The summer months represent the busiest period of the year for the firm’s aggregate operations, partly because this is when its customers purchase large supplies of lime – with 100,000 tonnes expected to leave the quarry during June, July and August.

Executive chairman John Dickson said: “We are holding up well considering how difficult it has been in the wider construction market, especially in the North East.

“However, we have been able to diversify through our aggregates business and expect to continue growing in the short and long term. The fact that we have seen improvement among house developers is also encouraging for us.”

The Owen Pugh Group has been in business since 1946 and was sold by the Pugh family to Mr Dickson and Grahame White in 2005. It has recently opened a new vehicle washing plant and launched its own training scheme as part of its growth strategy.

Mr Dickson said: “It’s important that we have different sides to our business, particularly at the moment. Although I wouldn’t say we were immune to pressures in the market, our ability to diversify has helped secure our future.”