INFORMATION specialists Imaging Management Systems (IMS) is to expand after securing backing from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE).

The Middlesbrough business has been given a £35,000 loan from UKSE to help it expand across the UK.

The company was established in 1991 with five employees and has since carved out a niche market for itself with specialist software solutions for storing and retrieving information.

IMS has already provided solutions for the Local Government Ombudsman, various local authority departments, Trading Standards offices, police forces, solicitors and manufacturing and engineering companies.

Bernard Gibson, managing director of IMS, said: "Our systems can trace every reference within thousands of documents in seconds in complete accuracy.

"Not only can we can help companies find information that they knew about, but also information that they didn't know existed at all."

He added: "We create a package that provides a specific solution for each client and place a great deal of importance on thorough training and on-going support. Having the backing of UKSE has enabled us to firm up our plans for growth and expand further across the UK."

Nick Johnson, regional executive for UKSE, said: "Small and medium sized businesses often have difficulty in obtaining the relatively small amounts of money they need, on reasonable terms, to realise their potential.

"We are pleased to support a company like IMS that is proving success in the important field of information management and are confident that it will go from strength to strength as a result."