MARKETING and recruitment agency Pearsons has reported its best ever year, and is already looking to break the new record within 12 months.

The Middlesbrough firm has increased turnover by more than a third, from £8m in 1999 to more than £11m in 2000.

And with the new Leeds office set to open later this year, Pearsons is forecasting a turnover in excess of £15m in 2001.

The last year has seen Pearsons launch two ventures - an e-communications division providing online marketing and recruitment services and www.sector1.net, a public sector jobs website attracting more than 60 clients in its first six months.

Pearsons is one of only eight Government-approved suppliers to the health sector, meaning any hospital trust can use their recruitment advertising services without a formal tendering exercise.

Managing director Simon Pearson said: "The last year has seen the company make huge progress on both the recruitment and marketing sides of the business, and all the signs are that we'll be doing even better in the coming year.

"We've made major investments in staff, technology and property, and both the company and our clients are already reaping the benefits."

He added: "The confidence that our new and existing clients are showing in the services we provide is a major factor in our continuing growth."

In the past year, Pearsons has been chosen to provide marketing services to international organisations like Sanyo, Uniqema and CTC Marine.

Mr Pearson said: "In January this year we registered our first £1m month, but things are already moving so fast that we have since broken that and gone through the £1.5m barrier in March."