A construction-related family owned business from Mid Ulster has managed to defy national business performance trends by posting an increase in turnover for the past 12 months of 50%.

Bellaghy based Premier Electrics, which handles commercial electrical installations for a range of large retailers throughout the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe saw sales grow in 2011 from £18m-£27m.

Managing DIrector, Mark Scullion, who established the business in 1993, attributes the success to the firm's growing reputation for delivering major contracts on time and within budget.

"Our teams have worked tirelessly throughout the year the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland as well as increasingly in countries including Germany, Spain and Belgium. We are delighted to have developed strong relationships with our clients over the years and, in 2010-11 partnered several of them into new territories."

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As part of its commitment to being closer to its customers and as a reflection of its growing operating base, Premier this year opened an office in Munich, Germany and plans to open an additional office in London asa part of its planning for 2012.

"We had to radically change our business strategy with the onset of the economic downturn in the Repoublic of Ireland which, traditionally, had accounted for almost a quarter of our turnover. This meant looking to new markets and expanding through the establishment of a dedicated maintenance division."

Although understandably delighted with Premier's success, Mr Scullion is far from complacent. "The ethos of this business is all about hard, honest endeavour with a relentless commitment to quality, so there will be no resting on laurels. We are already well into our planning for 2012 and 2013 and our goal is to consolidate this year's sales' levels and continue to grow our reputation in the marketplace."

Premier currently provides direct and indirect employment for around 150 people and is an Irish market leader in commercial electrical installation and maintenance.

Its clients include Primark, Penneys, ASDA, John Lewis, Debenhams and M&S. Its turnover had a peak of £30m at the height of the economic boom in 2007.

(CD/GK)