Newcastle architecture firm Ryder has seen a rise in both turnover and profit but warned that political events out of its control could affect performance.
The company saw turnover grow 17% to reach almost £17m in the year ending April 30 2019.
Over the same period, operating profit more than doubled from £518,000 to £1.2m.
The firm - whose local projects include East Pilgrim Street in Newcastle, the next phase of Tombola Campus in Sunderland, and FujiFilm on Teesside - has offices in Newcastle, London, Liverpool, Hong Kong, Vancouver and Amsterdam.
This week it was revealed that Ryder will be one of the North East companies benefiting from the new Metro contract, working with main contractors Stadler on designing a new maintenance depot at Gosforth.
In the accounts, managing partner Mark Thompson said the uncertain political climate in the UK and its knock-on effect on the construction industry had impacted on Ryder’s work. He added that the political unrest in Hong Kong had had a “significant effect on business confidence and procurement” for its office there.
He said: “In common with many other architectural practices, the UK has been a difficult market largely due to the uncertainty of Brexit. We cannot control the outcome, so have focused on delivering an excellent service to our clients.
“The directors are pleased with the results given the difficult economic climate and remain optimistic for the sustained and exciting development of Ryder.”
Ryder has worked on projects around the UK, with work in residential, office, healthcare and education the prominent sectors.
As well as a number of prominent projects in the North East, it has designed buildings at Kew Gardens in London, Aberdeen’s Criminal Justice and Custody Centre and a plan for a major residential development on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow.
The company said its costs had risen 12% during the accounting year as it invested in people and technology. The company’s headcount increased to 198, pushing its total wage bill from £8.1m to £9.2m.
This week two of its projects - the new Tombola House in Sunderland and the Reckitt Benckiser Science and Innovation Centre in Hull - have been shortlisted in the Corporate Workplace category at the British Council for Offices Awards
