A TELEMARKETING firm is preparing to triple the size of its workforce and double turnover after landing several high-profile contracts in its first year of operation.

Touchstone Leads, based in Shildon, County Durham, was launched nearly a year ago by Kevin Ireson to generate key appointments for companies.

Its innovative way if working, which means it only bills clients for leads that meet their criteria, has proved to be popular with businesses including major names such as HSBC and Santander, and northern legal firm Ward Hadaway.

The company employs five staff, but plans to take this up to 15 as it moves into larger premises.

Annual turnover at the firm is expected to climb from £250,000 to £500,000 by the end of the year, reaching £800,000 in its third year in business.

Mr Ireson said: “One of the biggest frustrations I had in my former role as a head of new business sales was in finding a telemarketing company that was willing to back itself and only get paid on results, so I needed to buck the trend.

“We specialise in making appointments that are guaranteed to meet client requirements and help get them in front of the right businesses.

“In the next five years, I hope to become a large employer in the North-East that is focused on helping businesses grow their sales and deliver results that will give an instant return.”

Touchstone is a businessto- business telemarketing company with a combined 20 years of experience in the field within its workforce.