The move puts hundreds of jobs at risk at the firm which employs 3,500 people across the country.

The Enquirer understands that staff have been put on redundancy notice at EMCOR’s ten regional offices.

The firm said: “EMCOR UK identified that due to the construction market conditions in the UK, and customers’ changing requirements, its focus was best placed in areas where it can more fully leverage its knowledge and strength to positively impact customers’ businesses.”

EMCOR’s facilities management business will continue to trade as normal.

The firm added: “EMCOR UK will complete its current construction projects, supporting these customers over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, but will not seek to secure new construction services projects.”

A company spokeswoman would not be drawn on the number of jobs at risk.

She said:  “Over the coming weeks and months, EMCOR will be working with its customers and will review resource allocations in line with its requirements and those of their projects.”

Keith Chanter, Chief Executive Officer of EMCOR Group (UK), said “EMCOR UK’s strategy for the last five years has been to focus on long-term collaborative customer relationships, and to ensure the alignment of our business with our customers’ needs, in order to maintain a profitable, sustainable business.

“Today sees a key milestone in this strategic process, with our withdrawal from the construction market.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and employees for their ongoing support and commitment, and can assure our customers that we will continue to deliver our current projects to the high standards that they value us for.

“We will be offering support and guidance to our employees through this period and will seek to redeploy wherever possible.”

One industry source told the Enquirer: “Things have been bad in the M&E market for a while now but seeing a firm the size of EMCOR quit is still a shock.”