SCHOOLS computer company RM is bucking the recession, having expanded its workforce by more than 100 over the past year.

Spokesman Fiona McLean said: “We have seen no indication of reduced spending in our markets. In fact RM’s headcount has grown.”

RM, based at Milton Park, near Abingdon, said a reorganisation of its curriculum software business, which would save £1m a year, had resulted in “a handful of redundancies” where there was no role and job match.

Ms McLean said: “Our headcount, however, continues to grow, going from 2,108 in February 2008, to 2,235 in February 2009.

“We are still actively recruiting in both Oxfordshire and in our other business areas across the UK.”

A week after losing out to Redstone Telecom for a £150m contract in Birmingham, RM said it was continuing to win business under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, under which the Birmingham contract was awarded.

Some commentators have raised doubts about the viability of Private Finance Initiative deals during a recession, but RM said it was still committed to tendering for contracts.