Straight back in black

The Leeds-based group said that it recorded £343,000 of pre-tax profit in the six months to the end of June, 2013, after making a loss of £244,000 in the same period a year previously.

Revenues were £13.9m, down from £16.7m in the first half of last year. Group Ebitda increased by 30 per cent year-on-year to £1.12m in the first half of 2013.

James Newman, chairman of Straight, said: “The group completed the first half of 2013 with a strong order book which has given a solid start to the second half. With finance in place for three years, a significantly reduced manufacturing cost base and a number of new products coming to market, the group is in a good place to build on its achievements to date.”

Chief executive, Jonathan Straight, added: “It is a pleasure to report this positive set of results and the group’s return to profitability. Now that the vertical integration and associated reorganisation of our group is complete, our focus returns to profitably growing revenues in all of our diverse markets.”