Sunderland demolition firm G O'Brien & Sons has reported a return to profit thanks to a turnaround in its scrap business.
The national operator - which supplies demolition, asbestos removal and remediation services, among others - said operating profit was £725,446, in the year to the end of April 2021, up from a £1.5m loss in the previous year.
Turnover increased to £11.9m from £9.9m, driven by £6.79m worth of scrap work, a part of the business that did not generate any turnover in 2020.
Most of O'Brien's work is in the UK with a small proportion coming from projects in Europe, which generated about £230,000 of turnover.
The 2021 accounts filed at Companies House show O'Brien handled less demolition work as turnover attributed to that part of the business fell from £7.2m to £2.3m during the period.
Regionally, the firm has delivered projects including the remediation and preparation of the former Neptune shipyard site on the banks of the Tyne for owners Shepherd Offshore and removed concrete waste water outfalls stretching out to sea at the former Blyth Power Station site which is being turned into the Britishvolt gigafactory.
Writing in a report accompanying the accounts, director Gordon O'Brien said the company was satisfied with the results.
He added: "Turnover suffered in the previous year, owing to the delay in contracts starting and the downturn in scrap prices. Turnover has increased in the current year due to the sale of scrap stock and an increase in scrap prices."
O'Brien demerged its waste management business in 2015 to form O’Brien Waste Recycling Solutions Holdings Limited which was subsequently acquired by Biffa for £35.2m.
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