DIGITAL agency New Mind says it will take on more staff at its Liverpool base, after securing one of the biggest deals in its history.

New Mind, which specialises in designing tourism websites, has won a four-year contract of “significant value” with VisitScotland.

Its “e-tourism” software will be used on all of VisitScotland’s official tourism websites, while it will also provide software to be used at all of the country’s visitor information centres.

New Mind, based at Brunswick Business Park, says this and other recent contract wins mean its technical development team will “expand significantly” in coming months.

Managing director, Richard Veal, said: “We are very pleased to be working with such a high-profile organisation as VisitScotland.

“This project will be one of the most significant pieces of work we have ever undertaken, and is our first project for a national tourism organisation.

“We are very much looking forward to starting on the project and are keen to bring our own unique set of skills and experience to the party.”

Neither New Mind nor Visit Scotland would disclose the value of this deal. But the original tender, published last year, said the deal could be worth between £800,000 and £900,000.

New Mind won the deal following a nine-month tender process.

Martin Ogg, head of digital at Visit Scotland, said: “We believe New Mind has both fully embraced the ambition for the website and also has the technical experience and knowledge to deliver on the ambition. To date, New Mind have demonstrated a flexible, pro-active approach underlining their expertise within their market.”

Steve Smith, digital director for Liverpool Vision, said: “New Mind has been a consistent performer for the best part of a decade, and this win demonstrates their dominance of e-tourism software in the UK and bodes well for expansion into mainland Europe.

“They are well organised, well-led and one of Liverpool’s hidden gems.”