Keepmoat report 25pc profits increase

Turnover increased to 532 million last year, compared with 468 in the previous year - and the profit was 34,986,000 against 27,929 in 2006.

David Blunt, chief executive of Keepmoat, said: "Our financial performance remains strong, with turnover reaching in excess of 500 million and our forward order book now holding at a level of 3bn.”

In the past 12 months, Keepmoat has finished renovation work at 34,000 council houses, equating to one home completed every three minutes, for more than 100,000 residents and homeowners.

Based at Lakeside, Keepmoat employs more than 3,000 people working, for their trading names Frank Haslam Milan, Bramall Construction and Haslam Homes.

Mr Blunt added: “We have 300 trainees and apprentices around the group, many of whom are drawn from the very communities the company is working to transform.

“This approach provides a much-needed employment boost to the areas we work in, and equips individuals with valuable long-term opportunities.

“We will continue to build upon this expertise and capacity in the future to ensure we maintain our track record of satisfying our customers' needs, which gives all of us increasing confidence that we can achieve our target of becoming a 1 billion turnover business.”