Two former mechanical engineers from Eurostar, Harjinder Singh and Neal Rapley, are taking on the East London franchise of Drain Doctor Plumbing Ltd, the UK’s largest combined plumbing and drainage business. The dynamic duo, both from London, will cover an area from Stratford to Chingford including Whitechapel, Limehouse, Canary Wharf, Docklands, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

Harjinder (37) and Neal (33) decided to form a partnership and go into business in their own right when they were both working on the heavy maintenance of trains for Eurostar. Harjinder joined Eurostar after working for some time as a car mechanic and Neal joined as an apprentice.

Both Harjinder and Neal worked on the heavy running gear on Eurostar trains including servicing and pipework. While there they discussed setting up in business together. Neal already knew people in plumbing and drainage and thought that this would provide a good opportunity for the duo.

After researching various plumbing/drainage franchise opportunities, Harjinder and Neal decided on Drain Doctor because it has a proven system that offers a largely recession-proof opportunity.

Neal said: “We can still be independent operators running our own business but with all the back-up that comes with being part of a large national organisation. You just don’t get the same support with other franchises that you do with a Drain Doctor franchise.”

The pair plan to start with two fully equipped vans and a technician, marketing the business from day one, and then to expand the business in a sustainable way. They plan to add more vans and technicians in the coming months.

Harjinder continued: “We intend to expand the business and make the franchise as big as possible for the area, with a staff of qualified plumbers and drainage technicians on call in vans fully equipped to deal with most plumbing and drainage problems.

“After three or four months we will look to expand and hope to have a third van in operation within a year.

“We aim to give businesses and householders across our franchise area the same ‘dazzling’ level of service which Drain Doctor provides across the rest of the country.

“Our customers get fixed-price, no obligation quotes, a complete guarantee on all work, and a full 24 hour, seven days per week service with no call out charges – so people pay the same price for work at any time of day or night. What’s more, we turn up at the agreed time!”

Launched in the UK in 1993, Drain Doctor Plumbing quickly grew to become the country’s largest combined emergency plumbing and drain repair service. Drain Doctor now delivers full-service drainage solutions to national restaurant, hotel, catering and leisure businesses as well as households. It provides a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service across the country with each franchise run as an independent business.