M&A

Despite the economic headwinds affecting the industry, total turnover and profit rose in most sectors last year. But is it too soon to celebrate? 

Profit and turnover have fallen among the UK’s biggest constructional steel contractors in the past year amid persistently high labour and energy costs. The top 10 firms in the UK reported a 42 per cent fall in pre-tax profit in their most recent accounts, collectively making £34.1m less. Revenues also…

In a mixed year for ground engineering firms, revenue fell while pre-tax profits rose as companies grappled with the impact of delays in project starts, the Building Safety Act and uncertainty over future workloads. Nine of the  sector’s top 10 businesses were profitable but, in total, revenue fell by £22.8m…

The UK’s largest demolition contractors saw their combined pre-tax profit plunge by more than a third in the past financial year. Turnover for the top 10 combined barely grew, rising from £958.4m to £966m. But despite a 64 per cent profit drop – down from £56.4m to £20.4m – the…

Tyra Ali is a contractor solutions specialist at Markel Tax The construction industry is preparing for the impact of the Autumn Budget. It seems that on the one hand the government is continuing to push for more housing, while on the other it is tightening compliance on workforce engagement. The…

David Crosthwaite is chief economist at the Building Cost Information Service Construction is no stranger to volatility. It has endured recessions, rampant inflation, global supply chain crises and sharp swings in demand. But stagflation – the combination of stagnant growth and persistent inflation that we’re currently experiencing – is an…

Prudent management rather than swashbuckling adventurism lies behind improvement in key metrics among the top 100 construction firms

The announcement this week that John Sisk & Son has agreed terms to acquire fellow contractor Farrans provides another indicator that the construction mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market is hotting up, according to experts. Industry observers say the move is not only a sign of confidence in the sector but…

Jonathan Parker is development director at framework provider Pagabo  This year’s fiscal events and ongoing policy updates highlight that the government is pushing for the progression of development, which is a welcome move. However, issues surrounding regeneration and how to effectively deliver on development goals remain hot topics – and…

Emma Bowles is a tax partner at accountancy and advisory firm JS In the construction industry, where succession planning and long-term continuity can often be difficult to achieve, employee-ownership trusts (EOTs) have emerged as a potential alternative to traditional exit strategies. While EOTs offer significant tax and legacy benefits, construction…