Charlie Mullins Explained

Charlie Mullins
OBE
Birth Name:Sidney Charles Mullins
Birth Date:28 October 1952
Birth Place:St Pancras, London, England
Occupation:Businessman
Known For:Founder and CEO, Pimlico Plumbers
Party:Reform UK (since 2024)
Spouse:
  • Lynda Mullins
  • Julie Morris
Children:4

Sidney Charles Mullins (born 28 October 1952) is a British businessman. He is the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, London's largest independent plumbing company, which he sold in 2021.[1] [2]

Early life

Mullins is the son of a factory worker father and his mother who worked as a cleaner.[1] When he was born, they "lived in a couple of rooms in Camden", before moving to the Rockingham Estate in London's Elephant and Castle, where he grew up, and left school at 15 with no qualifications.[1] [3] [4]

Career

Mullins was apprenticed to a local plumber at age 15.[1] In 1979, he founded Pimlico Plumbers operating from a basement in Pimlico.[5]

He is known for his collection of plumbing-themed number plates, used on the company's vehicles, and worth around £1.5 million.[3]

In September 2021, Mullins sold a 90% shareholding of Pimlico Plumbers to US home services group Neighborly in a deal worth between £125 million and £145 million.[6] At the point of sale, the business had revenues of $70 million and employed over 400 people. Mullins' son, Scott Mullins, remains Chief Executive with a 10% stake.

Politics

Pimlico Plumbers donated £22,735 to the Conservative Party in 2015, and Mullins donated more than £48,000, in the two years to July 2017.[1] He was a business adviser to David Cameron and George Osborne, and was a vocal critic of Brexit.[7]

In January 2018, Mullins announced that he would no longer be a Conservative Party donor, and declared his candidacy as an independent at the 2021 London mayoral election (which had been scheduled for 2020, before being postponed) but Mullins did not appear on the ballot paper.[1] In March 2018, Mullins said he would financially support the Liberal Democrats to support their campaign to prevent Brexit.[8] During the 2024 election campaign Mullins announced he had joined Reform UK.[9]

Personal life

He divorced his first wife, Lynda, to whom he had been married for 41 years. She is the mother of their four children, two of whom work for the company. He then married Julie Anne Morris, who also worked for Pimlico Plumbers. The couple later divorced.[10] [3]

Mullins was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours, for services to the plumbing industry.[11]

He owns a villa in Marbella, Spain.

Works

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "We need a stronger leader": Charlie Mullins, the millionaire plumber, pulls Tory funding. www.newstatesman.com. 26 January 2018.
  2. News: 2021-09-20. Pimlico Plumbers sold to US firm Neighborly. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-11-12.
  3. Web site: A-list clients and Dubai escapes – the norm for Pimlico Plumbers boss. 25 January 2017. realbusiness.co.uk. 26 January 2018.
  4. News: How I Made It: Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers. en. 2021-11-12. 0140-0460.
  5. News: Prevett. Hannah. I knew I was on a winning horse all those years ago, and it’s still winning. en. 2021-11-12. 0140-0460.
  6. News: Thomas. Daniel. 2021-09-20. Mullins sells Pimlico Plumbers to US company Neighborly. Financial Times. 2021-11-12.
  7. News: O'Carroll . Lisa . Millionaire refuses to take down 'Bollocks to Brexit' poster . . 5 October 2018. 6 October 2018.
  8. News: 'We need to back out!' Charlie Mullins vows to donate millions to Lib Dems to STOP Brexit. Santolo. Alessandra Scotto di. 2 March 2018. Daily Express. 27 March 2018. en.
  9. PoliticsJOE_UK . 3 June 2024 . Big change of heart..Anti-Brexit campaigner Charlie Mullins hints that he will stand for election with the Reform Party. . en . 1797698883440775312. 3 June 2024 . https://x.com/PoliticsJOE_UK/status/1797698883440775312.
  10. News: Self made supporter of the apprentice. David. Brown. 20 February 2016. 26 January 2018. www.thetimes.co.uk.
  11. Web site: New Year's Honours lists 2015. 30 December 2014. 22 September 2021. Government of the United Kingdom: Cabinet Office and Foreign Office. PDF.