A SPECIALIST medical recruitment firm has been lured away from Leeds to York - and promoters of the city are celebrating.

Guided Solutions, which wanted to be close to the growing bio-medical industry in York, was steered to new offices on the Escrick Park Estate, off Skipwith Road, by the York Inward Investment Board.

Its staff consists of four consultants and a finance administrator, but up to 12 could be on the payroll this year as the expected expansion occurs.

The head-hunting firm started two years ago by managing director Kristien Esser already boasts a growing client list, including Baxter Health Care and GE Medical Systems of Slough, which is part of General Electric.

Mr Esser, aged 27, who has worked for the recruitment industry for the past eight years, said: "We supply these organisations with expertise to help with any medical product they manufacture or market.

"We were in Leeds because we believed we needed to be there for business reasons. However, I was stunned at the number of specialists and variety of technical companies that exist in the York area."

He said that Guided Solutions offered to clients and candidates a complete recruitment service using a computerised national database system to match suitable candidates with clients' vacancies.

"We will only ever operate within the medical and scientific sector and while we operate on a national basis we hope to be able to capitalise on the large bio-medical and scientific community contained within York."

The firm's decision to re-locate was greeted with delight by Professor Tony Robards, chairman of the York Professional Initiative, the organisation determined to see the growing scientific base of York backed by local service providers.

He said: "I am delighted that yet another company has looked at York, seen the strength we have and wants to join us."

Graeme Rudd, client services executive of the Inward Investment Board, said: "Guided Solutions first contacted us back in March 2001. It was looking for an attractive rural location, but wanted to be close to the growing bio-medical industry cluster in York. I'm pleased that we seem to have found the ideal location for them at Escrick Park, which has won the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Award."

Dave Taylor, marketing director of York Inward Investment Board, said: "The arrival of Guided Solutions is an indication of the strength of the scientific community in York and further growth in medicine and healthcare that institutions such as the Hull York Medical School will bring."