A 70-YEAR-OLD furniture maker has hailed its continued progress after one of its divisions achieved a record year.

Godfrey Syrett says its education operation saw its sales figure rise £2.1m in 2016, which represented a 31 per cent increase on the previous year.

The company has been helped by a £1.4m deal to fit out more than 500 bedrooms at Glasgow’s Foundry Courtyard accommodation block, with the vast majority of furniture being made at its Langley Moor factory, near Durham City.

The business, which has a distribution centre on nearby Belmont Industrial Estate, is known for work in schools and universities, as well as the health sector, having supported the NHS since the 1940s.

Derek Mitchell, divisional director, said the firm, which also has a multi-million pound contract to supply Scottish secondary schools, was making good progress.

He added: “2016 was a fantastic year for our education division, with great results in direct sales to schools, as well as supporting main contractors with projects.

“Our pipeline is looking very positive.”

Earlier this year, David Hall, group sales and marketing director, told The Northern Echo its Glasgow deal will help propel turnover towards the £40m mark.

Mr Hall said the business was confident of hitting the target.

He added: “You never know what is going to happen in the economy and we have to get up to £30m first.

“But plans are in place to take it to £40m and Foundry Courtyard is a really big scheme to be involved with.”