BOOMING computer company RM is taking on 250 new staff this year in a bid to keep up with demand.

The Government is pouring £1bn into updating schools' information technology - and RM, based at Milton Park, near Abingdon, is taking a big share of the handout.

In the half year to March 31, turnover was up 41 per cent to £71.1m and pre-tax profit was up to £2.5m from £0.6m.

Chief executive Richard Girling said: "RM has made good progress in each of its core markets and has responded to the opportunities presented by the first full year of additional funding for the National Grid for Learning to maintain its leadership position on the enlarged market."

RM has nearly half the market in primary schools, which took the lion's share of the Government cash, and turnover increased by 140 per cent. In secondary schools RM kept its share of more than half the market, and turnover was up 25 per cent.

This time last year the company employed about 850 and another 100 had arrived by the end of its financial year in September. By this September about 250 more will have been taken on. Now the company is expanding into a new two-storey building at Milton Park, near Abingdon, due to be completed by next April. It has room for 450 customer support and administrative staff and will be the company's headquarters.

RM already has another five buildings on the park in 134,860 sq ft of space. It is paying £632,000 a year for the new 37,500 sq ft building on a 25-year lease.

Personnel director Russell Govan said: "With this kind of growth, we have vacancies across the board, from sales to admin."

RM was founded in 1973 in Mill Street, Osney, Oxford, but moved in 1986 to Milton Park. The park now employs 4,700 people.

Story date: Tuesday 18 May

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