SOUTH Derry plumbing and heating contractor H&A Group, which last year celebrated 25 years in business, has swung from a loss into a healthy profit after what its owners said was a satisfactory trading year.
Figures filed at Companies House show that while the firm's turnover was generally flat in the year to last May at £21.6 million against just shy of £22m the year before, it posted an operating profit of £184,931 against a loss of £1.6m in 2017.
And on a bottom-line basis, it retained £528,523 compared to just £14,456 a year earlier.
Established in 1993 by Hugh and Anne McWilliams, H&A has grown from a payroll of just six people to an employee base of 330, though that figure marked a decline from the 372 people who worked there the previous year.
The shedding of more than 40 jobs meant the company's wages bill dipped from £9.7m to just over £9m, and the directors' salaries also fell back from £958,609 to £754,682.
H&A Group, headquartered in Draperstown and with satellite offices in Mallusk and in Co Kildare, began life as a mechanical services specialist but in recent years has diversified into new areas.
It has carved out a reputation for excellence on a diversity of projects, specialising in large volume contracts within the social housing sector, where it delivers mechanical, electrical, refurbishment and renewable projects throughout Ireland.
It has had an ongoing partnership with the NI Housing Executive in the delivery of its heating and all trades response maintenance contracts.
The company also delivers commercial/industrial projects to blue chip companies and a variety of government schemes aimed at alleviating fuel poverty.
In December H&A renewed its contract as the main sponsor with Derry GAA, where its name has emblazoned the county's kit since 2015.
