LEISURE company Travel Counsellors has announced it is to leave Bolton — as the firm reports record profits.

The company, which is currently based in Travel House, Churchgate, will make the move to a state-of- the-art office space at Peel Land & Property’s Venus building in Trafford Quays before the end of the year.

All of its 200 plus employees will move to the new 28,500 sq ft, three storey site, which will also feature training facilities for its growing number of agents.

Steve Byrne, Travel Counsellors managing director, said: “We have enjoyed 15 years at our Head Office base in Bolton, but have now outgrown the building so took this as an opportunity to find a location and building to meet the current and long-term needs of the business."

The news of the firm's move comes as its pre-tax profits rose by 50.4 per cent to £8.2m, for the year ending 31 October 2014 compared with the previous 12-month period.

It also achieved a turnover of £136m for 2013-14, which was up by 18 per cent on the previous year.

The firm said that an investment in technology played a part in the positive figures, as it helped to deliver synergies to its travel counsellors and customers.

The company was established in 1994 by David Speakman, and delivers a franchise based travel service.

The concept of the business is that home-based travel counsellors, each with around 20 years experience, buy a licence to work on the firm's behalf.

They deal with any kind of trip, business or pleasure, for individuals, families or businesses, and arrange whatever is required by the client.

The advisers split their commission payment with head office.

The firm received the royal seal of approval last year when it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, being just one of 110 UK companies and 12 in the North West to receive the award.

It was the second time Travel Counsellors had been honoured on behalf of the Queen, having received the accolade in the innovation category in 2003.

It has its roots in Atherton, but after a swift expansion it moved to the to its current headquarters in the former Bolton Health Authority building in 1999.

Mr Speakman, a former director and lifelong fan of Bolton Wanderers, lives in southern Spain but regularly returns to Bolton.