A BORDERS-based energy firm more than doubled its turnover last year to £40.7m and is predicting recruiting more staff.

Spark Energy in Selkirk also made its first profit in 2013 - some £337,469 - compared with a loss of £3.26m the year before.

The firm attributed the growth of the business to “substantial investment” in its customer services and marketing.

Spark chief executive Chris Gauld said the firm had faced “numerous challenges” in order to succeed in a highly competitive market.

He said:”Through the hard work of our employees and substantial investment into the company we are now more able to compete with our larger peers.

“While there are still a number of obstacles to overcome to make our business fair and competitive, we are now seeing an air of change in the energy industry.

“It is a very exciting time for us as a company and we are now in the perfect position to ensure we continue to grow while providing our customers with the very best service at competitive rates.” Spark Energy was launched in 2008 and is now one of the largest employers in the Scottish Borders.

Mr Gauld projected that the workforce would rise from 213 to about 220 by the company’s June year-end.

He highlighted ambitions to take the workforce through the 250 mark in the next financial year with the recruitment of about a further 40 staff.

Mr Gauld said that all but about 10 of the employees of Spark worked at their Ettrick Riverside premises in Selkirk’s Dunsdale Road.