A TELECOMS firm is to create 40 new jobs over the next 18 months after being named one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the country.

Crewe-based eZe Talk currently employs 50 people, split between its headquarters on Eaton Street and an office in Warrington.

It is now looking to take on another 40 people during the next 18 months, mainly at Crewe.

The recruitment drive comes after eZe Talk was placed at number 15 in the UK Deloitte Technology Fast 50, which ranks technology companies based on their percentage sales growth during the past five years.

At eZe Talk, sales have jumped by 1,547 per cent, which also put it at number 87 in the Deloitte Fast 500 EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa).

Director Mike Taitt, who founded eZe Talk with Steve Walsh, said the firm was looking to take on sales, customer service, marketing and web staff.

He said: "We've got to this size without having a full-time marketing team so we'd like to address that.

"We also need a new web manager because we are restructuring what we do in and around IT and rather than outsourcing our web management we want to have it here.

"We have just introduced mobile services and in terms of customer service that's fairly specialised so we are looking to recruit people who have experience of that.

"Luckily we are in an area where lots of people do have that experience."

He added: "Over the next 18 months we are probably looking to take on another 40 people, mainly at Crewe.

"When we moved to our building in Crewe in 2008 we only had six or seven people and now we have 26, so we've already done quite a bit of expansion here staff-wise."

Mike puts eZe Talk's growth down to its competitive prices, plus the recession encouraging people to look at switching their phone and internet providers.

He said: "For smaller companies like ourselves it's always been fairly easy to undercut the major suppliers like BT, and we like to think we provide a better service.

"Some of our older customers still come in to pay their bills and people appreciate that kind of old-fashioned service.

"We are committed to that because a business like ours is not so much about new customers, it's about keeping the ones we've got."

eZe Talk provides mobile, fixed line and broadband services to residential and small business customers.

Mike said: "In the past the problem has been the apathy among the public in switching their supplier.

"The recession has probably been one of our biggest drivers because suddenly people have started looking to see where they can save."

Fellow director Mr Walsh said the firm was extremely pleased with its Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking.

He said: "We're not in business to win awards, but the great thing about the Deloitte award is that it is recognition from respected and independent industry experts."

He added: "We are hugely ambitious. Although organic growth will be key, we are keen to make some targeted acquisitions, too.

"Unfortunately, like a lot of SMEs, we have been frustrated in the past with the lack of funding available.

"Hopefully, this recognition from Deloitte will help open a few doors."

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