Posted:26-August-2026
From International Export to Building a Growing NIC Local Franchise
When Ismail Timurlenk began looking for his next business opportunity, he wanted more than a new job. He wanted to build a business of his own, one that could draw on his commercial experience, give him greater control over his working life and offer genuine potential for growth.
Today, as an NIC Local franchisee operating across London and Kent, Ismail is doing exactly that.
Since launching his franchise at Christmas 2024, he has developed a diverse portfolio of commercial cleaning clients, from nurseries and storage facilities to global sailing organisation SailGP. His focus on service has also helped him turn one successful nursery contract into three sites through referrals.
Finding the Right Franchise
Before joining NIC Local, Ismail worked in international export in his native Turkey. When the Covid pandemic brought that business activity to a halt, he relocated to the UK, initially moving to Coventry before settling in London.
Entrepreneurship remained firmly on his agenda, and Ismail spent around five months attending franchise exhibitions and researching different business models.
NIC Local stood out.
The professionalism, consistency and responsiveness of the team reflected the values Ismail wanted to bring to his own business.
After delaying his launch while supporting his wife through successful cancer treatment, Ismail was ready to begin his new venture. From Christmas 2024, his NIC Local franchise was fully operational.
Building a Management Business
One of the attractions of NIC Local was the opportunity to operate a management franchise.
Rather than carrying out cleaning himself, Ismail focuses on building the business: recruiting and managing teams, developing customer relationships, winning contracts and ensuring consistently high standards.
Recruiting dependable people has therefore been an important part of his approach. Ismail has developed a structured recruitment process, including telephone interviews designed to identify professional and reliable candidates.
With the right team delivering the service, he can concentrate on growing the business and looking after his customers.
Turning Great Service into Growth
In a relatively short period, Ismail has built a varied portfolio of clients across London and Kent. His approach begins with understanding exactly what each customer requires.
Different environments have different priorities. A high-profile client such as SailGP demands exceptional presentation and attention to detail, while other commercial sites may require greater flexibility around their day-to-day operations.
Whatever the environment, Ismail's philosophy remains the same: understand the customer and provide a reliable, high-quality service.
This approach proved particularly successful with a nursery in Royal Tunbridge Wells.
After NIC Local began providing its cleaning services, the nursery manager was impressed with the results and recommended Ismail to colleagues elsewhere in the group.
Recognising the opportunity, Ismail approached two further nurseries and secured meetings with both. Winning the business required approval from several decision-makers, but the results achieved at the first location provided a powerful case study.
The outcome was two additional contracts, turning one customer relationship into three sites within the same group.
Relationships That Deliver Results
For Ismail, winning a contract is only the beginning. Maintaining strong customer relationships is central to his strategy.
Every four weeks, he visits clients to conduct a detailed digital audit. These visits allow him to check standards, discuss improvements and identify ways NIC Local can provide further support.
This is particularly important in environments such as nurseries, where cleaning standards can have a direct impact on health, safety and day-to-day operations. Teams must be dependable, cleaning needs to be thorough and products must be carefully considered where children may have allergies or sensitivities.
By approaching cleaning as a partnership rather than simply a service, Ismail has been able to build trust and generate referrals.
Ambitious Plans for the Future
Despite the pace at which his business has developed, Ismail is already focused on the next stage of growth.
He has set himself a significant target: reaching £1 million in turnover.
He is also thinking about the infrastructure required to support a larger business. Once he reaches that milestone, his plan is to recruit an Area Manager to help manage the expanding operation.
It reflects what originally attracted Ismail to the franchise model — the opportunity to build an organisation rather than simply create a job for himself.
At the same time, business ownership gives him greater control over his lifestyle, allowing him to structure his working days around his priorities and make time for interests outside work.
A Platform for Growth
Ismail's journey demonstrates what can be achieved by combining entrepreneurial ambition with an established franchise model.
His previous commercial experience provided valuable foundations, while NIC Local offered a proven model and support network through which he could put those skills into practice.
By recruiting good people, understanding his customers and consistently delivering high standards, Ismail has built a growing business with a reputation that is already generating new opportunities.
And with a £1 million turnover target firmly in his sights, his NIC Local journey is only just getting started.
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