A RAPIDLY-growing telecoms firm, founded by two 20-something entrepreneurs, opened its new offices in Southampton just in time to receive a national award.

Yo Telecom officially launched it new base in Cumberland Place on Friday as it was named Fastest Growing Re-seller of the Year by supplier Siemens Unify. This comes a year after being named New Re-seller of the Year.

The company was founded in 2013 by Nathan Hanslip, 23, and Ryan O’Carroll, 22 who were both fresh out university. Nathan had studied architecture at Southampton Solent and Ryan Product design at London South Bank.

They met when they were three year-old at St Winifred’s School nursery and both also attended The Gregg School.

Nathan explained that he and Ryan both had parents who ran businesses, neither of whom were happy with their phone systems.

“We provide every kind of service associated with telecoms,” explained Nathan.

“Businesses can come to us and we will supply with them with the whole package – landlines, mobiles, and broadband.”

Yo has wholesale accounts with the major phone providers and they pass on those rates to their customers.

“The savings they make on calls and broadband use will pay for their new system,” said Nathan.

Two years on from being a two-man band the firm now employs 40 staff and is currently taking on around ten new recruits per month.

Yo’s customers include big names such the hotel group Best Western, several branches of hairdressers Tony and Guy, and Martin & Co estate agents. The firm’s new premises in Cumberland Place have room for 80 staff (as well as a table tennis table and pool table for Friday afternoon wind-downs) and Nathan predicts that this will soon be fully occupied.

Nathan said Yo also had plans to open a second office in the Midlands.