Answering service gets great start.

A NEW company providing virtual offices and telephone answering services is celebrating major growth.

Office Matters, based in Durham, has secured its 50th client in its first six months of business.

The firm launched as a professional alternative to the traditional office, providing small businesses and sole traders with effective administration solutions including call answering, messaging services, mail management and conference facilities.

Lorne Campbell of Morethan-Mortgages, one of the clients to buy into the services offered by Office Matters, said: "I use the 'virtual receptionist' and answer phone services.

"While I'm out of the office I know that I will never miss a call and there will be a human being at the end of the line, rather than a machine, to deal with callers."

Office Matters' service list is proving an appealing and cost effective option for those companies with the majority of their staff on the road such as plumbers, contractors and field-sales teams.

It is designed with companies in mind whose growth is compromised because enquiries and sales calls are missed due to a lack of staff to answer the calls.

Financial director Steve Akers said: "A virtual office setup enables companies to buy the traditional services they need without the overheads of purchasing office space and employing receptionists.

"We manage the incoming calls, provide a messaging service, handle mail, provide dedicated phone lines and real addresses as well as providing options for conference facilities, office space when required, and even training facilities.

"Our services have been very well received and are creating a great deal of interest."