WHEN University of Worcester student Gabriel Pereira came to the city in September 2015, it was the first time he had been away from home and living independently.

He found local people very friendly, helpful and encouraging, while he also felt there was a strong sense of community spirit among those he met. This resonated with his own family values and he quickly fell in love with the city.

Gabriel, who is studying for a degree in Human Nutrition, spent his first year living in the university accommodation at Sansome Halls, Sansome Walk, near the city centre.

However, at the start of his second year he moved to a shared house in St John’s where six students occupied one property.

But with their girlfriends coming and going, there were often more people in the accommodation and the communal areas became messy and unkempt, Gabriel admitted.

“We had our girlfriends staying over sometimes and as there were more and more people, there was more and more mess,” said the 20-year-old who moved to Britain from Portugal with his family seven years ago.

“Every single one of us had our own rooms but the problem was in the communal parts of the house,” he said.

The kitchen proved to be a particular headache – clothes and shoes were left lying around and the kitchen equipment – pans and crockery – was left uncleaned. If anyone wanted to use it, they had to clean it first, Gabriel said.

His mum Christina, who lives in Oxford, came to visit him and started dropping hints about the state of the house.

“My family started coming to see me and my mum dropped little hints. She is very meticulous when it comes to cleaning and keeping everything tidy.

“As a student, keeping the house clean is probably the last thing you think about. It was our first experience of living in a house without adults. Moving from Oxford to Worcester to study and into a shared house and learning to do tasks like washing and shopping and cleaning is very empowering for some of us students.”

He and his housemates tried different systems to keep the property clean and tidy but none of them really worked or lasted very long.

Gabriel decided to explore the option of getting a paid cleaner. “I took it upon myself to look into getting a cleaner and the others said if it was cheap enough they would pay for it. It encouraged me to do some research.”

But Gabriel was disappointed by the responses to his enquiries – the cleaning firms were either too expensive or took weeks to provide a quote. One firm took two months to visit the house and prepare a quote.

He discovered there are firms which clean student houses but they charge normal prices – too much for students. “No one hires a cleaner when it is a case that you have the cleaner but you don’t eat for a week. It should not have to be a choice you have to make.”

He realised that there was a gap in the market. “No one is catering for students. It is surprising because Worcester is a university city. Some of the student houses are spotless but probably two thirds are not.”

Gabriel had a “eureka” moment and decided to set up his own cleaning business focusing on student accommodation and with affordable prices to match.

He believes he has the advantage of seeing his business from a customer’s point of view. “I think my inexperience of the cleaning business is an asset. I come from a different background. I see it as a student sees it.”

Gabriel started his business, called FINECLEAN, in January and in his first six months has secured two major contracts with local businesses. “Students are our core customers but we have some commercial customers such as Alexanders and The Brick Room in the city centre. We also work with property agents in St John’s.”

His mum has joined him to help run the enterprise, which champions simplicity and efficiency. Gabriel said some of the firms he researched operated in a far too complicated way and he aims to keep everything simple for customers and the business.

“My aim is to have 15 commercial companies on my books by the end of the year,” he said. “Plus have a good client-base of local students and landlords.”

He added that his love for Worcester and the local people are the reason why he has set up his business here, rather than back in Oxford. His whole family – mum, dad and two young sisters are now planning to move to Worcester to be close to him.

“I have fallen in love with Worcester so much, I have convinced my family to come to Worcester. My mum loves working in the business with me. I discovered she always wanted to have her own business. The business was initially for the family and it has family core values.”

Gabriel, a former pupil at Oxford Spires Academy, is now considering switching his degree to study Business in the hope it will help him further his enterprise.

He added: “I would like to thank God for the doors and opportunities that he has opened and created for FINECLEAN and myself. I would also like to thank my parents for the constant support they have provided.”

For more information about FINECLEAN visit the website www.fineclean.co.uk, email gabriel@fineclean.co.uk or hello@fineclean.co.uk, or check them out on social media @finecleann on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fineclean

He said he is now recruiting more staff which will help the local economy and help to keep landlords’ properties in good condition.

“FINECLEAN was a eureka moment and it happened. The more I do the more I love it. It has been a fun journey and I am looking forward to keeping the momentum going.”