A Saltaire-based telecommunications company has rounded off its 12th financial year by clinching a £1 million deal with its longest-standing customer.

Intouch Advance will supply state-of-the-art IT network for Tuffnells Parcels Express, which specialises in next-day business-to-business delivery throughout the UK. The new kit will help Tuffnells to reduce costs and achieve faster and more reliable connection with its 34 depots.

Intouch has seen turnover expand from less than £100,000 to £3.9 million in the 12 years since it was launched by 25-year-old design and marketing graduate Simon Pollard. It is looking to increase sales to around £4.5 million in the next year.

Chief executive Mr Pollard said: “We grew by 6.7 per cent during the UK recession. This was owing to retaining 95 per cent of our customers, cost leadership and word-of-mouth referrals from our clients.

“From inception we have implemented and maintained a steady business growth strategy, which has involved providing exceptional levels of customer service for all of our clients. This is achieved by providing bespoke products and services to meet customer needs, extending our product and service portfolios accordingly, and committing to answer all calls within three rings.”

Simon started Intouch Advance with ambitions to become a leading telecoms business supplier and has pursued a strategy of staged and steady expansion and the development of the business from a telecommunications dealer to a re-seller.

Intouch Advance’s key customers include Card Factory, Pace, UPM Kymenne and Yorkshire Air Ambul-ance. The firm has enabled Saltaire-based Pace to cut telephone costs by £72,000 and Card Factory by more than £34,000 over a two-year period.

Robin Batchford, Tuffnells Parcels Express systems director, said: “The extra bandwidth and flexibility will provide a much-needed platform for Tuffnells’ new IT systems to be rolled out across the organisation.”

Graham Barker, group facilities manager at Pace, said: “We have been clients of Intouch Advance for over eight years and have taken advantage of more and more of their products and services over this period. They provide us with the industry expertise and data to effectively manage our ever-changing telecoms needs.”