A BOOM in demand from schools wanting to surf the Internet has boosted software and computers supplier RM.

The group, based at Milton Park, near Abingdon, has seen demand for its Internet for Learning (IfL) service soar by 200 per cent in one year.

RM has linked up with the Open University and aims to be the largest provider of training for teachers under the Government's £230m project to improve information and communications technology in schools.

Chief executive Richard Girling said they had recruited an extra 350 staff this year, bringing the workforce to 1,290.

Most of them work at Milton Park, where a new building is to open next year. "We are expecting to take on another 200 next year," he said.

When Mr Girling joined the company in 1980 there were 45 staff.

This year RM hooked up a total of 10,000 schools to its IfL service in the year to September 30 - 8,000 more than at the same time last year.

Its Internet information service, Living Library, is available to 35 per cent of UK primary schools.

RM chief executive Richard Girling said investment in the group's Internet products was a vital part of RM's growth plans.

"The Internet, in particular, has become an integral part of our core offer and is becoming ever more important to learning - both at home and at school," he said.

The Internet boom helped push RM's turnover for the year to September 30 up by 24 per cent to £162.2m, compared with £131m at the same time last year.

Pre-tax profits also jumped 22 per cent to £12.3m from £10m.

Revenues from RM's 12,000 primary school customers jumped 62 per cent after schools took advantage of Government funds to modernise schools and to build hi-tech learning centres.

Meanwhile, a consortium formed by RM and ICL is the sole bidder for a £300m project to manage information and communications technology for all Northern Ireland's 1,300 schools.

RM is now valued by the stock market at almost £660m. Its founder, Mike Fischer, owns ten per cent of the shares.

Story date: Friday 26 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.