A Salford conference and training provider is on track for a record year after its busiest-ever month.
Salford Professional Development (SPD) , a subsidiary of the University of Salford, was established in 2012.
Based at Adelphi House on the Crescent, it now employs 30 staff, up from 13 in 2014.
It hosts conferences and training courses for public, private and not-for-profit firms on health and social care, media, business and law, leadership, the built environment, energy and public services.
In June SPD organised 11 conferences on topics ranging from the future of higher education and safer communities to cyber security.
The events generated income of £350,000 and have put SPD on course for revenues of £2.6m in the year to July 31, up from £2.2m in 2013/14.
Pre-tax profits in the year end to July 31 2014 rose 162 percent to £477,000.
SPD’s conference division has seen the biggest growth and now accounts for 30 per cent of overall turnover.
Academics at the university provide the training, and profits generated by SPD are ploughed back into the university.
SPD’s chief executive Marc Davis said July’s revenues look set to surpass June’s total, with highlights including conferences on digital health, youth justice and infection control.
Mr Davis said: “We have been able to broaden our offering since moving into Adelphi House in May last year, and we can now hold multiple conferences and training course on the same day.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that we are tapping into the vast knowledge bank at the University of Salford, and passing this on to those who work in key roles in the public and private sectors.
“As the economy grows, so does the need for a highly-skilled and well-trained workforce. This has created burgeoning demand for our industry-focused conferences and high-quality continuing professional development and training programmes.”
