New investment gives Gateshead firm the Advantex

The move by Advantex Network Solutions Ltd, which provides IT and telecoms services to GE Oil & Gas and Caterpillar Articulated Trucks among other regional and national customers, will double capacity at the firm’s Follingsby Park-based head office.

The company secured a £75,000 grant from regional growth fund Let’s Grow North East* as part of an overall funding package to support its expansion plans.

This will see the development of a new highly secure and protected data centre alongside additional office and meeting space to accommodate a growing workforce and extra resources.

New training and product demonstration facilities are also being developed as part of a package of measures that come on the back of 40% growth in sales for Advantex in the last financial year.

The firm has also earmarked part of the investment towards the development of new superfast broadband services provided to businesses across Teesside and Wearside.

Following the cash injection, the company will be eyeing further growth in the next 12 months as it targets a £6m turnover by 2017 on the back of additional staff and the utilisation of the additional capacity to secure additional regional and national work.

Advantex was established in 2002 and is an accredited Microsoft, Cisco and Mitel partner, employing more than 60 people who provide single source solutions that combine flexibility and added value technologies to deliver high performance benefits to clients.

Its ambitious growth strategy is leading to demand for services and expertise said co-founder and sales director Stephen O’Connell, who added that the firm continues to recruit for sales, account management, technical engineering and business development roles.

“We’re incredibly excited about what this investment will allow us to do as we look to grow our team and customer-base over the coming months and years.

“We’re already seeing strong traction as economic confidence looks to hold-up and businesses continue to invest while eschewing traditional approaches to IT provision and service support.

“We’re also pleased to be able to continue to invest in recruiting talented people, who can provide the highest levels of customer service.

“The next few months promises to be even busier as we look to develop our presence further in core sectors.

“Education providers, who will be facing a changing IT landscape over the next year, can benefit significantly from the expertise and experience we offer as part of new strategic IT, and wider commercial and e-Learning packages and technologies.”

Advantex was established in 2002 and achieved the prestigious ISO9001/2000 industry quality mark within its first year of trading and holds the IOS9001/2008 mark.

It is an accredited Microsoft, Cisco and Mitel partner, providing a single source package, which combines to deliver flexibility, added value and cost saving benefits. More at www.advantex.uk.com