How entrepreneur Jack Woods turned a side hustle into a 70-strong business …
FEATURE
Entrepreneur – Woods Bros founder Jack Woods.
A Teesside success story
How entrepreneur Jack Woods turned a side hustle into a 70-strong business …
At just 28 years old, Jack Woods has transformed a weekend side hustle into one of Teesside’ s fastestgrowing commercial cleaning companies. Jack founded Woods Bros Cleaning Contractors in 2017, initially carrying out domestic exterior cleaning jobs. Today, the business employs more than 70 staff and services clients ranging from professional offices to NHS facilities.
Now Woods Bros is entering its most ambitious chapter yet, with plans to double in size by 2027 and ambitions to build a workforce of 400 within four years.
Despite the rapid growth, Jack puts the company’ s success down to skills he mastered from the outset- hard graft and relationship-building.
While working full-time as a trainee accountant, Jack had spent evenings and weekends cleaning roofs, patios and driveways, reinvesting his earnings back into the business.
Jack said:“ Every spare penny I had went into buying equipment and eventually a sign written van. Nothing was financed.”
The work gave him a feeling of accomplishment- something his office role didn’ t.
He said:“ I realised I enjoyed being outside and meeting people much more than accountancy.”
A chance encounter soon pushed the business in a new direction.
“ One day my van was parked outside the accountancy practice,” he recalls.“ A guy working on an office block opposite came over and said they’ d been let down by a contractor and asked if I could help.”
Jack priced the job that evening, used annual leave from work to complete it and quickly secured further commercial contracts through word of mouth.
“ That’ s when it clicked that commercial work was far more lucrative,” he smiles.
Shortly afterwards, Jack was made redundant before completing his final accountancy qualification- a moment that pushed him to commit fully to Woods Bros.
In the beginning, the business was very much a family affair, with brother Harry helping out before Jack’ s mum became the company’ s first official employee.
“ Within four or five months, we had another two members of staff,” he says.“ It’ s grown year on year ever since.”
A major turning point came during the pandemic when the company secured a significant NHS contract.
“ It really set the benchmark for the standards we work to today,” Jack says.“ Working in clinical environments for six or seven years means we now deliver those same standards across every site we work on.”
That focus on quality has helped the business achieve exceptional client retention.
He said:“ Our service levels are extremely high, and we make clients feel genuinely valued.”
Today, Woods Bros specialises in contract cleaning services across healthcare, manufacturing, finance and professional services.
Recently moving into larger premises and continuing to recruit as demand increases, turnover has trebled in the last year alone.
In March 2025, the company appointed experienced industry leader Rayner Mayers as non-executive director to support its strategic growth plans, though Jack remains heavily involved in day-today operations.
“ I’ m still out on site speaking to staff, training people and making sure everybody’ s happy,” he says.
That people-first culture, he believes, is what truly sets Woods Bros apart.
“ In our industry, people can often feel like a number,” he says.“ Everyone in our business is a person. If you look after people and create a good working environment, they stay.”
Many staff members have now been with the company for more than five years- a rarity in an industry known for high turnover.
With major contracts in the pipeline, Jack believes the next few years could transform the business once again.
“ The phone never stops ringing and it’ s hard to switch off sometimes, but I wouldn’ t change it for the world!”
woodsbros. co. uk The voice of business in the Tees region | 93