The Newcastle-based recruitment company Northern Recruitment has continued its recent spate of good news after announcing that profits have continued to rise.

Company chairman Hamish Leslie Melville said results for the year so far are ahead of those the firm recorded in 2002.

He added: “We are seeing signs of improving demand in our major markets and we have an encouraging forward pipeline of new business prospects.”

Permanent recruitment in public and private sectors is progressing well and demand for temporary workers is still strong.

“Our national response handling facilities are making an increasing contribution to our success, including a recent major extension of business with an existing client,” he said.

Northern Recruitment provides a range of recruitment services but its core market is providing staffing services for call centres.