A CONSTRUCTION firm building a transplantation centre in the North-East has reported profits almost equal to its best ever.

BAM Construction, which is building the Institute of Transplantation at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, has reported turnover for 2009 of £182m, virtually level with the company’s record.

BAM – which has offices in Gateshead – had 41 sites in the year and provided work for just under 1,500 people.

The company’s policy is to use local labour and materials where possible.

Other recent developments of the company in the region include an incubator office development for Middlesbrough Borough Council, a mental health facility for the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Trust, in County Durham, and the Stanley Primary Care Centre for NHS County Durham.

James Wimpenny, director of BAM Construction in the North-East, said: “The market continues to be very challenging.

It says a great deal for the resourcefulness of our people that we have stood up to these challenges well.”