STAFF at a family-run Bolton travel firm are celebrating after winning a coveted Queen's Award for Enterprise.

Travel Counsellors, based in Churchgate, is to get an award for innovation, which will be presented by the Lord Lieutenant for Greater Manchester later this year.

Company chairman David Speakman will join other award winners at a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen.

The firm, which was founded by Mr Speakman less than 10 years ago, now employs 94 staff at its Bolton headquarters.

A further 300 home-based consultants are also employed across the British Isles.

For the past four years, the firm has been named in the Virgin Atlantic/Sunday Times Fastrack 100 companies listings as one of the UK's fastest growing private companies, and last year's turnover was £81 million.

The business started in January 1994 above the small Atherton travel agency Mr Speakman then ran.

The idea was to have travel advisers, equipped with laptops, visiting customers in their own homes to book their holidays and offer travel advice.

Each commission-only consultant builds up his or her own network of customers, but is supported by teletext advertising, the internet and a team of specialist advisers at the company's headquarters.

People inquiring about holidays ring a freephone number for each destination and calls are automatically routed to advisors specialising in the caller's area of interest.

Mr Speakman believes that the personal service offered by Travel Counsellors has also helped it weather the tough times being experienced by the holiday industry.

"We have always outpaced the industry, and when they were 25 per cent down we have been 10 per cent up," he said.

"The foundation of the business is building trust with the customer so they come back again year after year. Our one to one relationship takes away the volatility."

Mr Speakman, aged 57, is gradually taking more of a back seat as his sons, Dominic and Paul, take over the reins.

Dominic is the managing director, while older brother Paul organises the company's IT systems. Sister Anna is also a business success, running the Meridian beauty spa next door.

But Mr Speakman senior still has big plans, which include a possible move from the town centre to a purpose-built base on the outskirts of the town in the next few years.

And he is not ready to give up his involvement with the firm yet.

"As long as I enjoy it I will stay," he said.

HOLIDAY MAN: David Speakman

He also hopes to give his network of homeworkers and senior managers a stake in the business.

"We are building the management up and it would be nice to think we could give them some ownership," he said.

With the latest award, symbolised by a handmade crystal bowl which is set to grace the headquarter's foyer and the prospect of a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Queen, Mr Speakman still has plenty to enjoy.

And to make sure everyone knows just how far the company has come he is planning to literally shout it from the rooftops.

"I'll be putting the Queen's Award flag up next to a Union Jack," he said.