ONE of Ipswich's top companies has announced expansion plans that will create up to 250 new jobs in the town.Call Connection, in St Nicholas Street, a call centre supporting the insurance industry, has grown rapidly since it began in October 2003 and currently has 340 staff.

ONE of Ipswich's top companies has announced expansion plans that will create up to 250 new jobs in the town.

Call Connection, in St Nicholas Street, a call centre supporting the insurance industry, has grown rapidly since it began in October 2003 and currently has 340 staff.

It has an estimated turnover of £30million this year with operating profits forecast at £7million but managing director Graeme Kalbraier told The Evening Star he is keen for bigger and better still.

Mr Kalbraier said: “We have got some very exciting ideas which could double the size of the company in the next three years.

“We have created 250 new jobs in Ipswich in the last 18 months and I would like to think we will create 250 more jobs in the next two years in addition to what we have got now.

“Premises are always an issue and we have got to make sure whatever premises we provide for our staff are big enough to cope with growth.

“We are not looking to move from our current building just yet but obviously if we get 700 staff we will be looking for other premises but we will almost certainly stay in Ipswich.”

Mr Kalbraier said the long-term future of the firm will involve constant change in an attempt to stay ahead of the competition.

He said: “We are the market leader in innovation and technology and to keep that position we need to be constantly changing and developing ideas for the future which in our field is no more than 12 months away at any given time.”

As well as developing ways of improving the customer experience the firm is looking to branch out into other sectors of the financial industry and take calls from people interested in, among other things, loans and mortgages.

Call Connection moved into its current base in St Nicholas Street in 2005 after buying the building for £1.1million.

The building is currently being extended to make space for a potential further 50 employees.

Is your business looking to expand? Contact Neil Puffett on 01473 324796 or e-mail neil.puffett@eveningstar.co.uk