AN East Kilbride-based travel technology firm has created new jobs and opened new offices following a £5.3 million investment.

Traveltek Group has expanded its workforce by 50 per cent, opened offices in key global markets and improved its product portfolio over the last year.

This follows a £5.3 million boost, which it secured from private equity fund manager YFM at the end of 2016.

Traveltek Group’s international director Gillian Anderson said: “It’s been a remarkable year for Traveltek, with 70 new staff members joining our workforce, both at our East Kilbride headquarters, and in new and expanding markets across the Middle East and Asia.

“As we look ahead to 2018, we are confident the extensive research and development we have conducted this year will lead to the roll out of new industry-first technology, positioning Scotland as a global hub for innovation.”

At Traveltek’s head office in East Kilbride, the firm has created new jobs and made several key roles across multiple areas of its business including customer services, product development, marketing, social media, and more.

Anderson added: “We have also generated training and job opportunities for local students, enhancing our role as a Scottish employer of choice and at the same time, ploughed funds into product development that cements our status as one of the world’s most pioneering travel technology providers.”

The company has worked closely with five Scottish universities to offer paid internships for students, staging hackathons to select the best candidates based on their technical expertise.

In the past 18 months, Traveltek has provided 15 student placements related to web and systems development, systems engineering, marketing and international business.

It currently employs two modern apprenticeship students and regularly takes part in local careers exhibitions to promote Traveltek as a top career choice to the next generation of technology workers.

In India, Traveltek’s quickly expanding overseas market, the company has significantly increased its employees with new roles including web production, web application support, and ICT analysts.

New business development managers have also been employed in Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore — three global markets where Traveltek says it has identified demand for its ‘dynamic packaging’ solutions that help travel firms book and package leisure travel and cruises.

Traveltek was awarded the prize of ‘World’s Leading Dynamic Packaging Solutions Provider’ for the fourth year running at last week’s World Travel Awards 2017, staving off competition from seven contenders including Expedia.

In Hong Kong, the company has been supported by Scottish Development International — the overseas development arm of Scottish Enterprise.