Events service company Arena Group has forecast further growth in 2005 helped by major contract wins in the world of sport and politics.

The Birmingham firm is broadening its range of customers from Queen and Anastacia concerts to include this summer's G8 summit in Scotland.

It has just released its annual figures which showed a 12 per cent increase in sales to #25 million in 2004.

Significant increases in the operational and net margins have also been reported, although the company, which is private, declined to reveal its profit.

The company, which is based at the NEC, is currently taking on staff to accommodate the newly-awarded longterm contracts that include the Open Golf Championship, Stella Artois Tennis Championships and the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.

At present, it employs 170 permanent staff and around 250 freelance staff to cope with the seasonal variations in their work. The strong order books mean that forecasts for 2005 are predicting further substantial increases.

It is also investing in new products, including the Tensioned Fabric Structure (TFS). It is the only supplier of this product in the UK, which has led to new clients utilising the new product for groundbreaking projects such as the Wembley Arena Pavilion, a 10,000 temporary- seater concert venue, which has hosted concerts by Anatastacia, Will Young and Queen.

Meanwhile, the firm has been awarded the contract to supply the temporary structures accommodating the media at this summers G8 Summit.

Jack Morton Worldwide have contracted Arena Structures to supply the temporary media facilities at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perth that will house the 2,500 reporters covering the event.