Bosses at climate change consultant AEA Technology said they have seen a major rise in orders and are confident about the financial future.

They revealed new contracts in the United States are more than compensating for UK Government spending cuts with latest showing a 41 per cent rise in orders to £119.2m, while adjusted pre-tax profits climbed four per cent to £11m.

Finance officer Alice Cummings said: "Before the Budget, we had already anticipated the Government would make 30 per cent cuts across the procurers that we work with."

She added: "Much of what we do for the UK Government is mandatory — 30 per cent of our revenue is underpinned by European Union agreements on climate change targets."

The company, which was privatised in 1996 from part of the former UK Atomic Energy Authority, employs 430 people at its Harwell headquarters.

Having bought a US company called Project Performance Corporation in 2008, it is benefiting from President Obama's plan to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil and create jobs in clean technology.

Ms Cummings said about 40 per cent of revenue now came from the US, which was using European expertise to implement greener policies.

A new IT system enables experts based at Harwell to work on global projects, including a £30m contract with the US Department of Energy.

Actual pre-tax profit more than halved to £3.5m, mainly because of the notional cost of its final-salary pension scheme, which closed last April but continues to pay past benefits.

Two months ago, the Pensions Regulator approved its plan to address a £150m pension deficit over a 20-year period.

Asked whether the BP disaster had affected work in the US, Ms Cummings said: "We have not seen any issues with that."

Chief executive Andrew McCree said: “The combined and enlarged group has quickly established itself with the US Department of Energy and other Federal agencies, winning significant contracts, whilst maintaining our position as a primary supplier to the UK and Europe despite tighter market conditions.

“The Obama Administration’s commitment to delivering a progressive environmental and energy policy is greater than ever."

Chairman Dr Paul Golby added: “AEA is delivering on its strategy of transferring its expertise in public-sector environmental consultancy into the US, whilst maintaining its leading position in Europe.”