Proptech business Symple is ramping up its expansion by doubling its pool of
specialist contractors to 2,000 and investing £600,000 in technology to meet
increasing demand for its services.
Symple is seeking to recruit 1,000 accredited and strictly vetted service providers –
gas safety engineers, electricians and energy assessors – across the UK over the
next 12 months.
The company, which was launched in May 2021, is an online platform for residential
landlords, estate and letting agents and homeowners.
Symple, which operates nationwide from headquarters in Swinton, Greater
Manchester and an office in north London, manages property certificates for single
and multiple residential sites, including those for gas and electrical safety, boiler
servicing, PAT testing and energy performance.
Its cloud-based platform is a one-stop shop which manages bookings for inspections
and arranges for service providers to carry them out.
The recruitment drive for service providers follows continued strong growth for
Symple, which now has a portfolio of 5,000 properties.
The company has also earmarked £600,000 for a software upgrade as it launches
new services such as repairs and maintenance, taking the total investment in
technology since its inception to £1.3m.
Founder and chief executive Simon Dresdner said: “Symple has seen continuous
strong growth and now we are delighted to announce further significant investment
across the business in line with our rapid expansion.
“We need to recruit 1,000 additional service providers to meet increasing demand
and ensure inspections are picked up and completed quickly in all areas of the
country.
“Our system is based on an Uber model, whereby service providers receive a text
message or email about an inspection which has been booked with us, and can then
respond if they are in the area and wish to attend.
“Our ease of operation, straightforward administrative process and prompt payment
means it’s a very appealing proposition for those looking for an additional source of
revenue.
“There is no sign-on fee, and contractors are free to make their own decisions about
whether or not to carry out an inspection when it is notified to them.
“They love the model because they know exactly what they will be paid when they
see the job come up, and that they will receive payment within seven days directly
into their bank account.
“We support them throughout the process, ensuring they have all the information
they need to get the job done quickly, with no need to raise invoices.”
He added: “Landlords, agents and homeowners also love the platform because it’s a
one-click order system, there is no registration fee, and Symple manages the entire
renewal process for certifications, including sending reminders when they are due
and arranging inspections with key holders and service providers.
“We have a long list of services which they require, such as repairs and
maintenance, cleaning, pest control and property valuations, which we are looking to
add in the future.
“As the platform develops, it will be one that landlords will rely on to take care of any
property-related service they need.
“To facilitate this expansion, we are developing our technology with a further
investment of £600,000 as we increase the number of properties and contractors,
and roll out new services to a growing client base.”
Symple is part of Kingsbury Holdings, the parent company of several service
providers in the property and facilities management sectors.
The Kingsbury group includes Merco Facilities Services, a commercial cleaning
business, and FCS Management Services, a business rates management company.
