BOSSES at roofing and cladding company CA Group (Holdings) Limited, hope another strong set of results will deliver a boost to the region's manufacturing sector.

The company based at Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, reported that consolidated Group profit before tax was £5.3m for the year ended September 2015, which was up from £3.7m a year earlier, and turnover was £59.6m, an increase of almost £5m on 2014.

The business, which has helped to build some of the UK's biggest warehouses, said it expects to develop product range and strengthen its customer base this year, giving bosses the confidence to predict that performance in 2016 would follow the recent trend of growth.

CA Group employs about 240 people and has seen its sustainable employment levels increase by more than 30 per cent since the beginning of 2013. Having embarked on a significant recruitment drive for staff across all levels of its operations, this trend is expected to continue.

As an Employee Benefit Trust, similar to the John Lewis Partnership, which effectively means that all staff are shareholders in the company, CA Group says it is managed for the long term benefit of current and future employees. As part of this commitment, the company invests heavily in training and development, including both manual and technical apprenticeships, and further education.

In December 2014 and December 2015, all employees shared in tax-free bonuses on the back of the Group’s positive performance.

The 32-year-old firm supplies metal roofing and cladding systems for distribution centres, sports stadia, data centres, energy recycling plants and shopping centres. Clients include household names such as Amazon, The London Taxi Company, B&Q, BMW and Sainsbury’s.

Des Webster, group managing director, said: “With further growth expected in 2016, we are delighted to be able to share such positive news for manufacturing in the region. Our strategy is to invest in our products, capabilities and workforce over the long term, fostering new talent as well as developing from within. Our workforce is at the heart of our success and we are excited to be able to continue to share that success as we grow.”