A CIVIL and structural engineering company says it expects to deliver record results after increasing turnover and creating new jobs.

Portland Consulting Engineers says it has secured a raft of deals on schemes worth millions of pounds.

Bosses hailed the construction sector’s continuing return to health as a key factor in the firm’s growth, saying it helped deliver more work on social housing projects and refurbishments for some of the UK’s largest registered social landlords.

The Gateshead-based firm, which offers geotechnical studies and flood risk assessments, also delivered civil and structural designs for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service’s new training centre in Bowburn, near Durham City.

It previously worked on a Tyne Housing Association scheme, in the Ouseburn Valley, and a church conversion at St Francis of Assisi, in Walker, east of Newcastle.

Lee Barr, managing director, said it is now focused on a hydrotherapy pool for the Percy Hedley Foundation, in Newcastle, and education centres in York and Middlesbrough for Askham Bryan College.

He said the successes had increased turnover by 25 per cent, with staff numbers rising 40 per cent to 13.

Mr Barr said: “With a rise in demand for our services, I’m confident our strategy for sustainable growth is being delivered with strong results.

“We continue to invest in technology to stay abreast of the advances in construction.

“Together with recruitment and retention of highly experienced individuals, we not only meet the demands and requirements of clients, but do so without compromising on our quality of services.”

Mr Barr added the company’s successes had allowed it to recruit senior project technician David Scrimgeour, senior civil engineer Mick Taylor, and senior engineer Stephen Hunter.

Receptionist Amy Goldspink, technician Nick Atkinson and graduate engineer Andrew Coyle have also joined, with Mark Quigley, who joined as a trainee, now promoted to senior structural technician.