Profile: Charlie Mullins

Charlie's Background

Charlie founded Pimlico Plumbers with a second hand van and a bag of tools in 1979, after completing a four year apprenticeship in plumbing. Today the family business is the largest independent service company in London, providing a 24 hour, 365 days a year service, which completes in excess of 1,500 jobs per week. As a boy Charlie decided at a very young age that he wanted to be a plumber, after noticing that his local plumber was well respected and the only person around with any money. So, from the age of nine Charlie took to 'bunking off' school to earn 'two bob a day' helping the plumber out.

Now, on the 30th anniversary of his founding of Pimlico Plumbers, Charlie employs 165 staff and operates a fleet 130 service vehicles, looking after a clientele that includes numerous celebrities and other public figures, many of whom have been customers from the beginning.

The Aftermath of Secret Millionaire

Since the Secret Millionaire show went out, the Pimlico depot has been overwhelmed by calls and emails from all sorts of people, keen to show their support for the charities in St Helens and Warrington.

"The response has been phenomenal; we've had letters from companies and many individuals pledging their support for the HoneyRose Foundation. Some good friends of mine in Marbella, who own a holiday apartment company, are offering the charity the use of one of their apartments on the Costa del Sol. This should give somebody who is suffering and their family a memorable holiday. More importantly though, this shows that the company's profile has been considerably raised," says Charlie.