From one small office of seven people in Market Harborough, the company has grown substantially, and we now have over 40 partners and staff in three offices across Leicestershire.
With a team of chartered surveyors and other qualified property professionals, our services cover commercial property, planning, rural estates, residential sales and lettings.
Andrew Granger & Co was formed in 1989 via a management buyout, and our 25th anniversary will be celebrated with a night at the races for partners and staff in May.
Margaret Christison has worked for Andrew Granger & Co since day one so she is celebrating her 25th year working for us. We caught up with her to see what has changed at Andrew Granger & Co and what her favourite moments have been…
What is your role? As the company’s Quality System Manager, I manage our registration under ISO 9001 and our quality management system.
How did you begin your career at Andrew Granger & Co? I was the office manager, and was responsible for much of the admin work required to set up the company. I was also involved in sales, mainly of agricultural land, buildings and redundant church rectories. I went on to become responsible for residential estate agency before taking up my current role overseeing quality.
Do you remember the first day? Yes I remember it well, as they say! We were busy deciding who would work where, where to put everything, how to register ourselves as a company and thinking about announcements in the press. At the same time, clients were already ringing up with business for us!
Where was the first office? It was number 9 St. Marys Road, Market Harborough – on three floors. In the days before the A14, we had heavy lorries trundling past the door.
What are the main changes you’ve seen? The company has transformed from a single business in one office in Market Harborough to a multi-practice partnership with seven partners and 40 staff and additional offices in Leicester and Loughborough. It has evolved from land agency to offering services in residential and commercial estate agency, residential and commercial lettings, property valuations and surveys, land and property management, general professional and property advice as well as planning and development.
What is still the same? Even though we are much bigger than in the early days, we still retain the family atmosphere we started with. We are a happy, united team with Andrew Granger himself still very much involved and still always looking for new opportunities and challenges.
What have been your favourite moments working for Andrew Granger and Co? There have been quite a few!
- The wonderful sense of adventure and togetherness when we first set up
- Our very first sale (I kept a little red book to record each one as it happened, long before our computerisation)
- In the early days, Land Agency was a steep learning curve for me along with the clients involved, including some real ‘characters’
- Opening our very first residential estate agency in Church Square, Market Harborough
- Moving into our spacious offices in Phoenix House – a double joy for me since this was the same day my first grandson was born!
- And now as I am beyond official retirement age, it is lovely to have a role that allows me to stay very much involved and still have time I can spend with my family.
- What have been the highlights of the past 25 years for the company?
- Growth and success
- Involvement in town and charitable activities
- Widespread and professional reputation
- Opening offices in Leicester and Loughborough
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