A NORTH-EAST engineering recruitment firm has reported continued growth.

Fircroft, which has offices in Billingham, near Stockton, says revenue increased 24 per cent year-on-year to £898m, with gross profits rising to £59.6m.

Bosses added pre-tax profits were also up 64 per cent to £22.6m.

The company employs more than 600 staff and supports about 8,000 contract workers across the world across the oil and gas, automotive, mining and energy sectors.

The firm was backed in a £140m deal by Equistone Partners Europe in 2012.

Johnathan Johnson, Fircroft chief executive, said: “We delivered significant growth in 2013 as our turnover reached £898m, enabling us to increase our market share and close in on £1bn turnover.

“We plan to continue the upward momentum by investing in and further expanding our global operations in the Middle-East and Asia Pacific, which are key priority locations for us in 2014.”

Fircroft was also last year recognised in The Sunday Times' Top Track 100, which ranks the UK's 100 private companies with the biggest sales.