GEORGE Leslie, the civil engineer which is close to completing work on the new ferry terminal at Brodick on the Isle of Arran, has lifted profits by more than 40 per cent.

The company, which according to last week’s Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, sister paper of The Herald, is on track to handover the building on time and on budget next month, made a pre-tax profit of £2.6 million in the year ended March 31, accounts newly filed at Companies House show.

Work on the new Brodick terminal, whose opening will be delayed because of issues with the passenger ticketing system, drove a major increase in turnover at George Leslie last year. Revenue climbed to £68.4m from £45.8m the year before. However, director John McNaught notes in the accounts that a “more normal level of turnover” is anticipated in the current year as several larger contracts move to completion.

Mr McNaught praised the dedication of the company’s workforce, which rose to an average of 229 from 193 last year, in handling the additional work last year. “As anticipated, a substantial increase in the level of activity was experienced over the year influenced to a large extent by the contract for the construction of the new ferry terminal at Brodick on the Isle of Arran,” he said. “Given the significant increase in turnover, the continued successful delivery of project relied heavily on the commitment and hard work of employees throughout the Company and their wholehearted efforts are acknowledged.”