(L - R): Soniya and Lester Fernandes, new business owners of Poppies Hounslow.

Hounslow entrepreneur creates local jobs with new cleaning company launch

A local Hounslow businesswoman has launched a new cleaning service, aiming to serve up to 80 homes and create more jobs in the area.

Soniya Fernandes, who moved to the area four years ago, recently launched Poppies Hounslow with husband and business partner Lester. The entrepreneurial duo have ambitious 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 company in the place she sees as home.

Soniya commented: “I wanted to invest in a business 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. 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.”

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.

Soniya added: “We’re really looking forward to meeting our prospective clients and staff and being an invaluable service to our local community. I’m an extremely driven person, and I don’t like giving any less than 100 per cent, 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.”


By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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