A LITTLE under a year after launching, Laratech Ltd has doubled its workforce to four.

The venture, steered by managing director Andrew Lee, recently moved into new premises at Devonshire Court in Green Lane, Clifton, to offer "a true one stop shop for all IT requirements."

It offers different levels of support, consultancy, web development/hosting and has an online helpdesk available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Now the venture is entering the New Business Of The Year and Best Science & Technology categories of The Press Business Awards 2007. Laratech's clientele range from small businesses to a multinational company, including hotels, management companies and care homes.

Already it has won praise from giant firms in York and North Yorkshire, including Chris Aylott, IT manager for York chartered accountants and business advisers, Garbutt & Elliott.

He said: "It is a pleasure to find a local IT company that knows how to deal with its customers and unlike others, does not mis-sell or try to pull the wool over customer's eyes.

"From the initial meeting with the director - not some third rate salesman - Laratech has been at hand's reach and stepped in on many occasions when the situation has deemed necessary."

Laratech now operates a new state-of-the-art remote support system where a customer can log on to www.laratech.co.uk, call the support line for a unique six digit code and within seconds be linked to an engineer, who then, remotely, has as much control over the user's PC as he or she allows.

Mr Lee said: "I am proud of my team, their hard work and dedication to our customers. Many times they have performed above and beyond the call of duty."