Now, just five years after it moved into Bury St Edmunds and doubled its workforce to 160, the software firm is undergoing a £6 million expansion that could see it take on another 50 staff over the next couple of years.

The firm is rebranding and taking on a new 13,500sqft site in Kempson Way, which it plans to occupy later this month and run alongside its existing Eastern Way site.

"I think there is a lot of potential in East Anglia that we haven't quite tapped yet," said managing director James Garnham.

"We want to take on a much broader customer base and develop our product base."

The firm was started by Geoff Frost in 1964, who ran a London recording studio which was used by Pink Floyd, amongst others.

Mr Frost decided to develop his own mixing desk equipment and, after seeing an advert on the London Undgerground saying 'Move to Suffolk', he decided to set up his business in Mildenhall.

The early 1970s saw the decline of the music business, but STL survived by moving into programming language.

Over the years, it has gradually cemented its position as the supplier of software to magistrates courts in England and Wales, as well as a number of police forces.

It also works with private companies including a range of small to medium sized enterprises.

Despite the gloomy economy, which is seeing other companies go to the wall, Mr Garnham said he was confident about the expansion.

"The clouds are gathering but I think we are the sort of business that will weather the storm. I would feel uncomfortable if we only worked within the private sector.

"But I think the quality of service is going to be much more important over the next few years and that is what we pride ourselves on," he said.

For more information, go to http://www.stl-technologies.co.uk/

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