Scotland's Growing Facilities Management & Cleaning Powerhouse

Clean, safe, efficient, and dependable – for over two decades, that has been the promise of Spectrum Service Solutions, one of Scotland's most respected family-owned businesses in the facilities management (FM), cleaning, and event services sectors. As offices, public spaces, and commercial properties demand ever-higher standards of hygiene, sustainability, and compliance, Spectrum has built an enviable reputation across the country with an impressive portfolio of long-established clients in the central belt.

Now with a stronghold in the north of Scotland and a growing presence beyond, the company's journey is a testament to vision, values, and versatility.

A Family Business Rooted in Professionalism

Established in 2003, Spectrum began life as a contract cleaning company with a clear ambition: to provide bespoke, professional services in a sector often dominated by standardised approaches. From day one, the management team recognised that cleaning and facilities management require tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

At the heart of the business is a proud family story. Founded by Sara Taylor, the company has always embraced long-term thinking and relationship-building – values that continue to define it today. As the business grew, the next generation stepped forward, with Rebecca Bell taking on key leadership roles, eventually becoming Managing Director in 2025.

From Cleaning Contracts to Comprehensive FM

What began as a focused cleaning operation has since evolved into a multi-service facilities management provider. Spectrum now offers a wide array of services, including daily and high-standard internal cleaning across commercial offices, retail spaces, industrial facilities, distilleries, educational institutions, and healthcare settings. The firm also provides specialist FM services such as window cleaning, hygiene consumables, waste management, and pest control.

Spectrum has become particularly well known for its expertise in large-scale event cleaning, offering solutions that account for crowd flows, site logistics, and fast-paced operational requirements. They also cater to clients with stringent regulatory and environmental demands. Holding ISO certifications for quality (ISO 9001), environmental management (ISO 14001), and health and safety (ISO 45001), as well as accreditations such as SafeContractor, Spectrum offers more than just services – it provides assurance.

Another standout feature is its data-driven approach. Spectrum harnesses real-time data to optimise staffing, monitor usage patterns, and refine service deployment, ensuring not just compliance, but cost-effective efficiency across the board.

From industrial parks and visitor attractions to high-profile commercial properties, the company's portfolio reflects a diverse and loyal client base.

Growth, Expansion, and Milestones

Over the years, Spectrum has experienced steady and strategic growth, expanding both its operational scope and geographic footprint. Headquartered in Paisley, the company has developed a comprehensive network of highly experienced regional teams that offer agility to deploy expertise wherever needed; it is a model that has enabled exceptional growth in target regions such as the north and east of Scotland.

The firm has also secured and extended a number of high-profile contracts. Among its most notable partnerships is its work with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland at Edinburgh Zoo, where Spectrum delivers full-service facilities support, including cleaning, security, window cleaning, and waste stream management.

The company also provides cleaning and FM services to many of the UK's leading property management companies; they have multiple contracts with highly-respected consultancies such as Knight Frank, CBRE, Lambert Smith Hampton, Ryden and the HFD Group.

The quality of Spectrum's service delivery regularly results in contract extensions for clients with multiple locations throughout the country, and its agile model enables them to deploy experienced teams quickly to new locations for both long-term contracts and mass-audience one-off events. Spectrum has successfully delivered a comprehensive range of services for the R&A at The Open Championship for the last six years at Royal Portrush (twice), Royal Troon, Royal Liverpool, St Andrews and Royal St George's, proving their ability to deliver exceptional results anywhere in the UK.

Organisational development has kept pace with operational growth. In 2025, Rebecca Bell formally stepped into the role of Managing Director, taking over from her mother, Sara Taylor, who assumed the position of Chair. It was a well-planned transition, marked by clarity, continuity, and mutual respect – a hallmark of a family business done right.

Today, the company boasts a turnover in excess of £17 million and a workforce of over 700 employees. Growth continues today with record numbers of new clients, contract renewals and extensions. Recognition of the company's ongoing success has also resulted in numerous industry accolades.

Among the company's many awards are two Chamber Business Awards for Scotland, recognising its high growth and outstanding customer commitment. Spectrum has earned further recognition at the ROCCO Awards and the Herald Family Business Awards, cementing its place as a standout operator in its field. Continuing the winning culture, Spectrum has been named a finalist in three award categories at the forthcoming ROCCO Awards, the respected annual business awards run by Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.

The Values That Drive Success

Much of Spectrum's success can be attributed to its values-driven culture. As a family business, there is a strong emphasis on long-term client relationships and staff wellbeing, something that Sara initiated from the outset and continues today through the new generation of management. The leadership team remains committed to quality, safety, and environmental responsibility, underpinned by its extensive suite of certifications and compliance protocols.

