Lloyd's broker Norman Butcher & Jones (NBJ) is seeking to hire teams to expand its business beyond its core aviation practice.

The Lloyd's broker said it was now looking to target all lines of business including wholesale and reinsurance.

The news came as the NBJ Group reported profits for 2006 had risen by nearly 40% on the previous year – the fifth successive increase in profit.

Pre-tax profits for the year ending 30 June 2006 were £593,795 up from £427,606 in 2005.

Turnover for the group, which also comprises non-Lloyd's broker NBJ UK, rose to £5.9m from £5.5m in 2005.

NBJ director Mark Treasure said the broker was looking for "aggressive" expansion. He said: "The Lloyd's business is the main area of growth. We now have a good platform to bolt people on."

The business has undergone a period of reconstruction since a management buy-out in 2000.

"We are now looking at all types of business, wholesale and reinsurance. We are looking at teams and talking to people at the moment," said Treasure.