Scottish independent recruitment firm Orion Group, the fifth-largest engineering staffing firm in the UK,  reported its year end results to 31 December 2017 with turnover of £290 million, steady from £293.4 million last year. The group also reported that net profits increased to £5.6 million.

The group said just over 40% of its turnover during 2017 was generated overseas.

The Inverness-based company said it has worked through challenging markets over the past three years.

“Today’s turnover and profit announcement reflects our robust and strong market alignment in the current climate and is testament to our fantastic staff and the systems we have in place,” Group Managing Director, Paul Savage, said. “The oil and gas market remains a key sector for the group but our other business streams –Permanent Placements, New Energies and Life Sciences are also significant contributors.”

“In the last two years we have seen our business venture into the Life Sciences market and we are delighted to already see growth away from our traditional revenue streams as we grow our presence in the sector - more recently we opened a new flagship office in Cork, Ireland to support this exciting venture,” Savage said.

“Looking beyond and into 2019, we are embarking on further expansion in our key sectors and we will continue to invest in people and technology to ensure that the group remains a sustainable and world class recruitment business,” Savage said.

Orion Group was founded over 30 years ago by group chairman Alan Savage and operates around the world with 50 international offices.