North East tech company Aspire Technology Solutions has announced plans to create more than 150 new jobs as it opened a second office within the region.

The firm – the 2020 Company of the Year at the North East Business Awards – has opened a new office at Fusion Hive, a business and innovation centre based on Stockton’s Northshore.

Aspire’s expansion into Teesside follows on from moves to open a new head office at the Pipewell Quay development, located on the site of the former Baja Beach Club on Gateshead Quays. The new offices will enable the company to expand within the North East and increase their workforce in the process, and it estimates it will create over 150 new local jobs as part of growth projections.

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The fast growing business, communications and cloud services provider was launched 14 years ago by Chris Fraser and Nigel Begg, and now employs more than 180 people.

The company has set ambitious plans for improving digital innovation across the North East.

Aspire launched its own full fibre North East network in 2018 after investing millions in local infrastructure.

Known as Ultrafast Dedicated Connectivity (UDC), it offers North East businesses internet connectivity of up to 100 gigabits per second, and earlier this year Aspire was appointed by Newcastle City Council to deliver a next-generation full fibre network serving hundreds of public sector sites across the region.

The infrastructure built by Aspire will allow offshoot connections to be built across the North East, making it easier for suppliers to offer cost effective fibre broadband to the wider community.

Justin Godfrey, sales manager at Aspire, said: “At Aspire we are dedicated to delivering technology like no other. We have ambitious plans to improve the connectivity and cloud performance available to North East businesses.

“Our new office based in the technology hub of Teesside is perfectly geared to help us deliver our plans, we are really excited about the move.”

The firm’s connectivity solutions have been installed at Steel House at Teesworks, which is currently being redeveloped to become the new base for the full transformation of the 4,500-acre Teesworks site.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “Digital connectivity is at the heart of our long-term plans to grow our economy in response to coronavirus. Having widely available, high-speed, affordable and reliable connectivity will help our businesses to go further faster, and we’ve seen how vital this is during the pandemic.

“Aspire have already made great progress towards improving digital innovation across the region. I’m delighted to welcome them to Steel House and the region.”