Operational efficiency is equally important. Spectrum doesn't just make promises; it backs them up with performance data, ensuring services are measurable, adaptable, and accountable. The company has also earned recognition from the Living Wage Foundation as a Recognised Service Provider, reflecting its commitment to fair pay and ethical employment practices.

In a sector increasingly conscious of its environmental impact, Spectrum is also taking meaningful steps towards sustainability – from chemical-free cleaning solutions to more innovative waste stream management.

Facing Challenges, Seizing Opportunities

Like any expanding organisation, Spectrum faces its fair share of challenges. Labour shortages, particularly in remote areas, remain a persistent issue, and inflationary pressures on wages, consumables, and energy continue to test the business.

Maintaining compliance across varied sectors – from industrial to hospitality – also requires constant investment in training, systems, and oversight.

However, these challenges are matched by compelling opportunities. Spectrum is well-placed to lead in areas such as green cleaning, digital monitoring, and predictive scheduling. Its proven ability to work across the UK signals the company's capacity to adapt and grow without compromising its core values.

As demand for sustainable, technology-enabled FM services rises, Spectrum's forward-thinking approach is already proving to be a competitive advantage.

A Legacy Built for the Future

From its beginnings as a small cleaning company to its current position as a multi-award-winning FM leader, Spectrum Service Solutions has built its reputation not just on growth, but on consistency, compliance, and care. Its impact is felt across the country – in workplaces, visitor attractions, event venues, and commercial spaces – even if much of the work happens quietly, behind the scenes.

Sara also took a positive and, in many ways, pioneering approach to succession planning, which, in the words of Rebecca, "probably started way before I even thought about the future and my path within the business."

Rebecca took the helm in 2025 after a long period of learning and development, gaining critical skills and experience along the way.

As Rebecca continues, "I started as a cleaner and progressed through the ranks with hard work and commitment and was always looking for problems to solve. When I took on the MD role, Mum stepped up to the role of Chair and looking back now, I can see that a lot of time and effort went into the succession planning process."

"Mum involved me in lots of decision-making, strategy discussions and difficult decisions over the past few years, and when I took over, the timing was right for both of us, me to step up and Mum to step back."

"I then made sure that everyone was aligned with our pathway, refreshed our vision and values and took the opportunity to expand the leadership team, building for the next stage in our Spectrum journey."

"We want to create a business where people can thrive, something that Mum has always been passionate about, and something that is at the core of what we do as a business, and it also enables us to be agile, evolve and deliver on big projects."

"Succession for us was relatively straightforward as Mum had been preparing me for the role as leader for a very long time, and the best part about the process was that there was no disruption for the customer because it was a gradual and evolving process with few real changes to the way that we do business. That was the easy part. The emotional part was probably more challenging for Mum because, in reality, Spectrum was like another child to her, and she had to be ready to hand it over and to trust me."

"I have big shoes to fill, but I am enjoying the opportunity and looking forward to building on the foundations that Mum has created, and in the last few years we have created together. We have a strong team in place, which is essential for us if we are to achieve our growth ambitions."

"We have an inclusive culture and recognise the need to support every member of the team because they are all important parts of the business, and I am fortunate that I have a good relationship with my Mum. She remains a good mentor for me."

Many founders find it hard to step back and hand over the lead role, but Sara and Rebecca have found a way through the potential challenge and are working well under the new structure. As Rebecca adds, "Mum stepped back, taking more time for herself, but remains the founder's voice, checking in from time to time, but has empowered me and the team to run and grow the business."

"Looking back, I never planned to join the business, but I was always passionate about it. When I got involved in cleaning toilets and managing teams at venues like Hampden Park, I loved it. I stayed a little longer, and the roles I undertook grew, and I really loved the problem-solving."

"The seeds of my role today were already planted, and I was exposed to a lot of the business conversations from a young age, with Mum and Dad talking about the business at home. It was probably inevitable that I would end up where I am today, but I have loved every stage of the journey and am looking forward to driving the next phase of our growth and seeing where it takes us."

With a new generation now at the helm, building confidently on the foundations laid before, Spectrum is well-positioned to embrace the future. A successful generational transition, supported by a strong leadership team and clear operational structure, has set the stage for the next chapter in the company's journey.

As facilities management continues to evolve, Spectrum remains firmly committed to doing business the right way – balancing professionalism with personal service, and progress with principle.

It's a Scottish success story, and one we'll be watching closely in the years to come.