Gavin Crane and Ben Parkes are the joint founders of Suffolk-based cleaning company Klean Kings.

With Gavin hailing from Suffolk and Ben from Leicestershire, they got to know each other here in Ipswich through a shared love of football.

At the time, both men were at a crossroads in their careers. Gavin had nearly 15 years working with children as a regional manager in the children’s home sector, and Ben had ten years in the army in the parachute regiment.

For Gavin, it was a realisation and a desire that he could work for himself after a visit to Jamaica. Inspired by his uncle’s enthusiasm and unrelenting work ethic, Gavin felt it was time to step out of paid employment and be his own boss.

For Ben, it was an injury (not from parachuting) and the pregnancy of his Suffolk-born partner that had him leave the army and brought him to Ipswich. Like Gavin, Ben shared thoughts of working for himself and had started the journey to do so as a heating engineer.

So, out of a shared love of football and further conversations about where their careers might take them, Klean Kings was born.

Both share a dedication to hard work, professionalism and efficiency, qualities they bring daily to Klean Kings.