CONSTRUCTION consultancy Knowles has doubled the size of its Teesside office to accommodate the company’s rapidly growing operation.

Having outgrown its current office space at Preston Farm Business Park in Stockton, Knowles is to lease another unit within the building to expand its premises from 1,400sq ft to 2,500sq ft.

Over the last two years the company has increased its staff by more than 50 per cent and despite the current economic downturn of the construction industry, is aiming to further increase its staff to 23 over the next year.

Chris Metcalfe, vice president and executive director of Knowles, said: “Our ability to provide services such as project planning and contract administration allows companies embarking on new large-scale projects to take measures to protect themselves legally and financially, and it’s a concept which is taking off across the energy industry.

“We are also finding that, as a result of the credit crunch, many construction projects are simply being halted, and this is causing huge problems for companies in the building, civil engineering and engineering sectors.

“We are subsequently seeing a rising number of companies asking us to represent them in the related disputes, and are expanding the team to deal with the increased demand.”