A HIGH FLYER has announced plans to bring her thriving recruitment firm to York.

Nominated for a host of business awards, Penny Streeter has built a £60 million operation in eight years and oversees 19 UK branches.

Now she plans to bring health care and education staffing services and training directly to York, through Ambition 24hours

The company, which already has a Leeds base, pledges to meet the round-the-clock need for emergency cover at short notice. The service provides nurses, care assistants, locum doctors, teachers and social workers.

Most recently the company has provided private nursing care direct to the home for post-operative care.

Penny founded the firm with her mum and worked as a children's DJ at weekends to raise cash for the venture.

After leaving a life on the decks behind, she toured York on Tuesday to view possible sites as part of a move she predicts will create scores of contract jobs.

The 36-year-old said: "It's nice to get a feel of the area and there are not many empty shops or 'to let' signs, which is good for the city.

"We want to get to know the area a little bit more, get the staff we want and train them up," added the CBI Entrepreneur of the Year. "That's why we want to move to York."

She said a York switch would create about four permanent jobs, but create up to 150 long-term contract positions currently filled by staff from West Yorkshire.

Ambition24, founded in Surrey in 1996, was one of the top ten fastest growing companies for a second successive year in 2003. A 130 per cent increase saw turnover rise to £52.6 million.

The firm employs nearly 200 staff, and a further 13,500 recruits who fill temporary places in health, education and social care work.

Updated: 09:56 Thursday, April 22, 2004