About Mark Robinson
I’ve built WPM, a successful cleaning company, which is grounded in quality, reliability and team development, and provides cleaning solutions in a range of commercial settings. Alongside my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve served as a charity trustee, a cabinet member of the local authority and mayor of my town. These roles have strengthened my leadership skills and commitment to community. Today, I focus on sustainable business growth, creating local jobs and mentoring emerging entrepreneurs.
We asked Mark to look back and reflect on his younger self…
Q&As
How would you describe yourself at 18?
By the age of 18, I saw myself as independent and resilient. Having left home at 16 without a clear path, I was relying on hard work and determination to navigate an uncertain future.
What inspired you to start your own business?
The decision to start my own business was initially driven by necessity. My wife, Kim, and I had a young child and another on the way. Self-employment offered not only the potential for additional income, but also an opportunity to generate meaningful returns through my own hard work and initiative.
If you could go back knowing what you know now, what three things would you tell yourself to do when you first became a business owner?
- Focus on systems, not just sales. In the beginning, I was laser-focused on making money – understandably so – but I’d tell myself to step back and build solid systems early on. Systems create consistency, efficiency and scalability.
- Know your numbers inside out. It’s not enough to just work hard – you need to understand your margins, cash flow and financial forecasts. I learned some of these lessons the hard way.
- Invest in people and relationships. I used to think that doing everything myself was the safest way. But your team, your suppliers, your customers – they’re your greatest assets. Trust and collaboration can multiply your results far beyond what you can achieve alone.
What are the biggest lessons you have learnt professionally?
- Resilience over perfection. Things go wrong, what matters is how quickly you adapt and keep going.
- Cash flow is king. Without steady cash flow, even a busy business can struggle.
- Your team is everything. Well-trained, motivated staff are the face of your business. Treat them well.
- Professionalism builds trust. Be reliable, communicate clearly and deliver consistent service.
- Grow with your business. Success means evolving.
How did you deal with a big mistake, and what did you learn from the experience?
One of my biggest mistakes early on was under-pricing a large commercial contract. I wanted to win the work, so I went in low without properly accounting for travel time, staff costs and overheads. We delivered the service, but the profit was nearly zero. That mistake taught me to value our time and services properly, and to run the numbers before making promises.
What are your ambitions for the future?
Long-term, I’d like to step further into strategy – working on the business, not just in it – while mentoring others starting out in the industry.
What does the future have in store for you personally?
I want to keep a promise I made to my son 15 years ago, to keep playing football until I am 60. I also want to continue my support of local community projects – giving back where I can.
