Training and recruitment firm Quantica has acquired Manchester-based youth training business Mansel Training in a deal worth £300,000.

Quantica has already paid around £191,418 for the company and is expected to pay a further £104,000 in August 2004 pending a contract renewal by Mansel for the provision of training services.

The acquisition will allow Quantica to expand in the north western market.

Mansel reported an operating profit of £104,778 for the year ended 31 March 2003, net assets were £37,072.

Chief executive Les Lawson said the company’s divisions had shown signs of growth in the second half of 2003.

“The group’s primary focus is to concentrate on our core businesses to generate organic growth, whilst continuing to look for attractive bolt on acquisitions,” he said.

Shares in Quantica rose by 4p to 46.5p following the news.

Earlier this year, the company closed its Hemel Hempstead office because the division, which dealt primarily with the technology recruitment sector, had not been performing well.

Lawson said he now expected to see signs of recovery in the technology sector in 2004.