A Coventry telecommunications company has celebrated its first year in business by merging with a Birmingham IT firm.

The Khesanshe Group, which includes Blu4, Icom4 and I4Mobile and is based at the University of Warwick Science Park's Business Innovation Centre in Binley, has joined with Birmingham-based Skills Developer.

The Coventry company was set-up by three local entrepreneurs last March and now employs more than 40 staff on-site as well as further sales people on the road.

The firm was started by Jaz Sangha, Dov Khela and Steve Shergill to offer cutting edge communication technology for both consumer and business-to-business markets.

It has been working closely with Birmingham-based Skills Developer to create Voice-Over IP solutions for its customers, who range from one-man bands to large multi-national concerns - including call centres in India and South Africa.

Voice-Over IP is where telephone calls can be channelled through the internet and can reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Jaz Sangha said: "We are delighted with this latest move. The company has only really been up and running for 12 months and the success so far is surpassing our expectations.

"We have 40 staff based in our office at the Business Innovation Centre and have contracts all over the world supplying mobile, landline and internet telecommunications.

"Skills Developer has been a partner on several projects and there has been great synergy between the two companies - that is why the merger made such great sense and we believe it will lead to more business."

Lee Cassidy, of Skills Developer, said: "The Khesanshe Group is certainly a company that is going places and I am pleased that Skills Developer will now be placed under that banner." He has joined the Khesanshe Group board as IT director.

The Khesanshe Group is now looking to expand its offices.

Karen Aston, centre manager at the Business Innovation Centre in Binley, said: "The company, which is more widely known under its Icom4 or Blu4 names, has been a shining example of a small start-up firm using new technology to create a fast-growing business.

"We are thrilled that they have managed to expand so quickly and the flexible leases we offer here at the Science Park means they can continue to develop with us."