SEVENOAKS-based Chores Group, the house cleaning and laundry business, is the first company with a FTSE 100 company as an investor to join the Ofex share-dealing scheme. Last October, Chores bought the home cleaning division of Myhome Services, a Unilever subsidiary. Unilever has taken a stake in Chores to maintain its link with the business.

The company joined Ofex after placing 513,500 new ordinary shares at 20p, raising £102,700. Chores is one of the fastest growing firms in the home services sector, exploiting demand from "cash-rich, time-poor" consumers. Chief executive Russell O'Connell formed Chores Group plc in 1999 as the holding company of Chores Management Systems, an existing domestic services company originally founded ten years ago.

Since launch, the firm has exploited the rapidly growing market for home services in the UK, estimated at around £9 billion. It plans extended coverage throughout London and the Home Counties before the end of next year with a further roll-out of its services in the Midlands and the North West in 2003.

The aim is to develop a franchised operation and managed outlets that will eventually span the whole of the United Kingdom.