One of the fastest-growing and most successful IT businesses in Sussex is opening a new US base.

Brighton-based IT solutions provider the fdm group - which has just made its fourth successive entry in the Sunday Times/Virgin Atlantic Fast- Track 100 list - is expanding its operation by opening a satellite sales office in Washington DC.

The award-winning company is headed by Rod Flavell and already has offices throughout Europe. It opened its first US office in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1998.

The company is now keen to target business opportunities on the west coast of the US and identify technologies that fit the group's long-term aim of becoming a major force within the Java web market.

fdm campus, the company's proposed distance learning programme, will be built in Raleigh by the team that successfully built the company's first web sales application.

Mr Flavell said: "This is an exciting year for fdm. The US expansion programme is a reflection of demand for the company's IT solutions and services which include training, management consultancy, enterprise solutions, contract and permanent recruitment.

"The expansion is one of many company developments that will surface throughout 2001."