A LOSS-making window company, saved by takeover two years ago, has returned to profit -- and is to create up to 35 new jobs.

The Nelson-based Sovereign Group was bought from parent Nelson Glass Ltd for a nominal amount by its largest supplier Veka plc of Burnley -- assuring the future of 160 jobs at the Vale Street works.

Now, despite tough trading conditions, Sovereign has shrugged off the heavy financial losses of the past, and announced net profits for the year to December of £145,000 and turnover of £11.5 million.

The news comes in the wake of the recent announcement that Sovereign's former parent, Nelson Glass, trading as Nelson Windows, has gone into liquidation.

Now Sovereign, which has no connection with Nelson Windows, says that with healthy order books and a recruitment drive about to be launched, its view of the future is very positive. With a new management team in place, led by managing director Glenn Taylor, Sovereign has become one of the country's top commercial window manufacturers and installers, supplying local authorities, housing associations, health authorities and other commercial customers throughout the UK.

Mr Taylor is delighted with the company's performance. He said: "The profit margins are a superb result, considering the company had been running at a loss for a long period of time. The basic infrastructure of the Sovereign Group was sound, with an excellent workforce."

He added: "We are now in a position to recruit management and general staff and skilled installers, both locally and for our national contracts.

"I am delighted that, with the support of our employees under what have been difficult conditions, we can offer them security and further employment opportunities for others. Their commitment has been excellent."

Sovereign operates independently of the Veka Group, the world's largest extruder of PVC-U window and door systems. Veka has plants across Europe, North America and Asia and a UK headquarters in Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.