RAPIDLY-expanding Bartercard York, which offers a "New Age method of bartering", has employed an Essex marketing company with a York man at its helm to promote the concept throughout Yorkshire and Humberside.

Bartercard can boast some success since it established its regional franchise in Heworth Road, York, a little more than a year ago.

It has recruited 120 member companies in Yorkshire, who between them have used the bartering system to trade more than £100,000 per month in goods and services.

Now, in an effort to gain wider recognition, it has taken on Essex-based Target Group (UK) Limited, whose managing director is former York man Keith Brown.

Other Bartercard franchises have employed the marketing company.

Mr Brown, a former teacher, who was born in Fulford and attended Archbishop Holgate grammar school and College of Ripon and York St John, first got the bug for promotion as press officer for the 2nd York (Treasurer's House) Scout Group. He moved to Essex to teach, but formed the Target Group 14 years ago.

He said: "As someone who was born and bred in York, it is good to be working back in my home area with a company we are confident can bring considerable success and benefits to businesses throughout Yorkshire and Humberside."

Chris Bradley, brokerage director of Bartercard York, said: "Our marketing strategy during our first year has been based on using our internal resources, but the rate of growth has been so rapid that we are now ready to use a professional marketing company to move us forward."

Updated: 11:40 Wednesday, January 26, 2005