AN AMBITIOUS Cheshire-based company, which helps businesses comply with red tape requirements such as changes to health and safety and employment laws, today announced plans to double annual turnover over the next three years.

Citation, which recently moved into multi-million pound, purpose-built offices in Wilmslow, is aiming to take revenues to £26m and intends recruiting 50 more staff within 12 months, taking employee numbers to 250.

Chief executive Lindsay Hill said Citation was targeting organic growth as it pursues its goals.

"Small and medium-sized business are operating within a regulatory framework that is an ever-increasing burden to them," he said.

"For example, employment tribunal applications rose by 42 per cent to 189,303 last year and as a result it is increasingly difficult for them to remain compliant without external support. Companies need our services when times are good, but we are also finding that the current economic climate is accelerating demand even further, as firms adapt their business plans and structures accordingly.

"There is an immense amount of red tape concerning regulations, and I think that one of the main reasons why we are proving so successful is because we supply a common-sense approach to legislation.

"At the moment, we anticipate that the 50 new employees will be consultants and senior managers, as well as support staff."

Over the past four years, Citation has been the subject of several takeover attempts but

Mr Hill added that he and his management team had every intention of continuing running the business themselves.

Its new office will be officially opened by Robert Hough, chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, and Peter Watson, managing director at Business Link Northwest, on October 1.

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