Expanding estate agency recruitment specialist Rayner Personnel has awarded its south-east London franchise to former Connells director Craig Cassidy.

Although he started out as a professional jockey, Craig Cassidy moved into estate agency in 1999 as a Connells negotiator.

He was with the firm almost 18 years, and starts at Rayner Personnel today.

He said: “I’d worked with Joshua Rayner for over 15 years, during which he helped me to create a fantastic team for my offices. We met to discuss my own next move and he suggested that I consider joining him.

“I’d never considered franchising before, but could see this was a great chance to be my own boss.”