Great Yarmouth-based engineering company Specialised Management Services (SMS) is enjoying record growth in its 15th anniversary year.

The firm, based on Harfrey's industrial estate, has expanded from a staff of four in 1999 to a business employing more than 100 people and has taken on 24 employees in the past three months alone.

Having outgrown its current site, it is poised to announce shortly details of a move into larger, purpose-built premises in the borough.

The company, which has become a leading global manufacturer of control systems and provider of maintenance/installation services for the oil and gas industry, has more than doubled turnover in three years from £6m to over £13m and has a strategic plan to reach £20m in the next three years.

SMS, which also has a development office in Aberdeen and is supported internationally by parent company Alderley, said it has achieved its growth by expanding its client base and through innovation.

As well as the design and manufacture of specialist equipment, SMS has also developed into a major service company providing hydraulic maintenance, commissioning and modification services with a particular strong presence in the Southern North Sea.

SMS has developed its electrical workforce offering and now provides a full engineering and installation service to its clients, operating a team of over 30 skilled technicians working on offshore and onshore projects around the globe; in the last 12 months SMS has increased its team of field technicians by 115pc.

Managing-director Dave Howlett said: 'Customer relationships are the most important part of our business, we always provide a dedicated and personal approach throughout even the most challenging of projects.

'The knowledge, loyalty and dedication of the team of SMS is key to the growth and development of the company.'