Seaward hopes demand returns after profits dip

DEMAND is expected to pick up this year for electrical testing equipment maker Seaward, following a dip in operating profits.

- TOM KEIGHLEY Business writer [e-mail]

Bosses at the County Durham manufacturer of PAT testing, solar and medical appliances say they are pleased with the performance amid a challenging year in which operating profit dropped from £4.1m to £2.7m. Turnover remained flat at £24.8m in 2024, documents published at Companies House show.

Seaward said that after a strong start to the year - with first-half trading 12% ahead of the same period in 2023 - demand across its brands had slowed down. The impact was said to have been felt across sister companies in the German-owned GMC Instruments stable.

Despite the more challenging market, Seaward grew its headcount from 178 to an average of 202.