Building company Rok has unveiled record results for the fifth year running with pre-tax profits up 38 per cent to £16.1 million.

The company, which has offices in Preston Road, Brighton, achieved the results on a 12 per cent increase in turnover to £555.8 million.

The Brighton office contributed to the pot with a £3.6 million contract to build 40 new homes at The Rise for housing association Affinity.

Other local schemes include a £3 million special needs centre at Varndean College and a £1.5 million primary school at St Mary's Hall School for Girls.

Meanwhile Rok's maintenance wing has secured a deal with the University of Sussex to carry out any projects up to the value of £100,000.

Area director Terry Nitman said: "We have had a tremendous year at every level from delivering projects which demonstrate our role as the nation's local builder and continually improving the satisfaction levels among our customers to working towards the objective of being the best employer in our sector.

"Winning the Best Place To Work at the Brighton and Hove Business Awards is a testament to that.

"The transition to our breathtaking new offices has shown Brighton the kind of business we are aspiring to be and is providing the platform from which we can continue to grow our development, building on our customer base.

"I'm incredibly proud of the team here not only for their fresh approach to business but for the wholehearted commitment to our community."

Rok specialises in projects with contract values from £5,000 to £5 million and employs about 2,300 people at 37 centres across the UK.

More than 55 are at its Brighton centre.

Chairman Stephen Pettit said: "The market for our services is stable with a continuing high level of public investment in housing and education, both sectors in which we have a significant presence."

Wednesday, March 29, 2006