A growing Teeside estate agency that is one of the industry’s relatively few female-owned firms is taking on five more staff after a bumper year.

Two-branch Clarke Munro, which used to be known as Thirlwells until being rebranded last year, is owned by Wendy Clarke and Nicola Munro (third from right, main pic) who bought the business off its founders in 2004.

The new staff include a new sales negotiator and four apprentices who will work both at the agency but also its student accommodation offshoot, TS1.

“Thanks to initiatives such as the stamp duty holiday and more and more people working from home, the housing market has flourished, which is great to see,” says Clarke.

New sales negotiator Alice Boddy (third from right) says: “I’ve been working in estate agencies for seven years, and I was over the moon to get the opportunity with Clarke Munro.

estate agency skills

“I love speaking to people and building relationships, so I’m looking forward to putting these skills to good use.”

The four apprentices are Kieron Leak and Ryan Dalton, while Chloe James and James Nugent are taking apprenticeships in the TS1 team.

Nugent says he became interested in property during the pandemic when he was furloughed from his job in an unrelated sector and began taking pictures for TS1 in his spare time.

Nicola Munro says: “Apprenticeships are incredibly important to us; both Wendy and I started our careers as trainees with Thirlwells, so it’s only right we pay it forward and we’re delighted to have been able to offer four young people such an opportunity.”