Dave Wheadon is a lifelong supporter of Manchester United. Holding three season tickets, he regularly attends matches at Old Trafford with his two sons. His passion for the club began in the early 1970s when his father, a Torquay United supporter, took him to a testimonial match between the two teams at Plainmoor.
Reflecting on his journey as a fan, Dave says: “I’m an avid Manchester United supporter. I stuck with them through the long spell of not winning anything, and then through the Ferguson years. I’m very passionate about it. Supporting United also gave me a great way to connect with my two lads when they were teenagers and thought I was an idiot.”
That same enthusiasm and commitment carries into his role as CEO of the NCCA, a member of the British Cleaning Council.
Dave explains: “My drive at the moment is for a more collaborative approach with other associations. Many organisations like ours, small in numbers and resources, often try to reinvent the wheel when another association may already have ideas or initiatives that our members and the NCCA board could benefit from. The response so far has been excellent, and it’s something I intend to persevere with.”
The outcomes of these collaborations will be shared in due course.
Looking ahead, Dave is keen to elevate the perception of the industry: “I want cleaning to be recognised as a genuine vocation. Carpet and soft furnishing cleaning can bring substantial rewards, with multiple opportunities to scale a business. We want both consumers and those within the industry to recognise the professionalism of our members. Our members invest in proper training, and in recognition of that, we are proud to be part of Trustmark - the only Government-endorsed quality scheme.”
A Varied and Distinguished Career
Dave’s career began in the construction industry, starting in quarrying laboratories before moving into management. He received an achievement award for his role in supplying materials to the Second Severn Crossing - the second bridge linking England and Wales - where he oversaw the delivery of more than one million tonnes of material.
His career later took him overseas, where he managed material supply for the construction of the defence wall between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, stretching from Kuwait to Jordan, as well as the development of a new city near Jizan on the Yemen border.
Dave’s organisational and leadership skills eventually led him into the carpet cleaning sector, where he worked with a major franchise before volunteering to join the NCCA Board.
Rooted in History, Focused on the Future
The NCCA is based at the Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster, a town synonymous with carpet production. Dave is inspired by this heritage: “To embrace the future, you’ve got to understand the past. The history here is phenomenal, and it reminds us of the importance of building on strong foundations.”