Structural steel and engineering specialist Billington has posted a 31% rise in pre-tax profit from £1.8m to £2.3m in the six months to 30 June 2008.

Turnover jumped by a third from £27.1m to £35.7m and Peter Herns, its executive chairman, said the business had benefited from the company’s strategy of focusing on the public sector and health and safety equipment. The group’s order book stands at £55m.