Originally established in 2010, and under new ownership from 2019, Washstation Limited is the pioneer of fully digital, highly sustainable, and more enjoyable communal laundry rooms throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. We find out more from Katy Mitchell as she is crowned in the Managing Director Awards 2024. Laundry Solutions MD of the Year 2024: Katy Mitchell Washstation Limited (Washstation) was founded in a niche segment serving the student accommodation market with managed service launderettes. Since its acquisition in 2019, the firm has expanded its communal laundry offering into new sectors and developed a trade division, retailing commercial and industrial laundry and finishing equipment to both dealers and end users. “Our driving force is the quest for being the best at what we do,” explains Managing Director, Katy Mitchell. “This is founded on two keystones: the first is the use of modern technologies to radically improve technical and customer service; and the second is to significantly reduce the environmental impact of everything that we do and especially the equipment that we use and sell.” The firm’s launderette clients range from small purpose-built student and co-living accommodations to larger PBSA/multihousing groups and universities, whilst in its trade division, the company works with some of the largest global players in the industry, providing expert solutions and R&D. “Our core values are simple: people, quality and sustainability,” Katy elaborates. “We are a small team and we try hard to ensure everyone's voice is heard. Our culture is very much founded on that of a family firm - a solid set of values and standards and an ethos of teamwork.” Katy took over the firm in 2019, having formerly worked in the banking industry, and describes her approach to management as relatively “laissez-faire” which she attributes to her time spent in the biggest start-up company of the noughties - Virgin Mobile, of which she was a member of the founding team. “During those days we had to adapt quickly to new challenges and potential disasters (running out of money, shareholder disputes, equipment manufacturers closing off supply, are just some) and it taught me well to keep a clear head, ask the right questions and take the long-term view,” she states. “It also taught me that sometimes you just can't have a strategy, you have to start with what's in front of you in that moment and cherrypick your way forward.” Katy tells us that the people which make up the senior management team are all incredible managers of resources, which makes her job that little bit easier, providing her with the headroom to focus on vision and strategy, as well as determining how Washstation can evolve and grow through product development, strategic partnerships, bringing in intelligent capital and creating better technologies. She is also very fortunate to have a lot of experience and wisdom on the team, both technical and vocational, making it simple to train new people. As a strong advocate of opportunity, Katy believes in giving people a path to progression wherever possible, and on a dayto-day basis the team are highly collaborative, with regular and open communication encouraged. As Washstation operates a hybrid working model for office staff and has a field-based team too, it is vitally important that the firm embraces all channels of interaction as appropriate - from phone to social media to video call, all of which serve an important purpose for information sharing, problem solving and support. Recently, as testament to the hard work Katy has put in since acquiring the business in 2019, she was recently presented with the prestigious accolade of Laundry Solutions MD of the Year 2024 in the Managing Director of the Year Awards 2024. Looking forward, the future ambition for Washstation is very simple; to build a profitable, healthy business. In the next 12 months, Katy plans to expand the firm’s non-core offerings; taking the proprietary technology into the open vending and asset management marketplace and building the machine rentals business using innovative financial products. In terms of professional goals, the team is set to grow and there are a number of staff who are making good progress towards promotion; Katy wants to help them where she can to reach those goals, which will involve more mentoring and external courses. “Each member is very different, however the combination of our outlooks, experiences and personal values makes for a formidable team,” she enthuses. “Not one of us can do it alone and we all intrinsically know how to work best with each other, which keeps us all focussed on the most important thing - what is best for the business.” Contact: Katy Mitchell Company: Washstation Limited Web Address: www.washstation-trade.co.uk / www.washstation.co.uk
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