A CUT in the use of sub-contractors enabled training provider Scientiam to more than double its profitability, despite a small fall in its turnover.

The Birkenhead-based firm offers training to young people through apprenticeships and, for more mature people, Train to Gain.

It generated pre-tax profits of £401,000 in the year to July 2009, up from £148,000. Its turnover was down 6% to £3.18m.

Kevin Moore, head of corporate services and finance at Scientiam, said: “While our turnover decreased slightly, we increased our profitability by being more efficient and cutting down on our use of subcontractors.

“We are in a healthy financial state.”

Scientiam has had a busy year, opening two offices, with its fourth site due to open later this month.

Mr Moore said: “Two to three years ago, we were concentrating on Wirral.

“What we decided was strategically we needed to increase our geography and our customer base. That’s what we hope to achieve with the new offices.

“We have now opened an office in Liverpool and Runcorn, and another one in Warrington will open in the next two weeks.

“The Warrington office will initially be staffed by two or three people – it’s our first step of actually getting a presence and hopefully it will be successful.

“We are looking to diversify geographically and in respect of the offer we are making.”

Examples of its planned diversification include bidding for Department of Work and Pensions tenders and the development of a training centre with Wirral firm Stiebel Eltron.

Scientiam has joined with the renewable energy product manufacturer to develop a centre, likely to be sited in Bromborough.

He said: “We are in the process, with Stiebel Eltron, of setting up an environmental technology centre which will allow us to offer apprenticeships, particularly in the green technology areas.”

ALEX TURNER