Wishaw-based steel company the Bone Group is being run by a member of its founding family again after Chris Bone stepped in to replace departing chief executive David Higgins.

Bone, 37, has returned to the family-owned firm after a spell in sports management. He was appointed following the resignation of Higgins, who had led the company since September 2006 on the retirement of Bone's father, Sandy Bone.

The group, which com- prises Bone Steel, Enob Fire and Skelton Onsite, has also appointed Ian Dickson, a partner in law firm MacRoberts, as a non-executive director.

The steel fabrication and construction company, which was established in 1938 by Alex Bone, had been suffering from the soaring price of the metal. However, figures published for the year to October 2007 show that it recorded its second successive year in the black, making a pre-tax profit, before exceptional items, of some £352,000, compared to £305,000 the year before. Turnover was up from £24.5m to £28.9m.

Despite having to write off £2m from old contractual disputes, the company's trading performance still allowed it to cut net borrowing by £1.5m to £2.26m over the period.

Chairman Hugh Hayes said: "I've been extremely encouraged by the group's performance over the course of the past year, during which we have secured some significant contracts."

The company has contracts to supply steel for the new Motherwell College building in Ravenscraig and the terminal building being erected at Glasgow airport.

High-profile work secured in the past included the steel fire protection at the new Wembley stadium in London and the structural steelwork at BBC Scotland's head- quarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow.