Britcon, which recorded a lower than expected £27m turnover for 2015 due to slower pipeline conversion impacted by the general election, said that the improved trading in 2016 would allow significant investment in its people and IT systems.

Managing director Paul Clarkson said that already over last twelve months Britcon had employed 20 extra staff taking the firm’s head count to 90.

He said: “From late 2015 we saw a surge in opportunity across all key sectors, including energy and renewables, retail, industrial and commercial.

“Although some projects were delayed, a healthy forward order book has allowed us to invest in the team and resources over the last 12 months to facilitate our expected trading in 2016 and beyond.”

Key contracts secured in the last six month include a £13.5m contract to deliver a new anaerobic digestion plant in Dagenham for food waste recycler ReFood (UK), several projects valued over £10m for Lidl, and contracts worth £3.5m for global chemicals business Kemira.

Britcon’s steelwork division, Britcon Engineering Services, has also seen a major boost accounting for over £5.5m of forecast turnover, with growth coming mainly from Network Rail projects.