York’s TouchRight Software targets new customers with £50k investment

A provider of software for property professionals and letting agents has secured financial backing from Finance Yorkshire.

York-based TouchRight Software will use the £50k business loan to grow its customer base through additional software development and marketing.

The five-figure boost will also enable the company to hire at least two people, including an in-house developer.

TouchRight was established by husband and wife team Terry and Rachel Lightfoot, who found traditional paper reports for landlords to be inflexible and time-consuming, and so created a digital alternative.

Today, the firm’s software has over 1,000 users, including letting agents, property services providers, contract cleaners, universities and councils.

Terry said: “It takes time to produce high quality, detailed reports for landlords. These are often still transcribed by hand and can end up sat on desks for days while agents go about their busy jobs.

“We thought there was a better way than the traditional pen, paper and camera method. Our software and app not only saves paper but gives people the power to send fully customised reports to landlords on the same day as the inspection.”

TouchRight is based at the Hiscox Business Club in central York.

Terry and Rachel were introduced to Finance Yorkshire by Martin Bell, a business adviser at Red Sky. Martin also helped TouchRight with its funding application.

Finance Yorkshire investment manager Ian Atkinson commented: “Terry and Rachel are passionate about bringing the latest technology to the property world.

“They have built this business from scratch and already have some impressive names as clients. Now they need to take their software to the next level, which is exactly what our investment will help them to do.”

The £50k from Finance Yorkshire represents the first investment from the organisation’s Extension Fund, which is backed by £5m from the Leeds City Region LEP and Sheffield City Region LEP.

Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the Leeds LEP, said: “We contributed to the Finance Yorkshire extension fund to demonstrate our commitment to give practical support to SMEs in the Leeds City Region to access finance and grow.

“The investment in TouchRight Software to develop innovative products is a clear example of how such finance can make a difference by creating jobs and laying the foundations for further expansion.”