A CONSERVATORY and orangery firm is eyeing further growth after marking its 40th anniversary with a “pivotal” record year.

Pennine Home Improvements says a rise in demand for its home improvement range has pushed profit more than 30 per cent higher.

The business, which has a showroom at Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, added its successes have also allowed bosses to create jobs, with 16 members of staff appointed in the last year.

According to its latest financial results, the company has seen profit rise 35 per cent in 2017, with a showroom in Benton, North Tyneside, seeing turnover lift more than 15 per cent to £12.7m.

However, officials at the Newcastle-based firm say they are now targeting further triumphs, revealing they aim to capitalise on the growth by tapping into new innovations and digital technology to strengthen its offering and bolster customer service.

Mark Tinnion, managing director, said: “In the double-glazing industry, it is quite remarkable for a brand to be going strong for 40 years, so we are very proud of this.

“It is not by chance the brand has been in existence for so long and is still going strong.

“Much investment and hard work has gone into the business over the years and we believe in continuous investment in the brand and company, to give our customers the best possible experience.

“Reporting our best results to date is the icing on the cake of what has been a pivotal year.”

The company, which employs 65 staff and has an additional 60 contractors, completed its 25,000th customer installation last year.

Nusheen Hussain, marketing director, said such a base would provide a real platform going forward to maintain its successes, revealing homeowners’ desire to spruce up their properties will be a crucial supporting factor.

She added: “With house prices increasing in the North-East, people are looking to invest and expand their existing space.

“Providing beautiful conservatories and orangeries, while creating luxury living spaces and seamless home extensions, is at the heart of everything we do.

“We’re looking forward to an exciting future of further investment in 2018.”

Earlier this year, it was revealed Pennine had been bought by the Conservatory Outlet Group.

At the time, officials at the Wakefield-based firm said the deal represented a great opportunity to absorb Pennine’s “enviable order book” into its operations.