A TECHNOLOGY firm, which supplies lifesaving equipment to firefighters, has increased its workforce after taking on four university graduates and an apprentice.

Eemits, based in Billingham, near Stockton, provides tailor-made communication systems for national transport group, Metrobus, and the Royal College of General Practitioners, in London.

Earlier this year, it secured contracts with South Lanarkshire Council, in Scotland to install specialist radio equipment to gritter vehicles, and Hertfordshire Fire Service for crews to use 200 digital radios during emergency operations.

It has now expanded its team after taking on graduates Emma Thompson, Nasir Ahmadi, Shane Appleby and Kibrom Fitsum, and 17-year-old apprentice Lauren Mallaby.

Ms Thompson graduated from Teesside University with an MA in business and managerial economics, and joins the firm as sales and marketing executive, with service engineer Nasir Ahmadi part of the team after completing a degree in information communication technology at the same university.

Mr Appleby, a psychology degree holder from the University of Sunderland is working as an applications developer, with Mr Fitsum taking on a role as an electronics engineer, repairing and programming radios, after finishing a degree in electronics at Newcastle University.

Ms Mallaby studied at St Michael's RC School, in Billingham, and has being taken on by the firm on a two-year apprenticeship.

Craig Matthews, Eemits managing director, said: “All of the new team members have shown great drive and determination and a real passion, showing the commitment to complete their studies.

“This suggests they will display the same level of commitment to driving our business forward as we continue to grow.”