ENGINEERING support services Metnor Group is planning further expansion across the UK as a result of another excellent year.

The Newcastle business, which opened offices in Glasgow and London in the last year, saw pre-tax profits rise by 32 per cent to £5.8m in the year to December 31.

Metnor's mechanical and electrical contracting business, Norstead, was a star performer, winning a number of large contracts.

As a result, turnover increased by 25 per cent to £48.9m.

Metnor, which floated on the Stock Market in 1998, has grown from a metal galvanising business with a turnover of £10m, to a diversified support services and contracting operation.

It operates in three areas - building and support services, hot dip galvanising and offshore equipment supply.

Stephen Rankin, chief executive of Metnor, said the objective had been to diversify into related sectors of the contracting industry, to improve the package of skills it offered and to compete for larger projects.

A venture into the telecoms/alternative carrier sector had been successful.

Metnor had built up a growing reputation for the provision of complete turn-key contracts, building both Internet data centres and telephone nodes.

It led to a largest ever single project within a year - a £15m data centre and node facility in London."

Mr Rankin said: "Our new Glasgow office has started well and has an order book in excess of £6m, which bodes well for the future.

"The new London office has been open only for a few months, but already has an order book of £2m."