A 21-year-old entrepreneur is due to open in his first high street premises today – two years after he launched his agency out of a spare room in his home.

Josh Walshe is opening in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

He founded Walshe’s Property and Letting Agency when he was 19. Last year, he acquired the property management contracts from a rival, the local franchise of Your Move.

Walshe, who also became North Lincolnshire Council’s youngest-ever member after triumphing in May’s local elections, has invested £250,000 in the new office.

He said it had required part-demolition in order to create parking, a completely new heating system, new wiring and other works.

He has also picked up several awards, including being crowned winner of the Northern Lincolnshire under-30 business person of the year.

Walshe said: “When I first set up, I had a lot of people doubting me both because I was a new business and because of my age. I’ve proved that neither is an issue.”