Trowbridge businessmen James Eades and Andrew Harwood have combined their skills to set up new IT support company Metis Technology, after meeting through a networking club.

Mr Eades runs his own award-winning IT support business Systemagic Ltd and Mr Harwood heads management consultancy Ideas to Solutions (I2S).

The pair, who met through NRG Business Networks, which runs events in Swindon, started working together a year ago to offer complementary technology and business support.

Mr Eades, 33, from Silver Street Lane, said: “Networking has been beneficial all round, but to meet a new business partner has been an unexpected bonus.

“While providing IT support to businesses, I noticed some had invested in expensive systems which didn’t actually suit their needs. I realised this gap between business plans and IT could be time consuming, costly and also counter-productive to a company.

“With Andrew’s expertise in business consultancy and my IT background, we were an ideal match.”

The company, which is named after the Greek God of wisdom, soon had clients on board and has made a profit in its first year.

Mr Harwood, 49, said: “We were already offering a range of business support, from web design to financial guidance, so an IT strategy was a natural extension. We have good team spirit and are excited about Metis Techonology’s potential.”

The pair met at upmarket lunch club NRG two years ago and quickly became friends while socialising and sharing business ideas at the events.

Mr Eades, a former John of Gaunt School pupil, said: “It’s a friendly group and business comes naturally. We share problems, give advice and refer work to each other. It’s transformed the way I do business.”

Systemagic was named Micro Employer of the Year at the Bristol and Bath Apprenticeship in August.

Mr Harwood, whose office is in Trowbridge but lives in Codford, added: “I learnt a long time ago that business is all about building relationships – not selling. NRG is an ideal environment to build new relationships and develop existing ones with likeminded people that I know, like and trust.”