A Black Country manufacturer has enjoyed its best 12 months in a 28-year history after seeing sales soar past the £25 million mark.

Futura Group, which offers bespoke design, technical recruitment and prototyping through its five companies, has secured a host of new contracts with car makers including Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover, VW Group and McLaren.

The company is using the skills of its designers and its state-of-the-art studios in Oldbury and Wootton Wawen, in Warwickshire, to work with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on developing new interior and exterior solutions that will improve both comfort and performance.

More than £3 million of new orders have been secured last year and this has already led to the creation of 50 new jobs in the UK, a number of which are apprentices and graduates.

"There are numerous facets to Futura but all businesses across the group have the same ethos that focuses on innovation, nurturing creativity and encouraging people be the best they can be," said group managing director Paul Cadman.

"The recent growth has been driven by the development of our studios, with the design departments of all of the UK's major automotive OEMs taking full advantage of Futura's model creation capabilities.

"Everyone is looking to create models that are lighter, produce less emissions yet still offer even better comfort and performance."

Backed by significant funding from the Regional Growth Fund and Green Bridge, Futura Group has invested more than £2 million on creating two state-of-the-art facilities in the Black Country and Warwickshire.

This means the company can call upon five design studios, two workshops, three paint booths, a five-axis large bed CNC machine and dedicated trim and body departments.

It has also recently launched its own training academy that will take on and train up to 25 apprentices and graduates every year.

Mr Cadman added: "Another big development has been the launch of Abacus Technologies, which provides tooling solutions for the design and modeling sector.

"We are the only firm in the UK who can offer customers access to RAMPF technology. This is basically made-to-measure products and services for close contour models."

Futura also has a recruitment arm and a luxury bespoke design company providing clients with the ability to personalise their car, yacht, private jet or individual piece of home or office furniture.

It employs 290 people across the group and aims to turn over £28 million in 2016, with a specific focus on growing on its export business.