My name is Michele Hobday, and I am the founder and managing director of Tight Ship Property Care. As a perfectionist when it comes to pristine interiors, I never realised the potential of my skills until after I had given birth to my children.

After taking several years off work to focus on motherhood, I faced the daunting prospect of returning to the workforce. But deep down, I longed to continue cherishing the safety and comfort of my own home, which I had lovingly renovated and transformed during my time as a full-time Mum.

From top to bottom, our home had undergone a complete makeover with redecoration, a new bathroom installation, flooring replacements, and various repairs. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to cleanliness, I meticulously maintained a rigorous cleaning and housekeeping schedule, keeping our space immaculate at all times.

Put simply, I ran a tight ship!

When my youngest started school, an idea sparked – why not turn my passion for maintaining a pristine home into a profession? I took a leap of faith, placing an advert in a local magazine, and soon became a self-employed cleaner, housekeeper, and decorator. The response was overwhelming, as word-of-mouth quickly spread. What began as a four-hour weekly job swiftly evolved into a full week’s worth of work within just a few months, and I became an integral cog in the smooth running of my client’s homes and lives.

For the first time in my life, I was finally getting paid to do what I loved! Even better, I was valued by my clients as family.

It wasn’t long before demand outran my schedule, and I decided to start training new staff to provide pristine cleaning services to the ‘Tight Ship’ standard. Now, I hope to help more women like me return to work with flexible job opportunities, while supporting busy families with exceptional cleaning services.