Demand for high quality IT support services has increased as a result of the economic downturn, according to IT specialists ARC IT Solutions.

As the UK entered the recession at the end of 2008, conventional wisdom suggested companies would cut expenditure to help them weather the storm. In fact, the opposite has been the case, at least in terms of IT spending.

As a result, the Stoke-on-Trent based firm had their most profitable year in 2009, and is now preparing to move to larger premises and recruit more staff.

Director Andy Rafferty said: "The last 18 months have been very successful ones for us, and we have already taken on seven new accounts in the first two months of 2010.

"We have found more companies are willing to increase spending on IT support, and take advantage of better pricing on IT hardware and software.

"They just want effective, efficient IT support rather than the lowest prices.

"As a result we have recruited an admin person, are looking for two new technicians, and will be moving to larger offices at Thornton House in March."

The firm is also benefitting from a series of collaborations similar to the successful partnership with The Consultancy Group, which has seen them help 500 Blackberry users with technical problems in five years.

They are close to announcing a collaboration with a local accountancy firm to help SAGE users, and another with a telecommunications company to provide technical support to iPhone users.