Industrial recruiter Staffline has doubled its pre-tax profits, according to preliminary results announced today.

In the year ended 31 December 2010, profits rose to £7m compared to £3.5m in 2009.

Andy Hogarth, Staffline’s chairman and chief executive, told Recruiter that part of the improvement was due to the revivial in the UK industrial sector. “Manufacturing suffered more in the recession and has come back, whereas other sectors such as food didn’t drop as badly,” he says.

During the past year Staffline acquired three businesses: A La Carte Recruitment and DKM Labour Solutions were acquired in May, and Qubic Recruitment Solutions in November. The three new businesses are expected to add roughly £37m to revenues on an annual basis.

Hogarth adds: “Staffline continues to perform strongly against a backdrop of challenging market conditions. Our revenue and profit have both increased significantly, a testament to the skill and dedication of our people.

“Changing attitudes towards outsourcing staff have benefited us, with many companies reluctant to hire permanent staff in the current economic climate. OnSite is continuing to grow, with the opening of 16 more sites.”

OnSite now represents 89% of group sales (2009: 86%).

Key financials:

· Revenues up 79% to £206.2m (2009: £115.0m)

· Group operating profit (pre-amortisation) up 110% to £7.8m (2009: £3.7m)

· Group operating margin (pre-amortisation) 3.8% (2009: 3.2%)

· Basic earnings per share up 106% to 23.7p (2009: 11.5p)

· Diluted earnings per share before amortisation up 111% to 24.9p (2009: 11.8p)

· Final dividend of 3.8p; total dividend of 6.2p (2009: 3.1p); increase of 100%