Pimlico Plumbers
Encyclopedia
Pimlico Plumbers is a plumbing firm based in London. It is London's largest independent plumbing company. It was established in 1979 by its current Managing Director Charlie Mullins (born 1954), who left school at 15 with no qualifications and began work as a plumber.
It is known for its effective publicity, handled by Max Clifford
. The company owns a number of plumbing-related number plates, fitted to its fleet of vehicles, such as LO 02 OLD (Loo too old), BOG1, DRA1N, W4TER and others. It has gained considerable free publicity through its employment of Buster Martin
, who claims to be Britain's oldest worker, cleaning vans on a part-time basis up until his death in 2011. The firm's boss presented BBC3 show 'Britain's Best Young Plumber' and has appeared on Secret Millionaire
.
The company promotes itself as providing a high-priced, high-quality service, employing '£100,000/year plumbers', charging £80-£200/hour depending on time of day and service performed.
The firm has been involved with a legal dispute with Steve Cosser, an Australian TV executive accused of industrial espionage
in stealing Pimlico's celebrity client list after establishing a rival firm, Service Corps, using ex-Pimlico staff. Services Corps collapsed in January 2010 following the legal action.
The firm has also recently been involved in a flagship scheme in aid of the big society with the renovation of the Streatham Youth Centre. This was organised along with Wickes
, A4e
and the Co-Sponsorship Agency.
It has a smaller outlet in Marbella
, Spain.
In November 2010 Mullins reported that he was considering floating the firm, with a £50m valuation, in order to fund a nationwide expansion. The firm turned over £14.7 million in 2009, with profits of £750,000. Mullins received £1.3 million in compensation in 2009.
It is known for its effective publicity, handled by Max Clifford
Max Clifford
Maxwell Frank Clifford is an English publicist, considered the highest-profile and best-known publicist in the United Kingdom...
. The company owns a number of plumbing-related number plates, fitted to its fleet of vehicles, such as LO 02 OLD (Loo too old), BOG1, DRA1N, W4TER and others. It has gained considerable free publicity through its employment of Buster Martin
Buster Martin
Pierre Jean "Buster" Martin claimed to be the United Kingdom's oldest employee, stating that he was born in 1906....
, who claims to be Britain's oldest worker, cleaning vans on a part-time basis up until his death in 2011. The firm's boss presented BBC3 show 'Britain's Best Young Plumber' and has appeared on Secret Millionaire
Secret Millionaire
The Secret Millionaire is a reality television show which originated in the UK, in which millionaires go incognito into impoverished communities and agree to give away tens of thousands of pounds . Members of the community are told the cameras are present to film a documentary...
.
The company promotes itself as providing a high-priced, high-quality service, employing '£100,000/year plumbers', charging £80-£200/hour depending on time of day and service performed.
The firm has been involved with a legal dispute with Steve Cosser, an Australian TV executive accused of industrial espionage
Industrial espionage
Industrial espionage, economic espionage or corporate espionage is a form of espionage conducted for commercial purposes instead of purely national security purposes...
in stealing Pimlico's celebrity client list after establishing a rival firm, Service Corps, using ex-Pimlico staff. Services Corps collapsed in January 2010 following the legal action.
The firm has also recently been involved in a flagship scheme in aid of the big society with the renovation of the Streatham Youth Centre. This was organised along with Wickes
Wickes
Wickes is a do-it-yourself retailer based in the United Kingdom and owned by Travis Perkins, with more than 190 stores throughout the country. It focuses on supplies and materials for homeowners and the building trade...
, A4e
A4e
A4E is a training company based in the United Kingdom. The company began in Sheffield in 1991 to provide redundant steelworkers with training so that they could find new jobs...
and the Co-Sponsorship Agency.
It has a smaller outlet in Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
, Spain.
In November 2010 Mullins reported that he was considering floating the firm, with a £50m valuation, in order to fund a nationwide expansion. The firm turned over £14.7 million in 2009, with profits of £750,000. Mullins received £1.3 million in compensation in 2009.