[Dave Willis]

I just tried to order fourskins.  What a nob.

[Jamie Thomas]

You won't need any skins iv been informed by Ben M that they are turned off when we clean them. Won't need to do a solar panel cleaning course now.

[Rich Wilts]

Ben m just to get you up to speed a solar panel produces electricity so as a safety issue yes it does.

they are switch off when you clean them!

Does he think that - seriously? 

[Og]

Clean them at night!

[telfordwindowclnr]

I'm betting solar steve is p***ing himself laughing right now. 

True story.

[8weekly]

I'm betting solar steve is p***ing himself laughing right now. 

True story.

Perhaps that's part of the reason your threads get locked. 

[Jamie Thomas]

NEWS FLASH    part of the country will be plunged in to darkness to day as Ben M cleans solar panel farm.

[telfordwindowclnr]

I'm betting solar steve is p***ing himself laughing right now. 

True story.

Perhaps that's part of the reason your threads get locked. 

We are in talks with the company in question and have quoted for this job too, so I'm saying nowt.

[8weekly]

I'm betting solar steve is p***ing himself laughing right now. 

True story.

Perhaps that's part of the reason your threads get locked. 

We are in talks with the company in question and have quoted for this job too, so I'm saying nowt.

It's interesting though because looking at the scale of that job I can see why you need subbies. I'd have thought that that scale of work is only going to suit those short of work and I'd hazard a guess they are likely to be cheap and like Susan later regret taking on the job (reading between the lines). Therefore you need an ongoing source of cheap and usually new window cleaning subbies.

[Smurf]

That will all change in the near future in the UK when firms start offering spc with a mechanised fleet of vehicles. Or when sp farm owners realise the cost savings and start buying their own specialised sp cleaning vehicles and start doing it in house themselves. Either way manual labour using wfp to clean solar farms will be a thing of the past and I’m sure solar steve knows this.

[telfordwindowclnr]

I'm betting solar steve is p***ing himself laughing right now. 

True story.

Perhaps that's part of the reason your threads get locked. 

We are in talks with the company in question and have quoted for this job too, so I'm saying nowt.

It's interesting though because looking at the scale of that job I can see why you need subbies. I'd have thought that that scale of work is only going to suit those short of work and I'd hazard a guess they are likely to be cheap and like Susan later regret taking on the job (reading between the lines). Therefore you need an ongoing source of cheap and usually new window cleaning subbies.

Your point about needing subcontractors is correct. The scale of one job is huge and we have multiple opportunities on the go at once. We have one site in East England to start on 4th April with 110,000 panels on. We likely will be cleaning about 180,000 in the South West simultaneously. We just can't manage all of it in house.

We don't need an ongoing source of cheap subcontractors though. Our Approved Contractors are very loyal because we pay well. Without paying well, I have no business.

If we get this 45,000 panel site, I'd look a right clown if I couldn't deliver it because I couldn't get men on it because the rate of pay was low. Plus, a novice will very likely come unstuck on a job of this scale. I mean no disrespect to the OP, but he said it could be the break he needed. It could also prove to be something that breaks him too. They are not as easy to handle as people may think.

We were called in twice towards the end of 2015 to finish jobs other people thought they could complete, but couldn't. OP, just be VERY SURE you can tackle it. 

[Smurf]

With respect Steve you are just what they call in the building trade a “ganger”. That meaning organising & providing labour with certain skill sets so nothing new there really Steve is it. You also have mentioned in the past when starting out you have actually lost money on jobs. We all have to start somewhere and it don't mean you are the only one that can build a solar panel cleaning business from nothing and learn by your mistakes along the way.

Like I have already mentioned before it only takes one firm to invest in a fleet of mechanised vehicles and start to tender for these large solar farm contract as they do in other countries then your enterprise will start going tits up. After all you are just a sub contractor yourself are you not? 

[deeege]

All these 180,000 and 110,000 panel jobs you shout about then the next thread is about not being able to get some cement off Doreen at number 48's new solar panel. You must be a very busy man Steve!

[telfordwindowclnr]

With respect Steve you are just what they call in the building trade a “ganger”. That meaning organising & providing labour with certain skill sets so nothing new there really Steve is it. You also have mentioned in the past when starting out you have actually lost money on jobs. We all have to start somewhere and it don't mean you are the only one that can build a solar panel cleaning business from nothing and learn by your mistakes along the way.

Like I have already mentioned before it only takes one firm to invest in a fleet of mechanised vehicles and start to tender for these large solar farm contract as they do in other countries then your enterprise will start going tits up. After all you are just a sub contractor yourself are you not? 

"There is nothing new under the sun" a wiseman once said.

I agree wholeheartedly that we all must start somewhere. Yes, I did lose SMALL amounts of money on jobs along the way. But I had experience behind me to mitigate the potential losses. They were calculated risks based on my previous experience. I was fortunate enough also to have another business which provided my living whilst I took these risks.

It is obvious to all reading that the OP and others on here would have a go at the job and fair play to them. But for most it would be a finger in the air job. They have no real idea how long it would take or how much to charge.

A relatively new window cleaner landing the window cleaning at the Gerkin may think it's the break he needs. But it may also be a crippler for him. That's all I'm saying.

Regarding the autonomic cleaning of panels, that is some way off yet.

[Tom.m]

Are you sure it's the same company Steve?

[telfordwindowclnr]

All these 180,000 and 110,000 panel jobs you shout about then the next thread is about not being able to get some cement off Doreen at number 48's new solar panel. You must be a very busy man Steve!

Absolutely. 2 years ago there was just me, now there's 8 of us and number 9 looks like she will start on 1st February.  5 on tools, 4 in the office.

[ChumBucket]

If it was my 45000 panel enterprise and I had the choice of someone with 4 months window cleaning experience who's best credential appears to be that he lives 10 minutes up the road or Solar Clean Solutions.... I know which I'd choose!! 

If I was seeking advice on solar panel cleaning I also know who I'd look to for it, rather than the usual "CIU residential experts"! 

[telfordwindowclnr]

Are you sure it's the same company Steve?

There are a couple of clues in this thread that lead me to believe so, yes. I'm 90% sure.

You and I seem to have been contacted within 24 hours of each other with the same number of panels at a time when most companies were shut down for Christmas.

Up there for thinking. Down there for dancing. 

[telfordwindowclnr]

If it was my 45000 panel enterprise and I had the choice of someone with 4 months window cleaning experience who's best credential appears to be that he lives 10 minutes up the road or Solar Clean Solutions.... I know which I'd choose!! 

If I was seeking advice on solar panel cleaning I also know who I'd look to for it, rather than the usual "CIU residential experts"! 

Wow! Support for us on CIU? Never thought I'd see the day!

Careful Chum Bucket. You may be ostracised and sent outside the city gates to sit in ashes with the rabid dogs! 

[Smurf]

If it was my 45000 panel enterprise and I had the choice of someone with 4 months window cleaning experience who's best credential appears to be that he lives 10 minutes up the road or Solar Clean Solutions.... I know which I'd choose!! 

If I was seeking advice on solar panel cleaning I also know who I'd look to for it, rather than the usual "CIU residential experts"! 

Wow! Support for us on CIU? Never thought I'd see the day!

Careful Chum Bucket. You may be ostracised and sent outside the city gates to sit in ashes with the rabid dogs! 

Well he has a valid point I suppose as what the fook do I know about spc anyway