Chippenham-based CODA- SciSys, formerly Science Systems, has posted a 10 per cent rise in pre-tax profits results for the six months to June 30 2002, of £2.9 million, up from £2.6 million last time.

The CODASciSys Group is made up of two main sections, the CODA division and the SciSys division, the core business of both being to provide the services of skilled IT staff to procure and develop software based systems to meet client business requirements.

The company is a specialist supplier of skilled IT services, consultancy, bespoke solutions and CODA financial solutions,

Earlier this year SciSys celebrated its involvement in the European Space Agency's prestigious Aurora programme which will see the Beagle 2 Mars Lander explorer using Science System's innovative software to control the vehicle on the surface of Mars.

The Mars Express mission carrying the Lander explorer is due to land on the surface of Mars in December 2003.

CODA is focused on the delivery of analytic applications, financial solutions and consultancy based around the CODA product suite, while SciSys concentrates on delivering professional software services and bespoke systems incorporating third party packaged software. Operating globally and serving a large international client base, each division addresses niche markets supplying solutions and services that include:

IT consultancy and custom software development

The delivery of financial solutions and consultancy based around the CODA product suite

Systems Integration and turnkey systems development

Applications and facilities management

Support and maintenance.

The market sectors that they operate in include utilities, retail, defence, communications, government, business services, space, transport and financial institutions.

Chairman Cliff Preddy said: "Despite the effects of the recent declines in world markets, the outlook for CODASciSys remains relatively encouraging, with the group continuing to build on the progress achieved and investments made in 2001.

"We continue to see and plan for long term sales and earnings growth.

"For the immediate future we anticipate that growth will be at a rate lower than our long term historic trends."

"The improvement also reflects the continuing trends within the SciSys division, where the space business has returned to profit and continues to achieve positive margin growth."