Overseas contract for Merit Merrell Technology

Aug 4 2010 by John Hill, The Journal

Wells said: “We’ve been trying to break into healthcare for a long time, and while our commercial division has been hit more than most in the recession, healthcare has been pretty stable.”

Merit was named Tyneside and Northumberland company of the year at the Journal’s nebusiness awards in 2008. It was also ranked first in the North among Deloitte’s Fast 50 growing technology companies in 2009, eventually finishing 22nd in the UK.

Deloitte launched the programme ten years ago to recognise innovative companies which have enjoyed notable revenue growth. It is accepting applications for this year’s rankings until September 17. The Fast 50 is open to UK-owned companies in business for at least five years with operating revenues of at least £540,000 for the last financial year.

David Wilkinson, technology media and telecommunications partner at Deloitte in Newcastle said: “The technology industry has turned a corner recently and confidence is returning to the market. We look forward to seeing how technology companies have fared in this year’s ranking.”

Merit’s initial expertise came in the semiconductor industry, but it now operates in a number of markets. It provided a pre-fab plantroom and pipework distribution network for London’s Westfield centre and played a major role in fitting out the Halley VI British research base in Antarctica.

Turnover rose from £24m to more than £50m in 2008, but dropped to £28m in 2009. Merit is expected to turn over around £30m this year.

Wells said: “It was the peak of the market in 2008, obviously, but the main problem we had in 2009 was coping with all the work. We needed a stronger management team. When you’re growing all the time you need different people. It’s like a football team changing divisions - you need new players and attracting them is difficult. However, we’ve been pretty successful in this and last year in bringing some good staff and a new management team.”