ONE of the north's oldest property firms has decided it's time to tell a new story.

Storey Sons & Parker has decided to rename itself storeys:ssp.

The 112-year-old firm, which has an office in Manchester but which is based in Newcastle, says the new name feels more up to date.

The move comes as the firm reveals a 21 per cent increase in turnover in the last two years and a 25 per cent increase in profitability.

Managing director Martyn Lytollis said: "We are very proud of our history. But we do recognise the need to evolve and continue to move the company forward within a modern and dynamic market place.

"Our new name signifies a new era for storeys:ssp and we are confident that our distinctive brand will itself become a differentiator."

The firm follows a number of property and professional firms who preferred letters, or combinations of letters and names, to straightforward names. Law fitrm Dibb Lupton Alsop has become DLA, Debenham Tewson & Chinnocks transformed itself into DTZ Debenham Tie Leung.

Manchester property firm The Elliott Partnership has now become plain ep2.

Andrew Frazer, director in storeys:ssp's Manchester office, said: "We intend to use this re-brand as a launch pad to grow the business further and have recently taken on a building surveyor. "we currently employ 20 people in the north west but expect our professional team to increase steadily over the next 18 months.

"Storeys has always had a strong reputation for its ratings work and this is still a large element of our work in Manchester, but we have also made great strides in investment, agency and landlord and tenant work in the north west.

"Over the last 12 months, we have processed close to £100m-worth of property investment, including a property in North Wales for £13. 5m. Tweet