ScS not sitting comfortably

Like for like sales order intake was down by 15 per cent and revenue of £91.8m was £13.5m (13 per cent) less than the comparative period.

Gross margin at 47.2 per cent (2007: 48.4 per cent) during the first half was virtually unchanged from the 47.4% for the ten months to 28 July 2007.The trading loss for the period was £8.8m (2007: trading profit £3.3m). 'This has been an extremely challenging trading period and we are under no illusions about the economic trading environment' said chairman Mike Browne. 'Whilst we remain confident of a profitable second half, we will continue to manage the business on the basis that we are unlikely to see any upturn in economic conditions for some time,' he added.