600 Group sees big jump in orders

The Heckmondwike-based company said the improvement in orders seen earlier this year has been sustained over the past four months.

Last week the group announced plans to raise 2.5m, or 2m after expenses, through a loan from its biggest shareholder to expand the group through acquisitions as it completes the final stage of its turnaround.

Shareholders will be asked to vote on the loan at a general meeting on August 27 at the company's headquarters in Heckmondwike between Leeds and Huddersfield.

The company has had a tough two years following a slump in demand during the recession.

In the year to April 3, the group made an overall pre-tax loss from continuing operations of 8.7m, down from a loss of 8m the previous year.

Annual losses before various costs halved from 2.2m to 1.1m.

But 600 chief executive David Norman said the group saw an improvement in the second half which has continued into this year.

The company made an operating profit of 600,000 in the second half, compared with the operating loss of 2.5m it showed the year before.