Twenty Years of Liberty: Built on Values, Driven by Ambition
As Liberty Hygiene reflects on two decades of growth, a new leadership structure, continued investment and the launch of Liberty Pest Control signal an exciting new chapter for one of the UK’s largest independent providers of washroom, laundry and pest control services.
Founded in 2005 with just a few thousand pounds in savings, Liberty Hygiene began with a simple belief: customers deserved a better, more personal standard of service.
Twenty years on, that philosophy remains unchanged, but the ambition has grown. With Scott Marshall and Glenn Marshall becoming Joint CEOs, James Sheehan joining as Group Managing Director and Liberty Pest Control launching, the business is entering its next phase of expansion.
Purpose built in, not bolted on
Responsible business has always been central to Liberty’s approach. As the UK’s highest-scoring B Corp in washroom services, with a score of 93.4, Liberty has earned independent recognition for its commitment to people, communities and the environment.
The business is working towards carbon neutrality, with part of its vehicle fleet already electric and an ambition to transition to a fully electric fleet. It also holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. Its environmental commitment was further recognised at the Cleaning Industry Awards 2026, where Liberty was Highly Commended for Innovation in Sustainability.
That commitment extends beyond washroom services. Through its partnership with Ride Recycle Repeat, Liberty is helping tackle the estimated 10 million kg of bicycle inner tubes and tyres sent to UK landfill. Across 15 flagship locations, including major commercial workplaces in central London, the initiative has engaged 367 cyclists, diverted 285 inner tubes and 135 tyres from landfill, and allocated £1,900 of revenue to social value.
Giving back, year after year
To mark its 20th anniversary, Liberty exceeded its £20,000 charitable fundraising pledge, raising more than £23,000 for good causes.
Liberty has also been a headline sponsor of Cleanology’s annual charity fundraising event in support of The Hygiene Bank for five years. Cleanology has played a leading role in bringing the contract cleaning and facilities management industry together behind the charity’s mission to tackle hygiene poverty. The Hygiene Bank’s network of approximately 600 volunteers, 145 local projects and 1,300 drop-off points has distributed around 2,000 tonnes of essential products.
For Liberty, helping people access everyday hygiene essentials is a natural extension of its purpose and reflects the importance it places on long-term industry partnerships.
New leadership, shared values
Liberty’s leadership structure has evolved to support its next stage of growth. Founder Scott Marshall and Glenn Marshall have become Joint CEOs, formalising a partnership that has guided the business for years.
James Sheehan joined on 1 August as Group Managing Director, bringing extensive leadership experience and over 25 years’ expertise in UK pest control.
James oversees Liberty Hygiene’s day-to-day operations while leading the development of Liberty Pest Control, enabling Scott and Glenn to focus on strategy, innovation and customer relationships.
“What drew me to Liberty is that the values aren’t a poster on the wall,” James explains. “They’re how the business actually runs.”
The structure strengthens Liberty’s capacity to grow while preserving the accessibility and personal service customers value.
Growing without losing the personal touch
Liberty’s continued growth across washroom, laundry and pest control services reflects its ability to combine the capabilities of a major provider with the responsiveness of an independent business.
Recent successes include supporting government facilities, delivering its largest laundry installation to date for a major London university, and developing a bespoke service solution for one of the largest buildings in the King’s Cross district. Liberty’s laundry services also support a number of gyms set in Banks across London. Across these settings, Liberty adapts its services to complex requirements without compromising its personal approach.
An expanded Rayleigh depot provides additional operational capacity and room for further investment, supporting growth without compromising service.
Liberty Pest Control: a natural next step
The launch of Liberty Pest Control is perhaps the clearest example of the company’s customer-led approach.
The idea came directly from existing clients who increasingly asked whether Liberty could manage their pest control requirements alongside hygiene services.
Having initially supported a small number of sites through subcontractors, Liberty recognised an opportunity to offer a dedicated, high-quality independent alternative across London and the South East, particularly as smaller pest control businesses continue to be acquired by multinational operators.
James Sheehan brings considerable sector expertise, having previously led one of the UK’s leading independent pest control businesses before its acquisition.
The response has been encouraging. Two major London cleaning companies and a leading facilities management provider committed before launch, with further business secured from restaurants, data centres and manufacturing.
For existing customers, the new division offers another specialist service from a business they already know and trust. For new customers, it provides a fresh independent choice, built around expertise, accountability and personal service.
Looking ahead: innovation and ambition
With the leadership structure in place and Liberty Pest Control gaining momentum, investment continues.
Work has begun on an innovation centre at Rayleigh, combining team facilities with a customer showroom featuring the latest supplier products and developments.
Plans are also progressing to simplify how customers order and interact with Liberty, reducing administration and making services easier to access. Meanwhile, the pest control roll-out continues across London and the South East.
The ambition is clear: to set the standard for washroom, laundry and pest control services across the built environment, with service, sustainability and long-term relationships at the heart of everything Liberty does.
Twenty years ago, Liberty began with modest savings and a determination to do things differently. Today, its capabilities are broader and its ambitions greater, but its founding principles remain firmly intact.
For Liberty, growth has never been simply about becoming bigger. It has been about becoming better.

To discuss how Liberty Pest Control can support your business, contact James Sheehan at james.sheehan@libertypest.co.uk or visit www.libertypest.co.uk.

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