There are young entrepreneurs.

Then there's Spencer Drew.

Waiting until adulthood to start a business wasn't enough for an impatient pupil from Woodbrook so he began at 14 – while at school.

"I would sometimes get calls while I'm in class," Drew recalled with a laugh.

"I would have to take the call under the desk and whisper to the client."

So began Spencer's Professional Pressure Washing, with a single power-washer and a determination to stay true to impeccable service.

It worked.

Today, Spencer's is the company of choice for many in the energy and corporate world and now 23, Drew's ideals of excellence have not changed.

"I do not compromise quality and that is the key to keeping clients happy and loyal," Drew said.

"Our service is impeccable and to me, that is what sets us apart.

"We have clients who have remained faithful since the start and our reputation for excellence has grown.

"Clients have noted that our work time is very tight but the work reflects excellence and this ties in to our work ethic and the standards we have set for ourselves."

Drew operated out of home and got nothing but support from his parents.

He now employs a team but still makes a point to be present at all jobs.

"I can be a perfectionist," Drew admits.

"This is particularly important now as we are moving further into the energy field, where there is no room for error."

But there's no forgetting the company's humble beginnings.

Drew still works with his first-ever clients on domestic jobs.

Spencer's has today evolved to fill a specific void, Drew said, for high-rise buildings and now, massive water storage tanks, both under, and above-ground, often employed by big companies.

"We are doing most of the buildings in Port of Spain," Drew said.

"One might wonder why there is a need for industrial cleaning of these types of tanks. But your tank can get very dirty, where sediment settles at the bottom and scum forms on the sides, in both types of storage units.

"This can compromise the quality of the water and the health of the users.

"Cleaning these units is not a luxury, it is a requirement."

Industrial water storage tanks are cleaned by professional divers, who use equipment that meets the best international standards in that field, Drew said.

In most cases, they are also able to clean the unit without having to empty the tank.

The sediment at the bottom is, with one method, vacuumed away, and with another, circulated in a pattern that allows it to be skimmed.

The sediment can harbour bacteria, mold and even small animals and insects, Drew said.

"Cleaning your tank regularly is part of a disease prevention lifestyle," he said.

"It also prolongs the life of your pumps and filters."

Spencer's is only the current outfit performing potable water cleaning, where a diver in a complete and sterilised "dry suit" is able to clean sediment off the bottom without the water itself having touched his person.

The company also provides facade cleaning and moss prevention services with the most modern products available.

"You have our guarantee," Drew said, "that we can stop mold on your building."

Spencer's will also use tailor-made chemicals where necessary.

"If a particular stain requires a particular chemical type of strength, we have it made," Drew said.

Also members of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce, Spencer's is looking forward to becoming the dominant company in its field in the short future.