Hounslow entrepreneur launches local cleaning company

Poppies has welcomed Soniya Fernandes as the franchisee of its Hounslow territory.

Soniya Fernandes, who moved to the area four years ago, recently launched the Hounslow branch of national cleaning franchise Poppies with husband and business partner Lester. 

The duo has plans to provide a high-quality professional service to local residents and create a boost in jobs for the community.

Born and raised in India, Soniya comes from a background in finance. 

When she initially moved to the UK in 2019, Soniya struggled to find a job due to the language barrier. After much determination and drive, she worked in various sales roles to hone her skills in Business English to ensure she is well-equipped to serve the community’s needs, and she now feels confident as she launches her own cleaning business in the place she sees as home. 

“I wanted to invest in a franchise which we could run from our own home and would support us through setting up the business and ensuring it was a success. Poppies was an obvious choice, particularly considering all the training and guidance they provide,” said Fernandes. 

“Now just really felt like the right time to launch a business we’re truly excited about. We recognise the importance of excellent customer care and providing a high-quality service for every customer in their home or at their business. 

“Our aim is to help people who are struggling to juggle work and home life by delivering a first-class service at the heart of the community which welcomed me with open arms.”

It is this motivation and grit which has helped Soniya and Lester become the aspiring businesspeople they are today. 

While Soniya is responsible for sales and client management and wants to spend much of her time working with the local community, Lester will offer a sense of pragmatism and structure to the general day-to-day administration and recruitment side of the business. 

The couple believe this partnership will help them to reach their target of 80 new clients by the end of the year.

“We’re really looking forward to meeting our prospective clients and staff and being an invaluable service to our local community,” said Fernandes. 

“I’m an extremely driven person, and I don’t like giving any less than 100%, so I know I’m going to work incredibly hard to create an amazing team and provide that exceptional level of service. 

“I’ve always been conscious of reviews and using companies who can back up their claims with high-quality service, so I want to make sure we deliver on every expectation our customers have and let our results speak for themselves. 

“I’m not interested in the ‘hard sell’ that comes with a finance background; I just want happy, satisfied employees and clients who feel valued and comfortable in their jobs, and that’s what we aim to achieve.”

Based in Hounslow, Poppies also covers Hayes, Teddington, Twickenham, and the surrounding areas. Poppies Hounslow is part of a national network of 25 franchisees building their own local business, creating over 500 jobs and delivering high-quality cleaning to over 6,000 homes on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis in line with clients’ individual needs.