An ‘unprecedented’ increase in activity from auto-enrolment has sparked a 66% rise in profits for a national advisory group.

LEBC, which focuses on pensions and employee benefits consultancy, announced this morning an operating profit increase to £1.841m for the year ending September 30 – up from £1.106m the previous year.

Turnover increased 22% to £15million from £12.3million.

The firm said in a statement: “This growth for the business was driven primarily by an unprecedented increase in activity from auto-enrolment, defined benefit consultancy, and pension freedoms, which the company forecasts will be maintained during 2016.”

Jack McVitie, chief executive of LEBC, said: “We have maintained our focus on increased efficiency and better use of technology which provides greater access to advice to our existing and ever increasing number of new clients. We have also continued to benefit from the positive impact of pensions freedoms with the extension of choice and opportunity for planning that this gives to clients.

“Given the sharp increase in demand for advice, we have coined the term “bionic advice”. This is the use of technology and human interface with the client to deliver appropriate solutions. We see this combination as the only way to fully embrace this growing advice demand.

“We now have 15 offices spread evenly across the UK and each one has enjoyed a very good year. We have maintained a proactive recruitment programme for qualified and part qualified advisers, and Paraplanners along with the introduction of a graduate scheme.

“These programmes will remain in place during 2016 so we will continue to attract the necessary talent to ensure that we are meeting the demands of our growing client base, the business and ever changing sector.”

He added: “This time last year, I stated that our aim was to transform the access to top quality advice for employers, employees and individuals; and in doing so we would be in a position to develop our business and plan for the next 10 years of growth. We could not have wished for a better start.”