TENON, the professional services group whose management want to buy it, is motoring in the north west.

Jane Partington, Tenon's managing director for the region, says a team of new directors and associate directors, promoted up the ranks, have made a big difference.

They have been getting out and about more, seeing clients and winning new business, focusing on motor dealers, solicitors and insurance brokers. As a result, Tenon's turnover in the north west - the firm employs 250 staff across its offices in Manchester, Rochdale, Bacup and Chorley - grew 10 per cent in the first six months of the financial year.

And Tenon is on the lookout for acquisitions in the region despite the fact that ownership of the firm may yet change hands.

Practice

Jane said she is in takeover talks with a practice in Manchester.

At the same time, she is part of a management team which is looking to buy the AIM-listed business, although chairman Neil Johnson said he could not predict the outcome of the negotiations, adding that an MBO was only one of several alternatives for Tenon.

Group turnover rose from é47.2m to é52.1m but pre-tax profits slumped from é4.2m to é2m.

Jane said the north west had seen continued strong growth, especially in a new outsourcing operation providing payroll and other services to companies. Tweet