Unicom, which has been named several times in the Fast Track 100 list of the UK's fastest growing companies, is bucking the current economic trend; something it says is down to its careful pricing policy which is attracting business from its competitors.
The company now provides work for almost 600 people. It pledged to create 300 new jobs when it moved into its Northenden HQ in 2006, and achieved that figure. The new jobs will be primarily in sales but opportunities in credit control, customer service, IT and administration teams will follow.
"We're well tuned-in to the small business sector, and we have taken on board what they need from their telecoms provider - a no-nonsense personal service, priced highly competitively and operated from a local base," said Tony Eagleton of Unicom.
"We have developed a focussed small-business telecoms product and service, and the result has been that business seems to have embraced it.
"We are absolutely clear in our minds about what makes the difference to our customers: a UK call centre with real people answering the telephone, 98% of calls answered within six seconds, and managers and directors who are hands-on and accessible", said Tony.
"Our customer retention level is currently running at 86% against a sector average of around 70%. Of the 14% we lose, only a third go to competitors, the remainder being businesses that close or move premises for one reason or another, which is obviously beyond our control."