A Greater Manchester-based commercial flooring firm has announced record revenues and profits despite a year filled with challenges.
Bury firm James Halstead said in the year ending June 30, revenue stood at £266.4m - up 11.6% from 2020's £238.6m, while profit before tax was £51.3m, up 16.9% on last year's £43.9m - both record figures.
In preliminary results released on Monday, it added that its final dividend per ordinary share is proposed at 11p - up by 10% on last year and also a record for the firm, which carries out projects for major firms and organisations around the world.
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The successes came despite major challenges including Hurricane Ida, which ravaged one of the world's largest production plants in Louisiana, USA - and the pandemic creating shortages in labour and refineries being closed.
Mark Halstead, chief executive, said: "This was a complicated year. It was a year in which our top management had to balance risks to the business whilst maintaining key supplies to our core healthcare markets without compromising employee safety.
"I applaud the efforts of our management team who have faced difficulties from every direction."
The firm, which provides flooring for the NHS, said its major projects over the last year have included Knattspyrnufélagið Fram - "perhaps the largest football stadium in Iceland" - and the Optimed Eye-Clinic in Belarus.
The statement released on Monday added: "These results are more than satisfying against the backdrop that all our major markets were faced with lockdowns of various durations and severity affecting many of our end users' needs for flooring.
"There were numerous delays and deferrals of maintenance and refurbishment work as well as new build projects as priorities and funding were diverted."
