Tom Trethewey, a former broadband engineer, has launched his oven valeting business, Ovenu Tilehurst, after a routine clean of his own cooker inspired an unexpected career change.
Having accepted redundancy from his office-based role, Trethewey was searching for a business opportunity that would allow him to return to the face-to-face customer interaction he had enjoyed for much of his career.
With more than 20 years installing broadband in customers’ homes before moving into a largely desk-based planning role, Trethewey said: “I’ve always found fulfilment in practical work, so moving to an office role made me realise just how much I missed being out and about and interacting with customers.”
‘It’s still all about people’
Trethewey added: “I was offered redundancy and saw it as a chance to start my own business. I was looking for inspiration when I happened to clean my own oven at home, which was surprisingly satisfying. It got me thinking that I could do it professionally.
“Now I’m doing what I enjoy most – providing a service that makes a difference. It may be a completely different industry, but it’s still all about people.”
• To read the full news story, view Franchise World Autumn 2026 issue, page 8.