Maintenance and housing contractor Mears Group this week reported a 31% rise in its pre-tax profit.
Mears' return on the six months to 30 June increased to £1.6m, compared with £1.2m for the same period last year. The group's turnover was up 8% to £38.1m over the same period and its margin increased from 3.4% to 4.1%.

The company attributed its performance to the development of long-term relationships with clients in the M&E, vehicle fleet and facilities management markets.

Chairman Bob Holt said: "The group has made excellent progress … and continues to develop long-term partnership strategies with its customers."

Mears' order book stood at £267m at the end of June, of which £170m was at a fixed margin.