A REGIONAL lettings agency has secured a £1.8 million funding package to help double the size of the business through an acquisition strategy.

Linley & Simpson, which has three North Yorkshire offices was awarded the sum through Santander's Breakthrough Programme.

Founded by Will Linley and Nick Simpson in 1997 the business has since grown organically and by acquisition to ten branches, including offices in York, Harrogate, Ripon and Wetherby, employing more than 100 staff across the Yorkshire region.

It is now the largest independent letting agent in Yorkshire and its growth has been boosted over the last year with the launch of a sales service department across all ten of its branches, which has already created 30 new jobs.

Mr Linley and Mr Simpson say they plan to use the new funding to double the size of the business over the next three years through the acquisition of letting agencies to expand their branch network.

Mr Linley said: "Our new partnership with Santander will enable us to expand our management portfolio through a more focussed acquisition strategy and accelerate our growth plans with the opening of new branches across the region.

"The fact that Santander appreciate the scope for our business and have demonstrated this by providing growth capital funding, fills us with great optimism and we very much look forward to working with the team over the coming years.”

The announcement of the new funding package caps a successful year for the business in which it was honoured by The Sunday Times Lettings and Estate Agency of the Year Awards for the fourth consecutive year.

Steve Harrison, director at Santander’s Growth Capital Fund, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the continued growth of Linley & Simpson.

"Will and Nick have built a highly successful and well regarded business which is now very well placed to capitalise on the opportunities that lay ahead and an improving property market."