REPLACEMENT doors and windows company Safestyle UK is to trial a conservatory refurbishment operation which it sees as key to continued growth after a record 2014.

Steve Birmingham, chief executive of the Bradford-based business, said feedback from its sales managers suggested it could apply its doors and windows installation expertise to exploit a gap in the market.

The new service will be piloted from eight Safestyle branches, including in West Yorkshire.

Mr Birmingham said: “We are not looking at building conservatories from scratch as that requires construction skills for the base, drains and suchlike, whereas refurbishing conservatories is an extension of what we do already.

“Feedback from our sales managers suggests there is potentially high demand out there; we are excited about the prospects for this new operation through filling a gap in the market.”

Safestyle UK, which became the UK’s only stock market-quoted double glazing business in December 2013, saw pre-tax profits surge last year by 73 per cent to £16.4 million against from £9.5 million a year earlier.

Revenues in the year to December 31 were up nine per cent higher at £136 million from £124.8 million in 2013.

The company is proposing a final dividend of 6.2p a share (2013: 5.5p), making a total for the year of 9.3p.

The results mean Safestyle has achieved its 10th consecutive year of market share growth which rose to nearly 8.5 per cent from 7.85 per cent a year earlier. Mr Birmingham said the short-term aim was to increase the figure to 10 per cent.

The number of door and window installations increased by seven per cent to a record 267,642 from 250,185) in 2013.

Growth meant Safetyle added around 40 staff last year and now employs 640 people.

Mr Birmingham said: “Safestyle UK has again achieved impressive revenue growth and improved its margin which have resulted in a record level of profit in 2014.

“We have continued to increase our market share and therefore maintain our position as the leading player in the highly fragmented and competitive replacement window and door market. The business is well positioned to build on these results as the general economy and repair maintenance and improvement market continues to recover.

“Moreover, our dedicated focus on quality and price together with our continued geographic expansion into the South and South East as well as our forthcoming entry into the conservatory refurbishment market should lead to further growth.”

He said orders had remained strong so far this year , in spite of a price increase, and Safestyle was trading in line with expectations .