A DERBY IT firm has been ranked as one of the fastest-growing technology business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the second year running.

Internet-hosting company Node4, in Pride Park, has been ranked 438th in the 2011 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA rankings, with revenue growth of 363%.

It was ranked at 138 on the 2010 rankings.

It comes after the company also made the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 – the league table which ranks Britain's privately owned technology, media and telecommunications firms – for the second consecutive year.

Managing director Andrew Gilbert left school at 16 to work as a technician for PC World. He taught himself computer programming and web design and set up Node4 in 2004, when he was 23.

Mr Gilbert said: "For me, success comes down to our culture, our staff and our attitude to doing business."

Mark Doleman, senior partner at Deloitte, said: "Node4 has demonstrated tremendous resilience against the difficult economic conditions.

"It's a solid business with a bright future ahead of it."