A DERBY training firm has seen profits soar by 18%, taking turnover to more than £16 million.

In the last 12 months, Develop Training has been awarded a technical training contract with Anglian Water Group, has been retained by National Grid as a training supplier and has achieved an accreditation.

The firm's offices and training centre, in Ascot Drive, employ 45 of the group's 115 staff and the company is recruiting in the city.

It has recently taken on two sales and marketing staff and is looking to employ a further marketing executive and a trainer.

The company said there were likely to be further opportunities for freelance and associated trainers in the coming months.

It is one of the few providers delivering technical training for both traditional and environmental technologies and has five bases across the country.

The results have been achieved in the face of economic headwinds. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reported in April that more than two-fifths of organisations had decreased funding for learning and development.

The amount of training delivered by Develop has increased over the past year, most significantly in facilities management.

Develop Training executive chairman Rod Tompsett said: "We are extremely proud of the progress that Develop has made over the last 12 months."

"We are delighted to report that our financial performance has exceeded expectations in a very challenging economic environment."

The business was founded in 2000 to offer training, consultancy and assessment programmes for industry and public bodies including the Ministry of Defence and the NHS.

It has more than 400 open and bespoke courses, catering from apprentices up to post-professional development.

With one of Develop's objectives being 'to innovate and to invest in the future' advances have been established to help clients maximise their budgets through greater efficiencies, specifically through bespoke IT.

Develop is already planning to build on the latest results for 2012 and significant investment is planned in the coming 12 months.

One of the firm's chief ambitions is to expand specialist training provision for the growing environmental technologies industry, including waste management, renewable energy, recycling and water treatment.

Mr Tompsett said: "Despite our success in 2011 we are very aware it is a challenging environment.

"But it is our belief that by continuing to innovate and drive efficiencies will allow us to better service our client base of major utility, construction and facilities management companies and public sector bodies.

"We have a committed and highly skilled team at Develop who are all dedicated to achieving even better results in the coming years."