Company insiders contacted the Enquirer last week after the first job cuts.

And Higgins chiefs confirmed that a restructuring will lead to layoffs.

Managing Director Steve Leakey said: “The business has taken a strategic decision to withdraw from single stage competitive tendering.

“As a consequence of this we have re-structured the front end of the business to reflect this decision.

“We have had to make two members of staff redundant and put a further 15 members of staff on notice, from which there may be few further redundancies.

“In the last financial year Higgins Construction increased its turnover by 20% reflecting its continued success as a “community contractor,” with a number of flagship schemes.

“The order book for Higgins Construction remains strong and further growth in turnover is anticipated in the year ended July 2017.”

Results for the year to July 31 2016 show pre-tax profits fell to £178,000 from £275,000 last time due to “a very competitive market and supply chain constraints.”