Croma offers security as turnover rises

CROMA Group, the Dumfries-based security business run by ex-forces personnel, saw strong growth across its operations last year.

The AIM-listed business, headed by former Black Watch officer Sebastian Morley, saw turnover rise by 8 per cent to 7.04 million in the year to 30 June with pre-tax profits rising to 90,227 from 11,711 the previous year.

Its Vigilant Security Services arm, which provides services such as manned guarding and keyholding and includes the Edinburgh International Conference Centre among its clients, won its largest ever contract during the year worth more than 3.5m a year. Croma also provides identity management services via its Photobase subsidiary and is in discussions over the disposal of a third business unit which specialises in avionics. Chairman Nick Hewson said it had been a year of "steady and positive progress".

"For the first time we can show two successive years of profitable results," he added.