A young entrepreneur who entered the world of agency by helping his parents manage their rental property portfolio in his teens has won a local Chamber of Commerce Award.

Josh Walshe, 20, who founded Walshe’s Property and Lettings Agency last year when he was still a teenager, won a new business award at the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2018.

Judges praised his innovative ways of marketing, financial planning, organisation of his business and his growing reputation locally.

He offers marketing tools such as cashbacks for people referring business to him as well as social media updates on properties and updates on buyers looking for local homes.

Walshe set up the agency in 2017 but first began working in the sector after finishing college in 2015 when he started helping his parents manage their small portfolio of rental properties.

He is the youngest board member of the North Lincolnshire Place Marketing Board and is a business ambassador for the region.

The agency currently operates from Walshe’s home and he uses Zoopla to list properties but this year plans to join Rightmove, hire his first staff member and is also looking to get a high street presence.

He said: “When I first set it up I had a lot of people doubting me, both because I was a new business and because of my age.

“Over time, I’ve proved that neither of them are an issue.

“I’ve had so much business over the past few months from people recommending me to their friends. Now I’ve built a reputation and people know they can trust me.”