Student and graduate enterprise
Waterless wash company making waves
Company
GreenHeart Wash
Loughborough graduate
Babatunde Sobola
Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
Babatunde Sobola combined a passion for cars and a commitment to environmental issues to fulfil a boyhood dream and start his own business. GreenHeart Wash, an alternative car washing service, offers an eco-friendly way to keep cars clean and polished whilst reducing carbon footprint.
The mobile valeting service currently covers Peterborough, Loughborough and the surrounding areas. The business visits both residential and commercial clients, washing a wide variety of vehicles including motor homes, caravans, boats, and cars.
A traditional car wash using a hose uses an estimated 480 litres of water, up to 60 bucketfuls. A GreenHeart wash uses environmentally-friendly, waterless cleaning solutions that are biodegradable, non-toxic and neutral in PH.
Babatunde grew up in Nigeria where he was given a plot of land to farm at the age of 10. He grew vegetables and reared chickens and rabbits for friends and family. “I liked the sense of purpose gained from providing a service and knowing that I was able to meet their needs. I knew then that I would like to run my own business,’’ he said.
The Loughborough graduate sought out support from Business Link who provided advice on issues such as health and safety and VAT registration. He also received help from entrepreneurs he met through networking events.
GreenHeart Wash has already won two awards. At Loughborough University’s Student Business Plan Awards 2011, the business won The Santander Universities Award for Student Enterprise. Days later, it picked up the sustainable product innovation award in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph Green Awards 2011.
Babatunde has plans to expand the business, hoping to create a series of GreenHeart Wash franchises across the country, while simultaneously launching GreenHeart Clean - an eco-friendly house cleaning service.