A new website listing suppliers to the construction industry is aiming to conquer the European and North American markets after generating more than 600 listings in its first three months.

Plant Hire Directory was set up in July by former builder Jason Hagan, with the help of funding from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's JET (Jobs Enterprise and Training) Scheme, to solve the problem of sourcing local suppliers for projects he was working on around the country.

And already the Staffordshire-based entrepreneur has been inundated with enquiries from as far afield as Bristol, from companies ranging from skip hire to scaffolding to local builders.

He is currently on course to hit £60000 turnover in his first year, and plans to take on at least two telesales staff in the New Year. His aim is to have 35-40000 suppliers listed on the site, before launching similar directories in Europe and North America.

Managing Director Jason Hagan said: "After 18 years working in the construction industry, starting as a labourer and working my way up to general foreman, I know how difficult it can be to find a local supplier quickly.

"On one project, a section of a bridge started to subside, and to anchor it in place we had to make some steel bracing plates.

"The nearest company we could find was 40 miles away in Birmingham, so I ended up driving around for ages looking for someone closer.

"We managed to get them done locally, the same day, but it made me think how much easier it would be to have all the information in one place."

Companies pay between £9.99 and £39.99 per month for a listing, which includes their logo, links to their website, and photos, and gives their business national coverage.

Similar packages on Yell.com would cost at least £1000 a month.