Revenues and profits at conference and training provider Salford Professional Development are on the up after the launch of events in London and a move into new sectors.
Turnover in the six months to January 31 soared 56 per cent to £1.7m compared with the same period last year.
Pre-tax profits climbed seven per cent to £311,000.
Chief executive Marc Davis said profits grew at a slower rate than revenues because SPD had invested heavily in new staff, its expansion into London and an executive learning portal which goes live in May.
SPD, a subsidiary of the University of Salford, recruited eight staff in the first half to bolster its customer service, events and sales teams.
It now has 43 staff.
Mr Davis said the firm is on track for full-year revenues of £3.6m, up from £2.76m, and pre-tax profits of £750,000, up from £583,500.
SPD delivers events and training for individuals and companies across the UK and internationally, with a focus on sectors including health and social care, media, business and law, the built environment, education and public services.
Academics at the university provide the training, and profits generated by SPD are ploughed back into the institution.
New topics covered in the first half included the future of physiotherapy and the future of operating theatres.
14 events have taken place in London since SPD launched in the capital last autumn, and Mr Davis said he was pleased with its performance there.
The second half has begun strongly, with record monthly revenues of just over £500,000 for February, during which the firm staged its largest-ever conference.
Nearly 300 delegates attended The Future of Academies event at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford.
Mr Davis added: “We continue to expand our range of conferences and courses, exploring developing and emerging subject areas.
“The second half promises to be outstanding, with our new executive learning portal set to be a highlight.
“This will enable people to learn the theory behind a particular course through an online segment, with the option to attend a subsequent classroom-based session or to buy further modules.
“We believe this offer will give us a real edge in the market, because the courses have been written by academics at the university and tested by industry leaders.
“We plan to capitalise further on the expertise at the university to continue to offer market-leading events.
“Alongside this expertise, we have a keen and motivated workforce who work tirelessly to ensure the company goes from strength to strength.”
Main image (L-R): COO David Hall, Chief Executive Marc Davis and Deputy Chief Executive Paul Bolton.
