A SERIES of contract wins from English local authorities helped boost Bridge of Allan outsourcing business Castle View Ventures in the year to the end of March, with the group posting a 46 per cent rise in pre-tax profits.

The family-run firm, whose business interests range from sports centre management and food production to catering software and weight management, owns companies including Leicester-headquartered Sports & Leisure Management (SLM), Cambuslang-based UIN Foods and Croydon’s Inhouse manager.

According to chief executive Martin Bell, SLM was the main driver behind group turnover rising by 28 per cent, from £137.1 million to £175.7m, and profits going from £9.1m to £13.3m.

“SLM saw a 30 per cent turnover increase in the year to March, partly from its winning new contracts but also as a direct result of its skills in marketing the availability of first-class sports and leisure facilities to communities across England and Wales,” he said.

“This has led directly to increased throughput, community participation and physical activity as well as significant savings for our local authority customers.”

During the 2016/17 financial year SLM won contracts with councils including the London Boroughs of Westminster and Southwark, Middlesbrough Council and Chichester District Council.

Since the end of the financial year it has added Barking and Dagenham, Slough, Warwick and Bromsgrove.

Mr Bell said that while the business does not currently work for any Scottish councils, it is “ever-hopeful that we might be asked one day to share our proven business model with them”.