Managing director Simon Brown set up the firm (then Chilli Media) from a back-bedroom at his home in December 1999, before moving to incubator space at Teesside University for three years. In April 2004, it expanded into offices in Riverside Park, and eight months later changed name to Calm Asylum.

The firm, which has 12 staff, is also in the process of securing £100,000s of investment to plough back into the company with the installation of new equipment and technology and the creation of jobs.

Mr Brown said: “In my first year, turnover was about £30,000. That has grown year-on-year to about £300,000 last year and £500,000 this year."

"With the investment in the company and anticipated growth we expect turnover to touch £1m in the next two years."

Calm Asylum expects to see an increase in business following the launch of its unique new website, which communicates with users through questions and answers instead of directing them through the typical links to different pages.

Operations director Mark Easby said: "The new website takes a completely new approach – we have really tried to stretch the technology to show what we can do both for ourselves and then for our clients.”

He added:  "Traditionally, companies looked for full service agencies, but about ten years ago it started to fragment and they looked to different agencies for PR, branding, creative media and so on."

"Now, there is a move back and companies look for a full service again from one professional firm. We'd like to think we are now able to compete with the big names in the industry."