Our warmest congratulations to Russell Manning, founder of Yorkshire agents Manning Stainton.

At the Yorkshire residential property awards, Manning was given the lifetime achievement award, while the firm won the title of best agent.

Manning, who started his career in agency at 17, launched his first business bearing his name at the age of 20, in 1976.

He later sold to Royal Insurance, becoming regional managing director of William H Brown.

He then launched Manning and Company in 1991, which merged with Stainton’s in 2001.

Manning, who has weathered several recessions, now heads a firm with 20 offices and which still has plans to expand.

The judges liked Manning Stainton’s ongoing pioneering of new ideas, its customer service – for example, ‘move managers’ based at head office who progress sales – and its commitment to the community.

The firm has a community fund for local charities, and recently raised £150,000 for a specialist breast cancer nurse at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds. Manning’s late wife, Amanda, who worked alongside him in estate agency, died of breast cancer.

Manning said of his lifetime achievement award that it made it sound as though he is about to retire – but that, he said, is definitely not the case.

He also told the Yorkshire Post that high street agents are here to stay: “The online agents can’t replicate what we do in terms of helping people through the emotional process of buying and selling a house.

“And they can’t compete with us on making sure a sale gets through to completion.”

Many congratulations also go to Lincolnshire firm Pygott & Crone which took top honours at the East Midlands Property Awards.

The firm has 12 branches and has increased staff numbers from 90 to 130 over the last year.