Case Study: Londonist DMC
From a £200 dream to royal recognition – how Londonist DMC became a King’s Award winner for International Trade 2025
In 2025, Londonist DMC, a London-based student accommodation services provider was officially recognised with The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, the UK’s most prestigious business honour.
For founder and Managing Director Asim Erturk, the announcement marked more than just a business milestone; it represented the culmination of a very personal journey.
Asim first arrived in London in 2006 as an international student with just £200 to his name. He vividly remembers the stress of finding somewhere to live and the feeling of being lost in an unfamiliar city. Londonist DMC was born from that experience – a desire to help other international students feel at home from the moment they arrive in the city.
Founded in 2013, the company began as a small operation managing 30 student rooms in central London. Today, it has grown into a global brand, managing over 2,000 rooms across 50 prime London locations, with a team of 120 multilingual professionals operating from offices in London, Turkey and China. Londonist has supported over 150,000 students from more than 170 countries, providing far more than accommodation. Its success lies in a unique model that offers flexible contracts, high-quality accommodation and a full ecosystem of student support services – from airport transfers and insurance to laundry, cleaning and cultural events. This ‘one-stop’ approach, powered by innovation and understanding, has set Londonist apart in a highly competitive market and transformed the Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector.
By combining insight with innovation, Asim has built a company that is both highly profitable and purpose-driven, a rare feat in an industry often dominated by rigid models and limited flexibility.
Why Londonist Won the King’s Award
The King’s Award for Enterprise recognised Londonist DMC’s outstanding contribution to international trade and the UK’s global education sector. While Londonist doesn’t export products in the traditional sense, it plays a crucial role in importing talent, attracting students from across the world to study in the UK and contributing significantly to the £42 billion international education economy.
Between 2021 and 2023, Londonist’s international revenue grew by 803%, surging from £2.26 million to £18.2 million. This remarkable growth was fuelled by strong partnerships with agents and universities across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, alongside continued investment in technology and service innovation.
With its flexible tenancies (from two to 51 weeks), AI-driven dynamic pricing and digital tools such as the Student Portal, Agent Portal and Ambassador App, Londonist has revolutionised the student experience and streamlined the booking process. Its holistic approach – blending hospitality, technology and wellbeing – is now seen as a model for the future of student accommodation.
“For us, international trade is about welcoming students to the UK who will shape tomorrow’s world. They’re our bridge to the world. Each student who chooses Londonist strengthens the UK’s reputation as a global hub for learning and opportunity.” – Umang Gandecha, Executive Director at Londonist
Working with Awards Intelligence
Winning a King’s Award requires not only exceptional results but also the ability to tell a compelling story. Despite their achievements, the Londonist team quickly recognised that transforming a decade of data, innovation and impact into a concise, award-winning submission required expert guidance. That’s when they turned to Awards Intelligence.
From the very first strategy session, the Awards Intelligence team worked closely with Asim, Umang and their team to craft a submission that truly captured the scale and spirit of Londonist’s achievements. Together, they mapped the company’s growth journey, identified compelling data to demonstrate success and framed its global impact in a way that aligned precisely with the King’s Award criteria.
“They didn’t just write an entry, they helped us see our story from the outside, to understand what makes us different. The collaboration was personal and professional at the same time. It was never formulaic; they cared about getting it right. From structuring financial data to selecting the most impactful elements to incorporate into the submission, Awards Intelligence ensured the final entry was both robust, compelling and authentic. We knew what we had achieved was special but putting it all into words that captured the heart of our journey was another challenge. The Awards Intelligence team helped us translate years of work into a clear, structured and powerful submission. They really understood our story and we could bever have achieved this result without them.” – Umang Gandecha
Every part of the application was built on evidence. Awards Intelligence guided the Londonist team through collecting and presenting key data: turnover growth, overseas revenue increases, global market reach, partnerships with universities and agencies and technological innovation. The result was a detailed, structured and authentic account of Londonist’s evolution from a small idea to a major international business.
Winning the King’s Award
When the official confirmation arrived that Londonist DMC had been granted The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2025, the reaction across the company was one of pure pride and delight.
“It’s hard to describe that feeling. To see your company’s name alongside some of the most respected businesses in the country and to know it’s been personally approved by His Majesty, it’s overwhelming. It validates everything we’ve worked for.” – Asim Erturk
Winning the King’s Award has elevated Londonist DMC’s global reputation, providing immediate credibility in international markets and strengthening relationships with partners, agents and universities worldwide. The King’s Award emblem now appears across Londonist’s communications and marketing, a visible mark of excellence and trust to partners worldwide.
For Asim, the significance of the award extends far beyond business success. The recognition carries deep personal meaning, a full-circle moment that reflects his own journey. Having once arrived in the UK as an international student searching for a place to live, he now leads a company honoured by His Majesty the King for helping thousands of students do exactly that. The award, he says, is the proudest milestone of his career and a powerful reminder of how far both he and the business have come. It inspires him and his team to continue innovating, supporting international students and proudly representing British enterprise on the global stage.
“Receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category is a tremendous and meaningful milestone for Londonist. From our humble beginnings in 2013 to becoming a global brand supporting students from over 170 countries, this honour, approved by His Majesty The King and based on the Prime Minister’s recommendation, reflects the dedication of our team, partners, and student community. We are incredibly proud to join the ranks of over 8,000 UK businesses that have received this prestigious recognition since 1965.” – Asim Erturk, Founder and Managing Director of Londonist DMC.
“It’s hard to describe that feeling. To see your company’s name alongside some of the most respected businesses in the country and to know it’s been personally approved by His Majesty, it’s overwhelming. It validates everything we’ve worked for.”
Asim Erturk