A SHOP-FITTING company, established as a home-based business less than a year ago, is doubling its workforce and moving into larger premises Absolute Interiors Commercial has already outgrown its original premises, and hit the turnover target it set for the end of its second year.

The Hartlepool company, specialising in shop fitting and joinery for the commercial sector, has been involved in the refurbishment of Wilkinsons stores nationwide.

Four additional joiners have been taken on in the past month, taking its staff to 17, and a further ten to 12 jobs will be created with the move to larger premises, where the company will continue to manufacture all its own fittings from shelves, desks, doors and wardrobes to bookcases, screens and windows.

The business was started by Dianne Hitchen, Tracey Bulley and Kevin Guffick when they learnt that the construction company they worked for was to cease trading.

Having originally worked from Mrs Hitchen’s home, they moved to offices at Hartlepool Business Centre.

Mrs Hitchen said: “We are now aiming for a £1.5m turnover by the end of our second year and are very pleased with our progress so far.

“This is a very competitive market but we were confident that the three of us have the right combination of skills and experience to put us in a strong position.

“There are some exciting contracts in the pipeline for us and the future is looking good.”

The company has already achieved Investors in People IIP status.

Alison Davies, senior business solutions manager for IIP North- East, said: “We were very impressed that IIP was written into the business plan for Absolute Interiors before it even started trading.”