A WORCESTER broadband company which connects rural and hard to reach communities has expanded its workforce and moved to new premises.

Family-owned business Airband has doubled its workforce over the last year after a series of project wins and a £16m investment boost from the National Digital Infrastructure Fund last August.

The company has also moved from its County House office base, where it has been since 2011, to new offices at Kirkham House on John Comyn Drive.

Human resources director, Miranda Peel, said: "Airband is investing over £2m to deliver high speed fibre and wireless broadband to some of the most challenged rural areas across the UK, working with BDUK, local authorities and communities to build high availability infrastructure that residents, businesses and other ISP’s can access to help overcome the UK’s digital divide.

"In January 2018 we had 47 staff and we now employ 80.

"Our larger team enables us to speed up our aim to play a key role in creating a digital infrastructure that residents, businesses and other internet service providers can access to help overcome the UK’s digital divide,"

During the last year, Airband has also chalked up a string of wins and nominations at industry awards, including the Fastest Growing Family Business award at the Midlands Family Business Awards in November 2017.

Mrs Peel said that Airband’s aim was to embrace strong and sustained growth, whilst still maintaining its family values.

"We aim to become corporate in terms of process but not in culture."