I'm really pleased to share some exciting news. Maintracts Services has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Established Business category at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry SME London Business Awards 2027!
The category recognises businesses that have been trading for more than 10 years and have continued to demonstrate resilience, adapt to change and make a positive contribution to their communities.
For a family business that my dad started back in 1974, it's a particularly proud moment.
A lot has changed since 1974
When my dad, Malcolm, founded Maintracts over 50 years ago, the plumbing industry looked very different.
Back then, outside toilets and tin baths weren't an unusual sight in some London homes. Today, properties can have several bathrooms, increasingly sophisticated heating systems and all sorts of technology that simply didn't exist when the business began.
Maintracts has had to evolve alongside those changes.
Dad originally set out to serve domestic customers, but the way the industry operated at the time meant he initially had to focus on commercial contracting. It wasn't until the early 1990s that the business was able to return to its domestic roots, where we've primarily remained ever since.
I joined Maintracts in 2001, and I've seen first-hand just how much the industry has continued to change. The technical knowledge required to diagnose and solve problems has grown enormously, and we've had to keep learning and developing our expertise along the way.
Today, we provide plumbing, heating, electrical and drainage services to homeowners, landlords and residential property owners across London.
But while the work itself has changed, the principles behind the business haven't… do the job properly, give straightforward advice, be reliable and treat customers as people.
Still learning, adapting and moving forward
One of the things I'm particularly proud of is that, despite being in business for more than five decades, we've never assumed that what worked yesterday will necessarily work tomorrow.
Like many businesses, we've had our share of challenges. Covid was a particularly difficult period, with our engineers needing to work safely in people's homes while demand for essential services remained high and parts shortages made even straightforward jobs more complicated.
More recently, we've invested in our website, digital marketing and new job management technology to improve how we work and make life easier for our customers.
We're also in the process of redeveloping our website and refining how we communicate what makes Maintracts different. We are looking forward to seeing the makeover results in the coming months, so watch this space!
For me, though, technology is only useful if it helps us provide a better service. Our people and their knowledge will always be at the heart of Maintracts.
Sharing what we've learned
After working in this industry for so many years, I think it's important that we share what we know, rather than simply turn up, fix something and leave.
Customers don't always know what's causing a problem, and why should they? That's what we're here for. Whether it's talking someone through a simple boiler issue over the phone or explaining why a particular repair is needed, I've always believed that good advice is part of good service.
I've also had the opportunity to share practical advice on heating efficiency, boiler maintenance and household energy savings through national publications including The Mirror, The Sun and Daily Express.
It's been great to share some of our experience with a wider audience, particularly when it helps people better understand their homes and potentially avoid unnecessary problems or expense.
Giving something back
Another part of our award entry that means a lot to me personally was our Movember campaign last November.
Following Dad's prostate cancer diagnosis, we launched 'Service Your Plumbing Like Your Boiler' to encourage men to take their physical and mental health more seriously.
Working in a predominantly male industry, we know how easy it can be to put health concerns to one side. We wanted to use our platform to start conversations, share useful resources and remind people of the importance of getting things checked.
Our team really got behind the campaign, from growing moustaches to fundraising and helping spread the message via our social media channels and local press.
Through donating £5 for every boiler we serviced during November, alongside the team's individual fundraising efforts, we raised over £2,000 for Movember. I'm incredibly proud of what everyone achieved, but more importantly, I hope the campaign encouraged people to take action when it comes to their own health.
A thank you from me
Being shortlisted for Best Established Business has given me a chance to reflect on what Dad started all those years ago and everything that's gone into keeping Maintracts going and growing.
There have been plenty of changes and challenges along the way, and I know we wouldn't be where we are today without the hard work of our engineers, office team and everyone who has been part of the business over the years.
And, of course, our customers.
Some have been using Maintracts for years, and it's those long-standing relationships, recommendations and the trust people place in us that mean so much.
I'm proud of what Dad built, proud of the team we have today and excited about where we can take Maintracts next.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in February 2027, so we'll all be keeping our fingers crossed!
No matter the outcome, it's lovely to have reached the finals, and I wanted to say a personal thank you to everyone who has helped us get here.
Best wishes,
Oliver