Telecoms firm sets sights on expansion

Apr 8 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A YOUNG telecommunications company hopes to more than double its turnover by establishing up to 25 franchises across the country.

Gateshead-based Fone Solutions plans to set up the franchises over the next six months, which it believes will grow its turnover from £1.3m to over £3m in five years’ time.

The firm, set up by husband and wife team Nick and Emily Underwood-Lea in 2006, has already set up four franchises this year in South Yorkshire, Loughborough, Cheshire and Lancashire, with each one securing 10 customers after just one month in business.

Fone Solutions provides a range of services to around 350 small to medium sized business clients, including wireless internet access for BlackBerry handheld devices and vehicle tracking technology.

It now believes it can double its customer base to 700 over the next five years with the help of the franchises and hopes to grow the staff at its headquarters at The Watermark, Gateshead, from 18 to around 40 in the same period.