TAKING the number two place in Gloucestershire's Fastest Growing Firms is communications company Axonex.

The Cheltenham-based business has tripled its sales team in recent years and its annual turnover has grown 149.88 per cent over three years.

It is one of multinational corporation Cisco's leading premier partners and has recorded a 2011 year-end turnover of £3.106m.

"We have changed our business model," said founder and finance director Owen Lloyd.

"We were purely a consultancy outfit and now are a retail and hardware seller as well as offering professional services and support."

The firm is dedicated to helping its customers improve business performance, by aligning their IT architecture to supporting business goals.

It offers a range of services including technical guidance, overall network design, installation, implementation, maintenance and managed support build and operates Cisco networks and network based solutions.

Axonex saw turnover increase by £910, 139 to £1.243m between year-end March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008 thanks to it securing a £400,000 deal.

Turnover then dropped slightly to £1.078m in 2009.

"Due to our agility we were able to align ourselves quickly with Cisco," said Mr Lloyd.

"We want to hit all of our six month targets and we believe that to be very achievable."

Simon Jacobson, head of marketing at Axonex, said the firm was growing on all fronts including head count, technology and marketing and that its customer-base had increased.

Customers include UCAS, Paragon, the University of Bristol and Worcestershire County Council.

"We sell to customers all over the world but our focus for marketing is in the region," he said.

"If our growth continues in the next five years with existing accounts, new customers and increased technology then we will look to expand and open up new opportunities."

The company is to launch a campaign around mobile phone technology later this year.

"Now everyone has smart phones, for both business and personal use, we want to play to the strengths we have as a technology leader," Mr Jacobson added.

Axonex is also taking its green credentials very seriously.

"Cisco is reducing the power consumption of all its products. Our customers are under pressure to cut costs - every customer needs a sustainability strategy," he said.

To find out more about sustainability in business see our special supplement, out in the Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo next week.