AN award-winning chemical company is saying thanks to a unique funding programme established by Business Link County Durham.

During the past three years the Trigger Fund has provided Durham Organics, based in Durham City, with £23,000 to take on an additional two chemists who now work with the company's owner, Dr. Haider Imam.

The funding has enabled Dr Imam to divide his time between business development and research, ensuring that the firm grows.

The additional chemists are Dr. Ian Garnett, who joined with help from Business Link fund, and Dr. Laurence Hill who joined through the fund three years ago and was retained by the company when the grant ended.

Durham Organics researches and develops chemicals used mainly by the pharmaceutical and polymer industries. Its customers include multi-national companies in the USA and Europe. The company carries out research for clients in addition to its own work. It holds two Innovation Awards including a Smart Award from the DTI.

"The fund helps the small company that may have reached a growth plateau and also creates additional jobs because, in our experience, most of the employees taken on under the fund stay with the company," said Richard Hall of Business Link County Durham.

Dr Imam said the Trigger funding has provided valuable support.

"They enabled us to employ two chemists and it has been a very useful contribution to the development of the company," he said.

The Trigger Fund provides companies with an extra pair of hands when the entrepreneur behind the business is finding it difficult to take on all the roles necessary to grow the company. For details, contact Business Link County Durham on (0191) 374 4000