COMMUNICATIONS agency Scarlettabbott has moved into a new office to enable it to grow and employ up to 30 staff.

The business, which manages internal communications for large businesses, including Morrisons and Aviva, has experienced double-digit growth year-on-year for the last seven years.

The now 17-stong team has outgrown its former premises in Lawrence Street, York and moved into a converted chapel in Main Street, Fulford.

The £1.3 million turnover business, led by joint owner-directors Jonathan Abbott and Rachel Thornton, has also recently won a Gold Award for Best Internal Publication at the 2012 CIPR Yorkshire & Lincolnshire Pride Awards for the ‘‘U’’ magazine it produces for UKAR (UK Asset Recovery).

Rachel said: “The old chapel will enable us to grow to about 30 people, which we’re aiming to do in the course of the next five years.”

She said the internal communications industry was growing strongly as businesses facing challenging times needed to communicate with their staff.

The company has also recently been instructed by professional services firm KPMG, Northumbrian Water and Northern Powergrid.