Paul Orru, COO of Andron FM, discusses the company’s transformation from a regional firm to a national leader in facilities management (FM) with PFM Magazine. With over twenty years at Andron, he reflects on its growth, commitment to talent, sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility. As the company expands, Paul discusses industry challenges and Andron’s dedication to its people, family values, and customers.
Going from regional to national
After starting his FM career straight out of school with a cleaning company in Scotland, Paul Orru had already advanced to contracts and account manager roles by age 22. After spending a decade with that company, he joined Andron FM as a regional manager. Over the years, Paul took on several leadership roles, eventually becoming the UK Operations Director and, most recently, Chief Operating Officer.
Having been with Andron FM for two decades, Paul has played a key role in the company’s growth, helping it evolve from a regional player to the leading FM provider it is today. Despite operating at a higher level, Paul emphasises that family values will always remain central to Andron’s identity. “Even as we’ve grown larger, we’ve tried to retain that family-oriented culture. Our people are everything to us – we recognise that our cleaners and guards get up at 4 am to do their jobs, and we want to make sure they feel valued.
Staying true to Andon’s core family values
Andron is now in its third generation, with Cheryl Stewart stepping into the CEO role and Ron Stewart Jr., co-founder and the largest shareholder, assuming the position of Chairman. With customers already secured in the pipeline, the company is poised for continued growth and success.
Paul explains how, even though the company has expanded, it has remained committed to maintaining a family-oriented culture by following a people-first ethos. “We’ve been successful at home-growing talent, with many people working their way up through the ranks over 10 to 15 years. Integrating people from outside the business into the ‘Andron way’ can be more challenging, so we try to promote from within as much as possible. We also offer good benefits such as the Real Living Wage, death-in-service, virtual GP access, and sick pay – things that aren’t always standard in our industry.”
The changing face of the cleaning industry
Over the past 20 years, the cleaning industry has evolved significantly. In the early days, cleaners were often “seen and not heard.” Their work was typically done after hours and was not widely recognised until COVID-19, which helped highlight how essential their roles are. The shift towards day cleaning has resulted in cleaners working the same hours as the building occupants, improving productivity, visibility, and team integration. Advancements in technology have also enhanced efficiency through on-demand cleaning. Paul highlights how these changes have transformed cleaning into a long-term, viable career.
“Overall, I think the industry has made great strides in professionalising the role of cleaners and giving them more recognition, training, and better pay and benefits. It’s now increasingly seen as a viable career path, not just something people do if they can’t find other work or if they just want a part-time job to fit around family responsibilities. It still offers that flexibility but as part of a wider and more attractive package.”
Supporting net zero goals by driving sustainability in the cleaning
Paul discussed how sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility are now key customer priorities. “Many tenders include up to 30% weightings for sustainability criteria. Customers are looking to us as a partner to help them achieve their own Net Zero goals. While they may be focused on their Scope 1 and 2 emissions, our Scope 3 impacts are an area we’re having more discussions about. We’re working to quantify and report on those indirect emissions to support our customers’ journeys”.
Andron achieves this through the use of chemical-free cleaning products, the elimination of single-use plastics, and implementing closed-loop systems to ensure that any materials brought on-site are recycled, even Andron’s uniforms are made from recycled materials. We’ve also transitioned our fleet to fully electric vehicles ahead of schedule. On the social side of things, we partner with enterprises like Serious Tissue and are looking to increase our social spending. We also support SME suppliers by sharing expertise to help them develop net zero roadmaps, as many of them lack the internal capabilities to tackle sustainability independently.
Maintaining growth and the Real Living Wage in a challenging economy
Paul spoke about the biggest challenge facing the cleaning industry in the coming years, which revolves around the changes announced by the Chancellor, such as the increase in national insurance. “I’m concerned that there could be increased demands for efficiencies that could impact things like the Real Living Wage. Maintaining that commitment to our employees may become more difficult.”
Paul also highlighted how the industry must continue demonstrating its value and justifying its costs to customers. “Showing how we can enhance the employee and customer experience while also driving sustainability, will be crucial. Access to the right technology and talent will be key enablers.”
Building for the future by focusing on people, technology, and customer value
Thanks to our status as an independent, truly national player, we have built a strong reputation for transparency, honesty, and delivering value to customers. Our flat structure and close connection to our frontline team provide a significant advantage over larger, more bureaucratic organisations.
In his interview, Paul shared Andron’s plan to navigate the challenges ahead and capitalise on emerging opportunities by continuing to invest in its people and technology. Andron’s growth plan is focused on expanding its core cleaning and security services within the private sector rather than venturing into new verticals. Maintaining a culture rooted in family values and customer-centricity remains a top priority as Andron scales. “Ultimately, I think the cleaning industry will always be needed, but the companies that can demonstrate their worth, innovate, and truly partner with customers will be the ones that thrive. Andron is focused on being that trusted, valued service provider.”
Read Paul’s interview in full here.