Meet the Build Clean team

‘2020 SA Young Entrepreneur of the Year’
‘2020 Top 40 Under 40 Entrepreneur Award Winner’
‘2021 Australian Achiever Awards SA Winner'
‘2021 AFR Most innovative Companies Awards Finalist’

I am on a journey to be my best Self; a model husband & father, an accomplished leader and present in the moment.

I began my educational journey at Flinders University whilst studying a Bachelor of Busienss with specialisation in Marketing. This became the platform for my adventure through different industries. I tried marketing roles with small, family run businesses and got a taste for the culture of a tight knit team. From there I set to learn sales from some of the best, and where better to learn how to sell than in the automotive industry. Finally to accepted the calling and ventured out on my own, trusting the skills and knowledge I had gain thus far.

My initial days as a self-employed lad saw me doing any job, for anyone, wrapping it all under the banner of property maintenance. As time progressed, the work itself was often unenjoyable and the model was increasing difficult to scale. A line had to be drawn in the sand, pick a service and be the best I could be at it.

On February 1st, 2018 I rebranded and left the sole-trader structure for a propriety limited company. This was the birth of Build Clean, a service based company with a single focus on the construction industry. I soon found that our services were greatly appreciated; taking a trades person mentality, with exceptional service standards and consistency. Our reputation soon spread and we became the brand you see today.

In 2020 I knew I could not manage the company’s rapid growth on my own and needed to have an integrator to my visionary approach. At the time Jack had been my right hand man and after some pitching of the dream, he put his future on the line and joined as a Director of Build Clean. Together we are constantly learning and growing to keep ourselves one step ahead of the company.

Our efforts have not gone unnoticed with an array of awards and recognition over the years. Some a collective effort and others of a personal nature, from being recognised as the Australian Achiever Awards Winner for South Australia, to Finalists in the AFR Most Innovative Companies and, in the same week being named South Australia’s Young Entrepreneur of the year and awarded the InDaily Top 40 under 40 Entrepreneur Award.

It is humbling to build a company (my lies work) that is appreciated in the community. I am dedicated to providing the very best workplace I can. Our social impact being sustainable growth to contribute to reducing our states unemployment rate. We are not here to grow for growths sake, but to intertwine our successes with the greater community to build a stronger future for all.

I am excited to be on this journey and even more so to have the opportunity to give back. I am a keen learner and sharer of my findings. I am passionate about mentoring those special few who resonate with my story and has the spark that is required to try something truly great.

You are welcome to reach out to me on all social platforms, or follow the everyday Sam on instagram @the_sam_ackland

Bachelor of Industrial Design
‘2021 AFR Most innovative Companies Awards Finalist’
‘2021 Australian Achiever Awards SA Winner’
‘2021 Australian Achiever Awards Winner for Remarkable Customer Service’
'2020 Small Business Champion Finalist’

As many others, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my career outside of school. I knew I had a drive to do something creative, which led me down the path of graduating industrial design from UniSA. From here, I started freelancing and selling custom made furniture to the wealthy. Although enjoyable, it didn’t feel right as I knew this industry wasn’t scalable and I would always be an owner operator. An international journey to find myself was required, which also would cost a bunch of money that I did not have. This is when I began working for Sam before Build Clean.

Mowing lawns, painting fences, window cleaning from deathly heights, I did absolutely anything for a quick buck. We quickly noticed where our strengths lie and that was construction cleaning. Before we knew it, Sam’s team had grown to 3 or so cleaners & I’d saved up enough to begin my working holiday in Canada. I felt guilty for leaving, as I knew something big was brewing.

With an extremely low minimum wage in Canada I found myself selling the world to customers at fancy restaurants for tips. My options were, either sell well or skip breakfast. As my skills in customer service grew, so did Sam back in Adelaide. In 2018 Build Clean was born. My visa was coming to an end and weirdly enough, I found myself daydreaming about the potential opportunities in the cleaning industry. Sam was begging to get me back and promised a full-time position as the Operations Manager. I organised the next flight & said my goodbyes.

Sam had grown the team, however he was wearing far too many hats. Once I took over operations, he knuckled down on our systems & growth. We were a powerhouse duo working to each other’s strengths & weaknesses. With a boom in construction and delivering a niche quality service, our target was the moon. In 2020, I went all in & joined Sam as an equal director.

Since then, we have grown to 50+ employees, provided many career opportunities, work with the best builders in the SA industry, won an array of awards and are planning a national expansion. Although growth is super exciting, I find giving back to people the most rewarding. All our managers have started as cleaners, we’ve got the unemployed back into the workforce & have supported international students through to Australian residency. We truly are making a social impact & building a stronger tomorrow.

Cert. III Mechanical Engineer
2012 Winter Youth Olympic Athlete

Certified RTWSA Officer
Diploma of Professional Interior Design