Profits rose 15 per cent in 2008 and there's better yet, says boss

Link Telecom, based in Keighley, has achieved its growth since withdrawing from the consumer retail market and focusing on business customers.

The firm is on target to deliver revenues of £16m this year by providing services to businesses and education across England and Wales.

Link is at an advanced stage of developing a smartphone system for schools across the Bradford district following trials at Bradford Challenge College and Newhall Park Primary School, Bierley.

The smartphones are integrated with the classroom’s interactive whiteboard through the teacher’s Wi-Fi-enabled laptop, allowing both staff and students to interact with each other.

Chief executive Gary Fawcett is upbeat about current and future trading prospects, which are bucking the economic downturn.

He said: “Despite the diminishing returns in the consumer market which prompted our exit, Link Telecom’s business-to-business operations go from strength to strength.” It recently won a contract to provide mobile services to 600 users at the NSPCC, reducing their costs by 50 per cent a year.

Mr Fawcett said: “While our existing customer retention is excellent, cost-conscious businesses, charities and other large organisations are showing much greater interest in how we can help them save money, bringing us significant new business opportunities.

“Link Telecom’s business is extremely well positioned to respond to future opportunities and we anticipate a record performance in 2009.”

Link Telecom was founded in 1987 and Keighley-born Mr Fawcett became managing director in 2004. The group employs around 100 people. Its head office and business mobiles hub remains in Keighley, supported by communications centres in Bradford, Mytholmroyd, Llanelli and Camberley, Surrey.

Link Telecom is also heavily involved in sports sponsorship, including Keighley Cougars, Bradford Bulls and and Silsden AFC.