Enderby web firm creates 30 jobs after bumper first year
Activ, of Narborough Wood Park, Enderby, plans to take its existing 17 staff to a larger premises at the site and increase its workforce to 50 by the end of this year.
The business, which has created websites for more than 300 small firms, is also opening an office in Spain and has been short-listed in the Start-up of the Year category in the Nectar Business Small Business Awards.
As well as dealing directly with small firms, it has a team of about 120 franchisees around the country and in Ireland, France and Australia, who use Activ software to create websites.
The firm was started last March by friends Simon Rickett, 28, and Dillon Boivin, 35. Mr Rickett said they were expecting continued growth this year, with turnover expected to soar to more than £2m in the year to the end of next March.
He said research carried out by the firm showed half of small and medium-sized firms did not have an online presence.
"It's caught us by surprise, really, how well things have gone," he said.
"We help small businesses create complete websites, starting at £500. At a time when businesses are trying to save money with their marketing, it's proved popular.
"We're at the stage where we need to move to bigger premises and have a bigger team of people.
"We are looking to move to a larger site here on Narborough Wood Park."
Activ's customers include doctors' centres, small law firms and charity groups.
Mr Boivin said: "It's definitely taken us by surprise. We've found this gap in the market for affordable websites and we feel we can help businesses because we recognise what they need.
"We've got a network of people across the UK covering various territories and we want to grow this further." Franchise packages start at about £5,000.
The firm will find out if it has won in the Nectar Business Small Business Awards next week.
Mr Rickett said: "We are very excited about making the short-list."
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