A windscreen repair firm will create 50 jobs next year as it aims to double turnover during 2015.
Nationwide Windscreen Services, based in Quorn, has predicted that turnover will increase from £5 million to £12 million next year.
The firm has also taken on three new contracts, including a £3 million ongoing contract with insurance company, Admiral, a three-year contract with fleet management firm, Lex Autolease, and an ongoing contract with Amlin insurance.
Managing director Stuart Sole said: "It is a great feeling to get recognition for the independent companies in the UK. The idea of an independent firm negotiating national contracts is a really fresh thing."
The firm currently has 55 glass repair branches in the UK and employs 20 people at its HQ at Clearview Business Park, Quorn.
Stuart said: "As a result of our growth, we are creating 50 technician jobs throughout the UK next year and we will be hiring a further three administrators in Quorn, plus several more beyond that, after hiring two administrators this year.
"We've also subcontracted our inbound calls to a call centre, called Fulcrum Automotive Solutions in Leicester Forest East, to cope with the demand. Four jobs at the call centre have been created as a result."
The firm's roots can be traced back to 1993, when Stuart set up windscreen repair business, All Screen, with his brother, Simon, after Stuart was made redundant from Rolls-Royce.
However, after a change in the law affecting fleet vehicle management within businesses, Stuart set up National Windscreen Services with sales director Andy Hodge, in Poole, Dorset, eight years ago.
"Due to changes within the law on business' responsibility of their vehicles, companies found themselves turning to fleet management companies to manage their vehicle fleets of all sizes," he said.
"This took the traditional work, e.g. local businesses working with local windscreen replacement firms, away from the independent sector, as these businesses were going to national firms instead.
"One of the purposes of NWS' original goals was to take this national work and filter it back into the independent market."
The business relocated to Quorn five years ago.
"For us to be able to reach the other areas of the country better, we had to be centrally based within the UK," said Stuart. "The East Midlands is a better place to be based for that, but also, it is a fantastic place to run a business."
All Screen was made the East Midlands arm of the firm and is now run by Stuart's sons, Daniel and Sam. Simon left the business three years ago.
Stuart said: "Our plans for the future are to continue growing. We are also looking for new office premises as we have outgrown the current space."
