ONWARDS and upwards – that's the theme for Internet Business Solutions, which has become the biggest of its kind in the area in just six years.

In the past 12 months, the website developer has moved out of its shared 'hub' accommodation at Trentham Business Quarter and into its own building on the same complex.

And it has opened sales offices in Manchester, Warrington and Leeds, and more than doubled its workforce to 20 people.

The company, which has doubled its turnover for the second year running, is a nominee for the Business Link West Midlands-sponsored Small Business of the Year Award, part of The Sentinel Business Awards, presented in association with the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"We are working on as many as 15 new projects a month, the latest of which is to build a new website for TAG-Heuer in the UK, the Swiss timepiece company probably most widely known as a sponsor of the Ferrari F1 racing team," said managing director Neil Erlam.

"This has led to recommendations to TAG-Heuer internationally and, now, McLaren Motor Sport.

"But we have a very diverse range of clients, all of whom are looking for new customers and new routes to market, which is where we come in."

The firm's extensive portfolio, now well over 200 strong, includes famous names such as Huntley and Palmer, the biscuit maker, as well as dozens of others ranging from distribution and engineering companies to fine bone china makers and retail chains.

Apart from TAG-Heuer, other businesses to sign up recently for a package of website design, content, management and hosting include a nationally-operating television and digital broadcasting company, a national fitness franchise and Ralli, the Manchester solicitors.

Mr Erlam said: "We operate throughout the UK and internationally, and are currently in talks with Adidas in South Korea with a view to providing them with 'e-tail' solutions for their 546 stores in that country.

"Having our own in-house software developers helps us maintain a leading edge over our competitors, and will be a big plus as we look to expand further in a very competitive market.

"We are able to give clients the tools to manage their own sites effectively and easily, if that is what they prefer, only stepping in with periodic stream-lining and health checks to keep everything working to full potential.

"At the other end of the service spectrum we can, if they wish, offer a complete service where all the client has to do is tell us what they want and we do the rest."