A new recruitment firm specialising in the property industry has launched.

Hanning Recruitment is the brainchild of founder and managing director Toby Speke, an RICS surveyor and former negotiator with Knight Frank.

The business has been backed by two of London’s best-connected agents, Rory Penn and Thomas Van Straubenzee of prime London agency VanHan.

Headquartered in Mayfair, Hanning Recruitment will focus on both the residential and commercial sectors.

It will recruit from graduate roles up to director and partner level.

Van Straubenzee is regularly featured in newspaper gossip columns as a friend and former schoolmate of Princes William and Harry.