EPIC, the Brighton-based software group, reported half-year pre-tax profits of £114,000.

The figure is a modest improvement on the same period last year when the company turned in £103,000.

Turnover during the six months fell to £1.36 million from the 1997 first-half figure of £1.88 million bringing earnings per share to 0.49p.

The company's good news is that its order book stands at more than £2 million, the highest level it has ever been at.

Achange in direction at Epic is the reason behind this.

Chairman Michael Inwards said: "As expected, our strategic shift into the online training market led to a lower turnover but this was necessary for the future success of the business.

"Online contracts for the first six months of this year were more than double that in the whole of the previous financial year."

Epic comleted development of its new 20/20 management training product in September with a major order from PPP Healthcare.

In July it began work on a training project for British Airways World Cargo which will prepare 1,100 BA staff for the £250 millionNew World Cargo Centre opening later this year.

As part of the Strata consortium Epic is involved in the first major contract awarded by the Government's new University for Industry.

During the past year the company has collected a number of awards including a Silver at the New York International Interactive Multimedia Competition and the Sussex Business Innovation of the Year Award.

Mr Inwards said: "Gross margins have risen and we will return to growth in the second half of the year as we begin to deliver on our substantial online projects." end

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