Karen Millen’s losses have narrowed in what boss Beth Butterwick has termed as a ‘year of change’.

Operating losses shrunk to £9.2m, from £10.5m, while gross profit grew to £95.4m, from £93.3m.

Sales fell slightly, coming in at £158.8m, down from £161m. A like-for-like sales figure was not disclosed.

The business is in the midst of a turnaround plan under new chief executive Beth Butterwick, who joined the business in August 2016.

Under her, the business is returning to its roots with product and enhancing its digital capabilities.

Butterwick said: “This has been a year of change at Karen Millen as we stabilised the business to prepare the ground for a return to profitable growth.

“The changes are already having an impact, with our new web platform driving a significant year-on-year growth in our digital business.

“Our work to understand our customer and put the confident purpose that she has traditionally associated with Karen Millen back into our brand and collections is, similarly, already having a positive effect.”

She added that Karen Millen was in a good position to “weather the ongoing challenging market conditions in the UK” as 50% of its sales come from international markets.