Bristol private contractor Cowlin has announced a pre-tax profit of £1m for the 12 months to 30 September 2002, an increase of 68% on the previous year.
Cowlin's turnover rose 28% to £88.6m.

Joint group chief executive Nick Higgs said that the group had benefited from repeat orders with major clients. He added: "We have seen a significant rise in the number of negotiated orders or partnering agreements."

Contracts in the 12-month period included an £8.2m deal to build a mental health unit at the Royal Hospital in Llantrisant for Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust.

The company said that it had opened an office in Exeter to cover the Devon region and predicted further increases in profitability and turnover in next year's results.

Turnover is expected to hit £100m for the 12 months to 30 September this year. Cowlin said that the order book totals more than £90m.