Consultant Bucknall Austin has reported an 18% increase in turnover to £26m in unaudited results for the year to 30 April.

It also reported that pre-tax profit has risen a third to £600,000 compared with £450,000 the previous year. The results are the first under managing director Simon Birchall, who joined from Faithful + Gould in the middle of the financial year.

Birchall said: “Financially, we are performing well and have put in a robust performance – and more importantly we are consistently winning quality commissions. We’ve also beefed up our board with both internal appointments and talent from outside.”

Since Birchall’s arrival in January Sir Digby Jones, the former director-general of the CBI, has joined Bucknall Austin as an adviser. Andy Ritchie has joined the board from EC Harris.