At the annual conference of Britain's ruling Conservative Party, it was impossible to miss Charlie Mullins.
He was the one with dyed blond hair, heavily tanned, wearing the loudest blue suit imaginable and a tie with a vast knot in the same startling, garish hue.
He was accompanied by an entourage as he wove his way through the gathering, nodding and shaking hands with anyone. More ageing pop star than politician, he was there to push the case for the UK remaining in the EU.
He was the cheeky chappie, the good-time Charlie, who spoke how he saw it in his native Sarf London twang. There was something bouncy, energetic and refreshing about Mullins, certainly in that setting.
Not for him the playing fields of Eton and the quadrangles of Oxford. He left school at 15 with no qualifications, the son of a factory worker and a cleaner.
He got a job as a plumber’s assistant. By the age of 27 he had set up his own business, Pimlico Plumbers, the company that has the vans with the jokey registration plates and are decked out in the same vivid colour as his suit.
This week, Mullins, 68, sold his 90 per cent stake for more than £100 million ($136.3m). One of his sons, Scott, will run the company as chief executive. Scott will own 10 per cent of Pimlico Plumbers, which will now belong to US services group Neighborly.
To my mind, Mullins is living proof that if you work hard enough, if you maintain a fierce will and discipline, you can succeed. It's not guaranteed – you may require a degree of good fortune along the way – but there’s also the adage that you make your own luck.
I’ve met Mullins several times. Behind the cockiness and mateyness, however, I’ve always known there to be someone of determination and steel. His is a business, after all, that makes £50.7m a year and employs 400 staff. Show me a plumber who nets that sort of money.
Mullins has expanded beyond straightforward plumbing – now he’s branching out to bathrooms, electrics, heating and cleaning drains. In all, his blue vans are racing to 100,000 jobs at central London homes and businesses every year.
Behind the cockiness and mateyess, however, I’ve always known there to be someone of determination and steel
Neighborly plan to expand the Pimlico Plumbers formula nationally and internationally. The founder, meanwhile, who has been spending much of his time in Dubai, will only say he is going to invest in music promotion and overseas property.
Business and management schools may turn their noses up at Mullins but if anyone qualifies as an industry disruptor it is Charlie. When he started out, he was armed with a second-hand van and a box of tools. Overalls, if they were worn, were scruffy and dirty.
Some odd-jobs people are still like that. They turn up at your house and when you answer the door you seriously think twice about letting them in. But not so many these days.
Thanks to Mullins, an entire sector has smartened up. His workers wear neat polo shirts and clean boiler suits. They’re polite and say please and thank you, their hands are scrubbed and they don’t swear. They don’t slink off for a crafty fag or a sneaky pint in the pub – they stay and finish the work. They tidy up after themselves.
They do so on pain of being fired. He’s a tough nut is Mullins. His employees must be double-jabbed against Covid – no vax, no job. His line is that they’re going into homes and offices, often into poorly ventilated rooms, so it is only right they’re vaccinated.
He’s had his scrapes has Mullins; he’s lived it large. But don’t be fooled. I remember the first occasion when I went to his yard not far from Elephant & Castle where he grew up (he called it Pimlico because the name sounded posher) and being struck as to how spotless everything was. Equipment, vehicles, personnel – there was no messing about.
His method was calculating. Take the registrations: around me were the distinctive vans bearing the logo and numbers such as BOG1, LOO 2 WET, FLU55H. Over the years, he’s spent more than £1m on the plates alone. His thinking is clear: it adds to the branding, the identity. They make people smile and that’s a good thing; they’ve a warm attitude towards Pimlico Plumbers. If they can’t recall the name, they know it’s the one with the funny vans. After that, finding the company and the contact details is easy.
What it amounts to is that he’s been able to charge more. His rates are at the top end but, as he would say, you pay for what you get. He spends heavily on training. Pimlico Plumbers, he will tell you, don’t cut corners, will not do a botched job. If they must be called back for whatever reason, they go back, no questions asked – they won’t say they’re now on another assignment and cannot return.
That’s what he maintains. There are some who say Pimlico over-promotes, that for all the polish and marketing, they’re still plumbers and that really, they’re little different from the others. To which the answer is, again, find me another who makes Mullins’ cash.
The exact details of the deal with Neighborly are shrouded in secrecy. For once, the voluble Mullins is keeping quiet. What he will say, though, is that “I won’t need to clean any more blocked drains. I had to make a decision whether I wanted to work for another five to 10 years to grow the business [but] Neighborly can take it to the next level.”
He’s also had a good pandemic, with people WFH and having to call upon his company’s services.
Mullins once said: “I don’t like banks they’re crooks in suits”. That hasn’t prevented him taking a mighty pot of lucre off Neighborly, which is owned by the (non-crooked) financial wizards at ultra-smart, private equity powerhouse, KKR.
For all his talk, he’s not one to turn down an opportunity is Charlie.
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
