AFTER massive growth this year, Hunters, the York-based estate agency is poised to "write its name in the sky".

That is one of the stated company strategies listed in its bid to become Growth Business Of The Year in The Press Business Awards 2006.

If Hunters does win the title, it will add to its win in 2002 of the Progress Through People Award in The Press and confirm the Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies To Work For index, rising nine points this year to become 53rd in the country.

Rising with it this year were both staff numbers and turnover, with 200 employees generating £8.7 million in sales and now aiming to hit £11 million for 2006/7. Over the next four years they hope to achieve £25 million turnover and eventually float on the AIM.

That should release capital to finance the next stage of expansion which in the next ten years is targeted at £300 million.

Joint chief executives Kevin Hollinrake and his brother, Keith, recently announced the building of a new multi-million pound headquarters on the former Transco gas infrastructure site at Heworth Green, which could bring 150 new jobs to York over the next five years. Move-in date is October, 2007.

The new HQ will be necessary as the firm expands its commercial property and new build departments, but also as it unfolds its ambitious franchising programme.

At the start of this year, Hunters operated out of 12 locations, including York, Harrogate, Wetherby, Leeds and Manchester, with divisions including ten offices for residential sales, five for lettings and management and bases for new homes, mortgages, commercial and land, survey and professional services, overseas homes, investor sales and auctions. But the franchising operation will have created 20 new Hunters offices in the North and Midlands by the end of this year, and 250 by the year 2011.

"We aim to have 1,000 offices throughout the UK by 2016," said Kevin.