A LOCAL information technology company’s commitment to recruiting talented young people was acknowledged last week.

Co-founded by Galashiels Academy old boy Andy Smith eight years ago, Agenor Technology has been awarded a regional selective assistance (RSA) grant of £240,000 by Scottish Enteprise.

And that will assist the firm, which is based at Tweed Horizons, achieve its goal of doubling its £10m annual turnover and taking on 75 new full-time staff over the next three years.

The award was confirmed on Wednesday during a visit by Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training.

“This is an ambitious company and one with an already strong track record of employing young people,” said Ms Cunningham after meeting the management team and some of the firm’s new recruits.

“I am pleased Agenor has been able to secure this funding to further enhance its workforce and I would urge other firms to follow its example and look to the future. Young people can add enthusiasm to any business looking to expand.” Ms Cunningham heard that Agenor, which also has offices in Edinburgh and Amsterdam, currently employs 25 permanent staff and 100 associates.

The company provides IT services to clients and has recently developed its own in-house software, called ICEFLO, to underpin its service provision.

Online versions of this Cloud solution software have recently been launched, enabling clients to dispense with cumbersome spreadsheets and to effect safe and quick change to their IT infrastructure.

The system is ideal for call centres wishing to upgrade over a weekend or banks updating their internet banking systems.

Last year, the firm was recognised in the latest Deloitte Technology Fast50 when it was named as Scotland’s fastest growth tech company and the seventh fastest in UK growth over the last five years.

“We have established a reputation for excellence in helping organisations implement complex technology and business change,” said CEO Andy Smith, whose brother and fellow Galashiels Academy alumnus Steve is Agenor’s chief financial officer.

“The award from Scottish Enteprise will support the company as we look to recruit 75 full-time staff over the next three years in skilled positions, such as project management and digital application design.

“We hope many of these new jobs will be Borders-based.” During her visit, Ms Cunningham met recent law graduate Sam Eguchi who is helping develop ICEFLO and who decided to join the company after hearing of its Deloitte listing.

The minister also met other new staff members, including Jill Hamilton, customer success analyist, who was recruited from Next in Galashiels having graduated from Heriot-Watt University with a BA in Business Management, and Eilidh Young, financial and business administrator, who was working for a local groundworks company before joining Agenor.

“We are at an incredibly exciting phase in our growth and development and we see harnessing the skills and energy of young talent as underpinning our future success,” said Andy Smith.

“The opportunity for the company is not limited to UK markets. Through the commercialisation of ICEFLO, we have set our sights on the international stage and I firmly believe our strategy of recruiting and developing our own young talent will give as the ability to compete and be successful against the very best in the world.

“We have experienced incredibly strong growth and the combination of support from Scottish Enterprise coupled and the quality of people we have brought in gives as a terrific platform to grow further.”