WITHOUT even trying, Purchasing Management Services drums up about £170,000 worth of business for York's hotels and restaurants every year At the same time, the training organisation based in its own hi-tech, 3,000sq ft centre in Buckingham Street, York, generates its own £335,000 turnover - that is a 15 per cent increase on last year, resulting in an increase in profits of 20 per cent.

In the 30 years since the firm began specialising in the professional development of purchasing and materials management personnel, it has gained an international reputation. Now the organisation, co-founded by chairman David Brown and his wife, Janis, and steered by managing director Gareth Roden, is aiming to become the Small Business Of The Year in The Press Business Awards 2007.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Algeria, Oman and Egypt are some of the more than 40 countries whose citizens have travelled to training courses at Purchasing Management Services. From within the UK, staff from mega-companies have also converged in Buckingham Street, including BP, Vodafone, Philips, Cadbury, Eurostar, JCB, McAlpine, the British Library, HSBC, Rolls Royce and the BBC.

The firm offers a range of 16 training courses covering all aspects of supply and materials management, including purchasing, negotiation, legal aspects, finance, expediting, buying from abroad, health and safety, stock control and stores management.

Mr Brown moved into training after holding senior purchasing and supply positions with Dunlop, BP, Ford Motor Company and Portakabin Ltd. Mr Roden, who has been with the company for eight years, held similar posts with Lucas and British Coal.