A Southend-based estate and block management company has just secured several contracts with two national house builders.

Rylands Associates, based in Aviation Way, was formed just four years ago by local businessman Grant Cooper.

The company has just won a contract with Berkeley Homes and Inland Homes.

Rylands Associates has certainly progressed from early beginnings when it was just solely Grant.

He now employs 42 members of staff, including estate managers and 24-hour on-site concierges.

There are also four in-house garden teams to ensure all of the developments are kept to a high standard.

Mr Cooper said: “I feel very pleased to have created 42 jobs in the local area in the past four years.

“Rylands Associates is very much a local business and I find employing local people very rewarding.

“It’s good to put something back into the community.”

To find out more about the business visit rylands-associates.co.uk