TELECOMMUNICATIONS company Main -Tel (NE) Limited says its turnover will hit a record £2m this year following a period of intense growth.

The Teesside company, a national supplier of business communication technology, said revenue had risen by 40 per cent during the past 12 months because it had won a number of lucrative contracts.

The firm, from Thornaby, near Stockton on Tees, took on six members of staff last year, taking its workforce to about 40. It is also currently recruiting additional engineers and administration personnel.

It plans to expand further in the region and is on the verge of closing a deal on new prestigious premises, which will lead to the creation of a further six jobs.

Tom Howson, who founded the company in 1983, said: "We have worked extremely hard on building the company up to be a UK leading outfit and we are now reaping the benefits.

"We have been working at a very high level and, until now, always under the radar', which is a good indicator that we are winning our work through our outstanding level of service and reputation in the industry.

"Our client base comes almost only from referrals - we have never advertised and have never lost a client.

"The secret to our success is and always will be support, support - and support."

Main –Tel (NE) Limited, which also has offices in Northern Ireland and the South of England, expects turnover to increase by a further £1m in the coming financial year.

It works with businesses to install the most suitable voice, data and security technology for their needs and its clients include Giorgio Armani, Middlesbrough Football Club and Toyota Motor Europe.

Recently, the company worked with the Royal Navy to investigate technological problems with a docking computer on a carrier ship undergoing sea trials off Portsmouth.

"It was a pretty serious problem and our engineer had to respond immediately," said Mr Howson.

"We found the fault, which turned out to be on the cable, we fixed it and the ship was able to carry on with its trials.

"Response time is absolutely key in this industry and that's where many companies fall down. Main-Tel prides itself on its response capabilities and we win work based on our ability to do it well."