A RETAIL support firm says it wants to grow across the UK after creating new jobs and revealing a five-year target of £1.2m.

Sinso Retail Support Limited, based in Bowburn, near Durham City, helps get goods on shelves and prepare stores for openings.

Founded this year, it has already seen a rise in demand for services as the retail sector strengthens, and secured more than £200,000 sales in its first year.

It supplies merchandising, stocktaking and stock valuations as well as shopfitting and security systems in supermarkets, and hopes to hit sales of £360,000 in the next year.

The firm was formed by sales and marketing professional, Lee Singers, and retail professional, Bob Soulsby, who between them have 60 years' experience.

It helps young people suffering from long-term unemployment get back into work by working with Jobcentre Plus and the East Durham Employability Trust.

It recently took on seven workers and hopes to recruit a further three to grow its presence across the UK.

Mr Soulsby, operations director, said: “Having worked in the retail sector for many years, I realised that there was no single company which could provide a full range of support services for the smaller independent convenience stores.

“This presented a major opportunity for a credible, professional company to bring in the required support, offering far more than merchandising support.

“Our research shows that there are around 40,000 independent retailers in the convenience sector and our company, which currently supports about 300 retailers a year, plans to increase visibility in this sector and grow market share across the UK.”