“I retired from the Met Police after 10 years. Then COVID happened, and I was just at home every day with my wife. 

Eventually, she said, ‘Jeff, you need to get a job.’ 

So, I found this part-time role with Atlas. That was in 2024, and I’ve been here ever since. I’m just a cleaner, really. That’s it. I come in, I do my job, I take pride in my work and maintain the best standards possible and leave things better than I found them. 

It’s only 2 and a half hours a day, mornings. I finish, go home, do a bit of housework, then focus on my hobbies and interests. Honestly, we don’t necessarily need the money. We’re comfortable, mortgage free, but the extra cash makes a huge difference to my lifestyle.   

I’ve always been into running. I’ve done nearly 700 park runs now. I started back in 2007 when I was still in the Met Police after being invited to a 5K, and just never really stopped. I recently did a marathon as well – 3 hours 53 – which I was a bit disappointed with because I trained for quicker, but it was very hot on the day. I try to keep it going alongside everything else. 

What can I tell you about the job? Well, I will say that a lot of people don’t expect it to be so physical. Even in a short shift, you don’t stop moving. I imagine you’d have to be pretty fit for long shifts.  

There’s also a lot to do behind the scenes. Stock orders, cleaning supplies, mops, cloths, timesheets, and check sheets. People think you just turn up and clean, but there’s a lot of organisation behind it.  

What people don’t always realise is how important cleaning is. If we didn’t do it for a day, you’d notice straight away. Toilets, classrooms – it builds up quickly. It’s one of those jobs that people only really notice when it’s not done. 

Overall, it has its frustrations, as all jobs do, but I’m treated with respect, I’ve always been paid on time, I’ve had good support, and I’ve never really had cause to complain. Also, Atlas has been very flexible during difficult times in my life. We’ve experienced loss and health concerns this year, and work has been brilliant throughout all of it and really supportive.  

That support means a lot.  

What I really like about this job is that there’s no stress. I know exactly what I need to do every day. I’ve got the equipment, I’ve got the routine, I just get on with it. When you finish a job properly, and people walk in, and everything smells fresh and looks clean, you feel proud of that. If every cleaner took pride in what they did, it would make everything easier for everyone else. 

If I had to give advice to someone coming into this job, I’d just say be reliable. Turn up on time, work hard, and take pride in what you do. That’s really it. 

At the end of the day, I just try to do the job properly and go home knowing I’ve done it right. 

That’s enough, really.”