to detail AI and how it’s changing commercial decision-making Why transferable skills matter more than industry experience The changing state of the cleaning & hygiene market If you work in cleaning, hygiene, catering, facilities management, packaging or B2B sales — this episode is packed with practical insights. Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Ali Sharp’s background02:00 – Agricultural commodities & trading04:30 – Understanding markets & supply chains07:15 – Entering the cleaning & hygiene industry08:15 – Joining WEPA during COVID10:30 – Growing WEPA from £1M to £8M12:00 – Building logistics & distribution14:00 – Marketing & brand awareness18:30 – Kaizen & continuous improvement22:30 – Building distribution partnerships28:45 – The ‘3 P’s’ framework35:30 – AI, data & sales45:00 – Leadership & autonomy52:00 – Building culture & teams1:00:00 – The state of the hygiene market1:05:00 – Commodity selling vs innovation1:08:00 – Final thoughts & lessons

9. 

   4 May 2026

   How the Iran War is Affecting Our Market w/ Mike Revell

   In the very first episode of Dish It Dirty, David Revell sits down with industry heavyweight Mike Revell—former Managing Director across multiple major businesses within the cleaning, catering and food packaging industrys and founder of the UK’s largest catering and hygiene buying group, the Socius Network. With nearly 40 years at the top of the sector, Mike breaks down what’s really happening behind the headlines. From geopolitical conflict to collapsing supply chains, rising costs, and broken legislation, this episode explores the forces quietly reshaping the cleaning, hygiene, food packaging, and hospitality industries. You’ll learn: Why the current global conflict could trigger major product shortages How supply chains unravel (and why recovery takes months—not weeks) The real impact of inflation, energy costs, and EPR legislation Why hospitality is under more pressure than ever What separates businesses that survive vs. those that collapse Leadership lessons from decades in high-pressure markets Whether you're a distributor, manufacturer, or operator—this is a raw, unfiltered look at what’s coming next. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to the podcast & industry focus Overview of the sector and why it matters globally 00:34 – Meet Mike Revell Career background and industry credibility 03:20 – 40 years of change: what’s shifted most? Technology, data, and decision-making evolution 05:30 – The pros & cons of modern tech in business Speed vs. pressure and information overload 07:26 – The global conflict explained (and why it matters) Oil, supply chains, and economic ripple effects 09:00 – Shipping chaos & supply chain breakdowns Why disruptions take 6–12 months to fix 11:00 – Product shortages (gloves, materials, manufacturing) What happens when supply simply disappears 14:00 – How businesses should respond right now Cost control, stock management, and tough decisions 17:00 – Inflation, hospitality struggles & market pressure Why pubs and restaurants are under serious threat 22:00 – Is there any opportunity in this chaos? Timing vs. risk in uncertain markets 26:00 – Price increases: how to handle customers Communication, strategy, and reality checks 29:00 – The hidden killer: EPR legislation explained Why it’s broken and damaging compliant businesses 40:00 – The future of hospitality & changing behaviour Why younger generations are reshaping demand 44:00 – Growth areas: home delivery & hygiene sector Where the opportunities actually are 50:30 – The talent problem in the industry Why young people aren’t entering the sector 59:40 – Leadership lessons from decades at the top Teams, strategy, and decision-making under pressure 1:06:20 – The one thing businesses forget: VALUE Why it matters more than price 1:09:30 – Closing thoughts & final takeaways

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