Removals firm Pickfords raised its profit before tax by 141% in the year to 30 September 2014, its latest annual accounts have shown.

The firm, which carried out a pre-pack administration back in November 2012 reported profit before tax for the latest financial year of £3.87m (2013: £1.6m); while turnover was up 20% to £69.8m (2013: £58.1m).

Of the total turnover during the year, £36.7m (up 14.7% on 2013) originated in the UK with £33.1m (up 26.8%) generated overseas.

The figures underline a remarkable turnaround since the firm entered administration. In its most recent published accounts at that time, for the year ending 30 September 2011, the firm recorded a loss of £1.7m on turnover of £69.8m.

The turnaround has not been achieved without sacrifice, however.

At the time of its change of hands, administrator BDO said the sale to Pickfords Move Management would preserve all 900 jobs; its latest accounts, however, show a fall in total staff from 731 to 643 in the year, with all the fall accounted for by operational rather than administrative staff.

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