A COMPANY providing IT equipment and office products is bucking the trend to increase staffing levels and sales.

Matrix Media, which has already exceeded its sales target since being formed in June, plans to recruit 25 new staff to add to its existing 16 full-time employees.

The firm, which is based at the Media Centre in Huddersfield, has had to increase the size of its office twice due to growth.

Sales director Mark Nuthern said: "We are proving to be a winner with local businesses.

"We estimate that we will need to create another 25 jobs by the end of the 2009 to cope with our projected sales.

"Our recruiting agenda is firmly based around employing people from the Huddersfield area because our philosophy is simple – we are a local business providing business essentials to local companies."

Matrix Media supplies more than 27,000 products from 12 distribution centres across the UK.

Customers include the Ministry of Defence, universities and schools, NHS sites, central government offices, local authorities and blue-chip corporates as well as small to medium-sized firms.

The company is keen to forge stronger links with other companies in the area.

Said Mr Nuthern: "Sometimes, we see vans that have driven up from the south to deliver office products to companies within our own building – which is madness!

"We plan to change this because we know we can not only beat any other genuine prices, but can offer a closer to home service with quicker delivery times.

"Ultimately, the local economy will benefit if we all use firms on our door step."