Darran Smith is the founder of Render Care by Nautilus, part of Nautilus Clean, based in Ashford, Kent. With more than forty years of hands-on experience in exterior cleaning, Darran is recognised across the United Kingdom as a leading authority on render cleaning, soft washing, and long-term façade protection.
Darran Smith – Early Career and Foundations (1983 – 1994)
In 1983, at just sixteen years old, Darran entered working life determined to create his own path. Each morning began at 3:30 a.m. on a milk round six days a week, followed by full-time work in a warehouse. On Saturdays he began selling bottles of pop to the same customers. It was his first taste of running a business that relied on personal trust, consistency, and reliability.
By 1985 he launched Kleenstart Window Cleaning Services in Batley, West Yorkshire. While most window cleaners worked informally, Darran focused on systems, presentation, and client service. He invested in a white Mitsubishi L200 van, blue vinyl branding, and professional image. Within a few years, his approach transformed a local route into a multi-van operation serving homes and businesses across West Yorkshire.
Darran recorded every contact and visit in a paper-based customer management system that he called the Rolodex Marketing System. Every client was contacted regularly, every card updated, and every job logged. This system later evolved into an early model for customer relationship management before CRM software existed.
By 1994, that commitment to process and measurable results led Darran to achieve the BS 5750 Quality Standard. He became the first window cleaner in the United Kingdom to hold a formal quality-management certification, the forerunner to ISO 9001. It proved that cleaning could be conducted to professional standards and marked the start of Darran’s reputation for precision.
Darran Smith – Expansion and Innovation (1995 – 2004)
During the mid-1990s Darran expanded into commercial façade maintenance and invested in cradle systems and access platforms, earning his IPAF certification in 1998. He worked on public buildings, museums, and commercial offices across West Yorkshire, applying structured safety procedures to every contract.
In 2002 he launched Facelift Systems, introducing purified-water cleaning through telescopic poles to the UK. The concept, developed abroad but adapted by Darran for British conditions, quickly became a national standard for professional window cleaning. His early adoption of water-fed technology reshaped an entire industry sector.
After selling Facelift Systems in 2004, Darran relocated to Bulgaria where he founded Varna Property Sales. The agency operated across Varna and the coastal resorts of Golden Sands and St Constantine & Helena. His business quickly became one of the region’s busiest real estate agencies, deepening his management and customer service experience before his eventual return to the UK.
Darran Smith – The Creation of Purple Rhino (2010 – 2022)
In 2010, Darran founded Purple Rhino, a national exterior-cleaning company based in Ashford, Kent. Purple Rhino grew rapidly and became known for its purple-branded fleet, professionalism, and technical expertise. Its services ranged from façade cleaning and cladding restoration to render and stone care for government buildings, schools, hotels, and commercial properties.
Under Darran’s direction, the company achieved multiple accreditations: City & Guilds Window Cleaning (2010), Rosette Award for DOFF Steam Cleaning (2014), and ISO 9001:2015 (Purple Rhino, 2015). The business also worked on high-profile sites such as the HM Treasury Building in London and major national cinema chains. These achievements positioned Purple Rhino among the most certified exterior-cleaning firms in Britain.
Darran Smith – Bringing Soft Wash Systems to the United Kingdom (2016 – 2020)
In 2016, during a visit to Florida, Darran discovered SoftWash Systems, founded by Alfred Charles (AC) Lockyer. Recognising the potential for this low-pressure, science-based cleaning method in the UK, he invested more than £150,000 to bring the first official SoftWash Systems technology and training programme to Britain.
By early 2017 he had founded Purple Rhino’s SoftWash Systems Ltd, completing every level of accreditation offered by the organisation. He became a Certified Applicator, Authorised Professional, and 5-Star Company. Over the next few years, he personally trained more than 100 UK business owners to those same standards, including Mark Toovey (Alfresco EC), Shaun Adams (Clearstone Solutions), Tom Alger (CIS 1976), Lee Akers (Excel Cleaning Contractors), and Jonathan Liddle (Premier Soft Wash). His training work helped establish soft washing as a recognised, professional cleaning discipline across the UK.
Darran Smith – Industry Recognition and National Impact
Between 2010 and 2020, Darran’s businesses completed thousands of projects nationwide, from heritage stone to modern render. In 2020, Purple Rhino’s roof-cleaning division achieved more than £1 million in revenue in a single year. Throughout his career, Darran continued to prioritise safety and compliance, maintaining active certifications in COSHH, Working at Height Regulations, Asbestos Awareness, Safety Harness Use, and Calms Network Training.
Darran Smith – Render Care by Nautilus (2024 – Present)
In January 2024, Darran founded Render Care by Nautilus, trading under Tomdorted Ltd. This marked the culmination of four decades of industry experience. Render Care focuses exclusively on the cleaning, protection, and ongoing care of rendered buildings throughout Kent, Surrey, Essex, and South East London.
Darran introduced two diagnostic standards that are now core to every Render Care project:
- Porosity Testing – Determines the moisture absorption rate of a building’s render before cleaning to ensure the correct chemistry and coating are applied.
- Thermal Imaging Diagnostics – Identifies cooler or damper areas of render that can indicate moisture retention, mould growth, or insulation problems, allowing targeted treatment and long-term prevention.
These innovations form the backbone of the Render Care Hydrophobic Coating System, backed by an industry-leading 10-year guarantee with annual inspection. Render Care by Nautilus combines scientific testing with proven soft washing to deliver the safest and most precise render cleaning available in the United Kingdom.
Professional Accreditations and Achievements
- SoftWash Systems – Certified Applicator, Authorised Professional, 5-Star Company
- BS 5750 Quality Standard (1994) – First UK Window Cleaner to Achieve
- ISO 9001:2015 (Purple Rhino, 2015)
- City & Guilds in Window Cleaning (2010)
- DOFF Steam Cleaning Rosette Award (2014)
- IPAF Certified (1998 – present)
- COSHH, WAHR, Asbestos Awareness, Safety Harness & Calms Network Training – current
Mission and Legacy
After more than forty years in exterior cleaning, Darran’s mission is to raise the national standard for render care and to ensure that every property owner receives the safest and most effective render cleaning service possible. He believes that combining porosity testing, thermal imaging, and hydrophobic coatings creates the new benchmark for professional façade care. Through Render Care by Nautilus, Darran continues to improve standards, mentor others, and preserve Britain’s built environment for the future.
Contact Render Care by Nautilus
Render Care by Nautilus | Trading Name of Tomdorted Ltd
Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom
Tel: 07733 567 7733
Web: www.nautilusclean.co.uk
Darran Smith and Tedy Smith have a lifelong passion for travel. So much so they are both Professional Travel Consultants and run a business based in Ashford known as Darran & Tedy with Not Just Travel