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John O'Neill, the managing director of Inspace, the fit-out arm, has been promoted to chief operating officer. Managing directors have been appointed for the two arms of the business: Gerry Greville, who has joined from Maris, has been appointed managing director of the design arm and Karim Khan takes over as managing director of the fit-out operation.

Deputy chairman Rick Willmott, who takes over as chairman from Sir Michael Latham at the end of the month, said: "There was no turnover growth last year, which was about £20m, but it's a sector we want to be in and it was always our intention to expand the business." He added that Inspace's turnover was expected to increase to £25m this year.

Willmott said the fit-out sector was guaranteed a fairly steady workload. He said: "Whatever happens in the market, there will always be tenants leaving or coming in, and the offices will need to be restored to their original condition. That means work."

The changes, which came into effect this week, were revealed as Willmott Dixon released its results for 2001. Pre-tax profit increased 12% from £3.78m in 2000 to £4.24m. Turnover rose 10% to a record £302.2m. It is the sixth year of record profit and turnover growth for the firm, which also has contracting, maintenance and social housing divisions.

Willmott said the group's consistent results, combined with those throughout the industry, indicated that the sector had emerged from the boom and bust cycle of earlier years.

It was always our intention to expand the fit-out business

Rick Willmott, deputy chairman

He said the group was increasing the amount of partnered and negotiated work it did. Negotiated and partnered work accounted for 90% of the work carried out by the social housing arm last year and 55% of the construction division's business.

Willmott said: "We need to keep some competitive tendering to ensure we stay sharp and up to date with the market."

Willmott Dixon's incentive payments to staff rose 69% last year to £1.35m compared to 2000.