James's business is ready to expand

4:38am Friday 21st September 2007

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A Bradford entrepreneur is expanding his environmentally-friendly oven valeting business throughout Yorkshire.

James Bell, of Wyke, Bradford, launched his firm Ovenu three years ago and says he is now cleaning up in Bradford.

Mr Bell, 39, used to work as a contractor for a shop signage company and had wanted to be his own boss for some time.

Together with his business partner, Kevin Kellet, he now covers most of West Yorkshire.

The pair's business has now cleaned more than 3,000 ovens, microwaves and cooker hoods in three years. Its client base includes domestic customers as well as pubs and restaurants.

As part of the growth, Kevin and James have invested in a second vehicle which is fitted with specialist cleaning equipment.

Ovenu's valeting service takes three hours, as key components, including the oven door, interior panels, shelves, and fan are all dismantled and cleaned with non-caustic products. The equipment is then reassembled, with the oven, hob and exterior all left in immaculate condition.

Mr Bell said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for me to be part of a successful, growing business.

"I had reached a stage in my life where I wanted to try something different and become my own boss. I am sure that householders in Bradford and the surrounding area will benefit from the Ovenu service."

Kevin Kellett said: "I am proud to take Ovenu into Bradford, which has helped treble the size of the area we cover.

"It was always my ambition when I became an Ovenu franchisee to expand the business into a multi-van operation and, with James's help, the future looks bright."

The news comes at a time when Bradford is striving to foster a new generation of new businesses, with a variety of programmes and initiatives having been set up in the last 12 months for people wanting to become self employed.

The £21.4 million Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) fund, which Bradford won last year, is funding initiatives such as Bradford Kickstart and the Bradford Grid to help people make their business ideas become a reality.